SCENE II
The same. Brichanteau
BRICHANTEAU.
Ah! two words!
[Laughing.] He's looking pretty well for a dead man!
SAVERNY (low, indicating The Marquis, who passes).
Why do you make me grieve him, Brichanteau?
I think we might explain it to him now.
Oh, let me try.
BRICHANTEAU.
No; God forbid, my friend!
His grief must be sincere; he must weep much.
His woe is one good half of your disguise.
SAVERNY.
Poor uncle!
BRICHANTEAU.
He will find it out ere long.
SAVERNY.
If sorrow has not killed him, then joy will.
These shocks are dangerous to such old men.
BRICHANTEAU.
It must be done!
SAVERNY.
I cannot bear to hear
Him laugh so bitterly, then weep; then keep
So still! I hate to see him kiss that coffin.
BRICHANTEAU.
Yes—a fine coffin with no corpse in it!
SAVERNY.
But I am dead and bleeding in his heart.
The corpse lies there.
LAFFEMAS (coming back).
Alas, the poor old man!
His eyes show plainly how he's suffering!
BRICHANTEAU (low to Saverny).
Who is that surly-looking man in black?
SAVERNY (with gesture of ignorance).
Some friend who's living at the castle?
BRICHANTEAU (low).
Crows
Are also black and love the smell of death.
Keep silence more than ever. 'Tis a face
That's treacherous and evil; it would make
A madman prudent.
[The Marquis de Nangis re-enters; he is still absorbed in a deep reverie. He walks slowly, does not appear to notice any one, and seats himself upon a bank of turf.
SCENE III
The same. Marquis de Nangis
LAFFEMAS (approaching The Marquis).
Marquis, we've lost much.
He was a rare man; would have comforted
Your old age. I mingle my tears with yours.
Young, handsome, good, naught more could be desired;
Obeying God, respecting women, strong;
Just in his actions, sensible in speech,
A perfect nobleman, whom all revere!
To die so young! Most cruel fate! Alas!
[The Marquis lets his head fall on his hands.
SAVERNY (low to Brichanteau).
The devil take this funeral discourse!
These praises but augment the old man's grief.
Console him, you; Show him the other side.
BRICHANTEAU (to Laffemas).
You are mistaken, sir. I was in the
Same grade. A bad comrade, this Saverny—
A shiftless fellow, growing worse each day.
Courageous! Every man is brave at twenty;
His death is nothing much to boast about.
LAFFEMAS.
A duel! Surely, that is no great crime.
[Banteringly to Brichanteau, pointing to his sword.
You are an officer?
BRICHANTEAU (in the same tone, pointing to Laffemas's wig).
A magistrate?
SAVERNY (low).
Go on!
BRICHANTEAU.
He was capricious, thankless, and
A liar: not worth any real regret.
He went to church, but just to ogle girls.
He was a gallant, a mere libertine,
A fool!
SAVERNY (low).
Good! good!
BRICHANTEAU.
Intractable and stubborn;
Rude to his officers. As to good looks,
He had lost his; he limped, had a large wen
Upon his eye; from blonde had turned to red,
And from round-shouldered had become hump-backed.
SAVERNY (low).
Enough!
BRICHANTEAU.
He gambled—every one knows that.
He would have staked his soul on dice. I'll wager
That cards had eaten up his property.
His fortune galloped faster every night.
SAVERNY (low, pulling his sleeve).
Enough! Good God! Your consolation is
Too strong.
LAFFEMAS.
To speak so ill of a dead friend!
Unpardonable!
BRICHANTEAU (indicating Saverny).
Ask this gentleman!
SAVERNY.
Oh, no; I beg to be excused!
LAFFEMAS (affectionately, to the old Marquis).
My lord,
We'll comfort you. We have his murderer,
And we will hang him. We have kept him safe.
His end is sure.
[To Brichanteau and Saverny.
But can one understand
The Marquis? There are duels, we all know,
That cannot be avoided, but to fight
With any one named Didier—
SAVERNY (aside).
What? Didier?
[The old Marquis, who has remained silent and motionless during all this scene, rises and goes out slowly on the side opposite where he came in. His guards follow him.
LAFFEMAS (wiping away a tear and following him with his eyes).
In truth, his sorrow deeply touches me.
LACKEY (running).
My lord!
BRICHANTEAU.
Why can't you leave your master quiet?
LACKEY.
It is the burial of the young marquis!
What is the hour?
BRICHANTEAU.
You'll know it by-and-by.
LACKEY.
A few comedians have arrived here from
The city; they beg shelter for the night.
BRICHANTEAU.
The time's ill-chosen for comedians, but
The law of hospitality holds good.
Give them this barn.
[Indicating a barn on the left.
LACKEY (holding a letter).
A letter! 'Tis important!
[Reading.] For a Monsieur de Laffemas.
LAFFEMAS.
'Tis I!
Give it to me!
BRICHANTEAU (low to Saverny, who has remained thoughtful in a corner).
Saverny, let us go!
Come and arrange things for your funeral!
[Pulling him by the sleeve.
What is it? Are you dreaming?
SAVERNY (aside).
Oh, Didier!
[They go out.