The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda Part 82

MARION.

Whose knees must I embrace-- His Majesty's or yours?

THE KING (_astonished, examining Marion: aside_).

What does this mean?

Is this a trap?

L'ANGELY (_giving parchment to Marion_).

Here is the pardon. Take it!

[_Marion kisses it, and puts it in her bosom._

THE KING (_aside_).

Have I been duped?

[_To Marion._] One instant! Give it back!

MARION.

Good G.o.d!

[_To The King, with courage, touching her breast._

Come here and take it, and tear out My heart as well!

[_The King stops and steps backward, much embarra.s.sed._

L'ANGELY (_low to Marion_).

Good! Keep it, and be firm!

His Majesty won't take it, there!

THE KING (_to Marion_).

Give it To me!

MARION.

Take it, my sire!

THE KING (_casting down his eyes_).

Who is this siren?

L'ANGELY (_low to Marion_).

He wouldn't touch the corset of the Queen!

THE KING (_after a moment's hesitation, dismisses Marion with a gesture without looking at her_).

Well, go!

MARION (_bowing profoundly to The King_).

I'll fly to save the prisoners! [_Exits._

L'ANGELY (_to The King_).

She's sister to Didier, the falconer.

THE KING.

She can be what she will. It's very strange, The way she made me drop my eyes! Made me, A man-- [_Silence._ Fool, you have played a trick on me!

I'll have to pardon you a second time.

L'ANGELY.

Yes, do it! Every time they grant a pardon, Kings lift a dreary weight from off their hearts.

THE KING.

You speak the truth. I always suffer when La Greve holds court. Nangis was right: the dead Serve n.o.body. To fill Montfaucon I make a desert of the Louvre!

[_Walking rapidly._ 'Tis treason To strike my right of pardon out, before My face. What can I do? Disarmed, dethroned, And fallen: in this man absorbed, as in A sepulcher! His cloak becomes my shroud: My people mourn for me as for the dead.

I am resolved: those two boys shall not die!

The joy of living is a heavenly gift.

[_After reflection._ G.o.d, who knows where we go, can ope the tomb; A king cannot. Back to their families I give them; that old man, that fair young girl, Will bless me. It is said: I've signed it--I, The King. The Cardinal will be furious, But it will please Bellegarde.

L'ANGELY.

One can, sometimes, Be kingly by mistake.

_ACT V_

THE CARDINAL

Scene.--_Beaugency. The tower of Beaugency. A courtyard; the tower in the background, all around a high wall. To the left, a tall arched door; to the right, a small rounded door in the wall; near the door a stone table and stone bench_

SCENE I

_Some Workmen. They are pulling down a corner of the back wall on the left. The demolition is almost completed_

FIRST WORKMAN (_working with his pickax_).