A wall in the back ground.--Twilight._

_Enter_ VICTOR _and_ KATHERINE.

_Vict._ I’ve placed the sentinels. The superintendent Is busy at his night’s carouse, and now My task is over.

_Kath._ Hateful task, I know-- And but for me, dear Victor, and thy wish To watch beside me in this time of peril, Thou might’st have followed the brave king to glory. May we not learn to hate whom most we love, When our love serves them with a hateful duty?

_Vict._ If you perceive such hazard, end it quickly, And let us fly this place.

_Kath._ Have patience, yet-- If I consented, whither should we fly? Where is our refuge? Victor, what has made thee So much more earnest with me?

_Vict._ Be content-- The dangers in our way must not be thought on-- Our worst is in delay--

_Kath._ What worse than common Is in this moment?

_Vict._ Do not question me, We’ll speak of it hereafter. I have asked A proof of all that love, so often vowed. Wilt thou deny me? I have friends, I tell thee, In a remote and unsuspected province, Where they will shelter thee till better times-- Wilt thou consult my peace? Wilt thou depart?

_Kath._ Victor, thou’rt wild! Depart, and leave mine uncle A show of reason for his doubts of thee? Depart, and give my name to calumny, Not daring to take thine in place of it? Shame a proud house as its first fugitive! Consider what thou art asking. If there’s peril, ’Tis only in these secret interviews. There’s none for us apart.

_Vict._ Apart!

_Kath._ Thou hast Anticipated better times. Till then-- Only till then--do’st think I’ll love thee less Because we meet not?

_Vict._ Haply I should not, If thou did’st meet _no other_--

_Kath._ Meet no other?

_Vict._ Before I made this suit, I knew my answer.

_Kath._ What mystery is this? I saw at first Thou wert not like thyself--other? what other?

_Vict._ Mine eyes have ne’er been off thee, Katherine,-- The world had nothing else to claim their homage; And still, the more I saw, the prouder seemed My fortune! Haply, it was fit such hopes-- Presumptuous hopes--should be rebuked! ’Twas sudden-- Bold--independent--as became thy spirit! Just as it _should_ be! Thou’st been forth to day-- Alone, disguised, fearful, suspicious! Whither?

_Kath._ Thou’st lost thy senses, Victor, or would’st see That, bearing this, I merit not these doubts.-- Thou dost me wrong--but I forgive thee.

_Vict._ Whither?

_Kath._ Do I then seem so slight of character I cannot pass one chance to prove unworthy? Were thy suspicions just, why should I strive To blind thee? I can see no cause to prize Thy love, except that I have given thee mine-- Think on’t for both our sakes--we’ll meet to-morrow, When thou’rt more calm. Hush! hark! I heard a step. I will not leave thee till we talk more fully-- Prithee stand by--

_Vict._ What step would venture here? Stand by? In faith, I will--and closely by--

[_he retires amongst the trees--a Lackey raises his head above the wall_].

_Lackey._ Hist, madam, hist!

_Kath._ What saucy man is this?

_Lackey._ Madam, I have wandered round your garden this hour or more to deliver this letter. [_throws a letter_]. If it come too late, I beseech you--[_sees Victor_]. S’death! [_disappears_].

_Vict._ Stay, fellow, stay! Curse on this wall! Look up! I have a purse for thee! The villain’s gone! Ha! ’Tis no matter--here’s the note may tell us More than the bearer. [_takes it up and presents it_]. There!

_Kath._ ’Tis not for me.

_Vict._ Your pardon--’tis addressed to you.

_Kath._ By heaven, And on my hopes of it, I know not Victor, What rash audacious dares insult me with it!

_Vict._ Read, madam, read--

_Kath._ At your desire--not else. [_opens the letter and reads_].

_Vict._ She changes colour! Ha! this letter. [_attempts to take it; she withholds it_].

No! I must not see’t?

_Kath._ Another time. Not now.

_Vict._ Not now?

_Kath._ You cannot.

_Vict._ Wherefore can I not?

_Kath._ Oh! Victor, Victor, in its dark inventions, How apt a rival love can be to hate! Think what you will, I cannot undeceive you, And will not hear the words you must repent.

_Vict._ Tell me but whence it comes.

_Kath._ I’ve said I cannot.

