The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda Part 90

MARION.

We are losing time.

The horses wait. What you have in your mind, You'll tell me afterward. We must fly now.

DIDIER.

Who is that man there watching us?

MARION.

The jailer.

He's safe; I bribed him, as I did the guard.

Do you suspect them? You have such an air.

DIDIER.

It's nothing. We're so easily deceived.

MARION.

Come! Each lost moment chills me to the heart.

I seem to hear the tread of that great crowd.

Hasten, my Didier--on my knees--oh, fly!

DIDIER (_indicating Saverny, asleep_).

Tell me which one of us you want to save.

MARION (_overcome for a moment_).

[_Aside._] Gaspard is generous: he would not tell.

[_Aloud._] Does Didier speak to his beloved thus?

My Didier, what have you against me?

DIDIER.

Naught.

Lift up your face and look me in the eyes.

[_Marion, trembling, fixes her eyes on him._

It is a perfect likeness! Yes.

MARION.

My love, I wors.h.i.+p you, but come!

DIDIER.

Don't turn away!

[_He looks at her fixedly._

MARION (_terrified at his look_).

[_Aside._] The kisses of that man, he sees them! G.o.d!

[_Aloud._] You have a secret, something against me!

It hurts you! Tell me all about it, dear.

You know we often make things worse by thinking, And too late find it out; then we regret.

I had my share in all your thoughts, love, once!

Speak, are those days for evermore gone by?

Do you not love me now? Have you forgot My little room at Blois? Forgotten how We loved each other, till the world was lost?

Sometimes you grew uneasy; then I said, "If any one should see him!" Oh, 'twas fine!

But one day has destroyed it all. You've said A thousand times, in words that burned my soul, I was your love, I knew your secrets, I Could make you anything I chose. What have I ever asked? I've always thought with you!

This time, oh, yield to me! It is your life I'm pleading for. My Didier, hark to me.

Alive or dead, I swear to follow you.

All things with you, love, will be sweet to me-- To fly, or die upon the scaffold. What!

You push me back? You shall not! Leave your hand, I want it. My poor brow, it does no harm To rest it on your knees. I am so tired; I ran so fast to come! What would they say, The people I knew once, to see me now?

I was so gay, so merry; now I weep!

What is it that you have against me? Speak!

Oh, shame! You must let me lie at your feet.

It's very cruel of you not to say One single word. When we have thoughts, we speak!

'Twould be more merciful to stab me, love!

See, I have dried my tears, and I am smiling.

You smile too. Oh, if you don't smile at me, I will not love you! I have always done Just what you wanted; now it is your turn.

These chains are what have chilled your soul. Love, smile And speak to me, and say "Marie."

DIDIER.

"Marie"

Or "Marion"?

MARION (_falls annihilated at his feet_).

Didier, be merciful!

DIDIER (_with terrible tone_).

Here, no one finds an entrance easily.

Prisons of state are guarded night and day, The doors are iron, walls twenty cubits high; To open these remorseless doors, madame, To whom here did you prost.i.tute yourself?

MARION.

Who told you?

DIDIER.

No one; but I understand.

MARION.