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[Rushing in.]
General, the enemy are upon us!
[Excitedly to LA HOGUE.]
Quick!—To arms!—We must rouse and lead our men!
But Diane—my wife?
Gone!—to England.
[Handing a paper.]
Read, and remember, whatever be my fate, you are on parole.
[He rushes off with LA HOGUE.
The crash of firearms increases.
[Reading.]
“Dear Henri:—The town is burning,
my daughter in peril. I see
Diane embarked for England, and join you on the field.—Duc
de
Beaumont.”—Gone!—No!
I will find her, and fly with her myself.
[Noise of battle outside.—PAUL is about to go, but stops.]
No, no! My God!—She’s lost to
me again! I cannot go to seek her, for
I’m a prisoner on parole!
[He falls prostrate on the stairs.
ACT V.
SCENE. Same as Act IV—one hour later. Noise of battle in distance.—PAUL discovered looking on and listening in excitement.—Noise increases and sounds nearer.
[Triumphantly.]
Ah!—The enemy weakens!—gives way!—falls back!—The Royalists fly!—The Republic wins!—Progress triumphs!
[The noise of battle grows louder, but the cries of triumph from Republicans decrease, then die away.—PAUL checks his joy and speaks in changed tones.]
And I—I have no part in this glorious play—because I’m on parole.
[Walking up and down excitedly.]
What torture!—to be here; with heart aflame, and limbs all free; to see the fight, and yet be bound to idleness by an oath, as much a prisoner as though in fetters at the bottom of a cell!
[Changing his whole manner.]
And Diane—where is she? But now within my reach—almost in my arms—naught between us but a promise, a mere breath—that breath as strong as adamantine walls to part us!
[Entering, sees PAUL and cries out.]
Kauvar!
[Turning, starts.]
Jean Litais!
You, alive?
My wife!—Where is she?
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