_Vict._ Heaven help me to the bearer then! [_Exit._

_Kath._ Insensate! In such a mood, how could I ask his aid! An assignation from the king! The hour Already come! No means of stopping him! To meet is desperate; yet, not to meet Were, in this labyrinth of treason, death! [_Is hastening out--suddenly turns back_]. Misfortune still! This downy sycophant That’s called our chamberlain! What seeks he here?

_Enter_ LA PLUME.

_La P._ Beseech you, madam, vouchsafe me a word.

_Kath._ Monsieur La Plume, you are the master of our ceremonies, professor of all courtly breeding to those who require polish at short notice; therefore no one should perceive more quickly when company is not wanted.

_La P._ I shall be charmed to show my perception if any one ventures to intrude, for which purpose my lord superintendent has had the consideration to send me here.

_Kath._ I am aware of the superintendent’s consideration, which would make me the price of the most approved treason; and of your rivalry in that quality with your companion in favour, Monsieur du Front, who holds the lucrative offices of pursebearer, disburser of the king’s treasure to those who are too vile to serve him, and teacher of brave words to the faint-hearted. Pray you give o’er. I could not trust myself to distinguish between such merits [_she is going out--he interposes with affected courtesy_].

_La P._ Madam, it wounds my sensibilities to differ from you, and, as far as a coincidence of opinion with respect to Monsieur du Front, I am your most devoted echo; but pardon me if the strict rules of breeding forbid me to discuss myself. Monsieur du Front, as you happily describe him, is a most atrocious [_stops suddenly_]. But, indeed, it is a maxim in politeness never to criticise a gentleman in his presence; which might put him to the disagreeable necessity of contradicting. Madam, here is Monsieur du Front himself.

_Enter_ DU FRONT.

_Du F._ Madam, the first charge into your presence requires more courage than the beginning of a battle.

_Kath._ I will not dispute Monsieur du Front’s sensations at the _beginning_--I have heard he seldom thought it worth while to see the _ending_.

_Du F._ By the blood of my rapier, you say true! I was always too busy in running after the fugitives! They found me one too many--hey, Monsieur La Plume.

_La P._ Oh, on all occasions!

_Kath._ A distinction in which Monsieur La Plume fully participates. [_she is going again_, DU FRONT _interposes with grotesque homage_].

_Du F._ Your wit, madam, is a battery, that will not leave a cavalier to deserve you! What shall we do for a truce?

_Kath._ That which you dare not--serve the king honestly. [_she is going again, both interpose_].

_Du F._ May I die of a sparrow shot if I have not lost a whole hogshead of blood in his service, without receiving so much in return as a rag to bind up my wounds! I have been notched and scotched like a crimped cod fish, till it took more trouble to put me together again than to make an oak tree out of a carpenter’s shavings--and that’s the truth on’t. “Captain du Front,” says the king, “you are too rash by half!--you lead us all into mischief!--you must go to Mante; bear the superintendent’s purse; and raise recruits o’ the right sort!” Isn’t that a fact? Monsieur La Plume--speak!

_La P._ As true a word as Monsieur du Front ever breathed, or ever _will_ breathe. His valour was in a high fever, and he was sent here to infect the citizens.

_Kath._ [_aside and going_]. I would the malady had been the plague!

_Re-enter_ VICTOR.

_Vict._ The villain has escaped me. Ha! well encountered, gentlemen! Will it please you tell me which of you is the impatient cavalier who could not wait for the answer to his letter?

_Kath._ Victor--

_Vict._ Oh, madam, I understand--which of you, gentlemen?

_Both._ Letter!

_Vict._ Aye, sirs--letter--you will not disown it in the presence of the lady herself, and tempt constructions so little flattering to your manhood?

_Kath._ Thou art beside thyself. Dost thou believe I would receive a letter from these?

_Vict._ I know of no other in Mante who would presume to write you one.

_La P._ [_to_ DU FRONT]. Hear you this, Monsieur du Front? Mark you the lady’s consternation? [_aloud_]. Captain Victor, I do protest we are more in the dark than yourself. For my own part, I never perpetrated such a breach of etiquette in my life!

_Du F._ Body of me, I never perpetrated anything but hard blows! And as for writing!--I care not who knows it--the wars never left me time to learn.

_Vict._ Gentlemen, I believe you both, and her contempt of you is a proof that her correspondent is some one greater.

_Kath._ [_aside_]. This madness will discover all!

_Vict._ Hark you, sirs, you have more skill than I in weaving plots. Find me this gallant out, and for your pains, I will relieve you from one whom I some time believed to be your dangerous rival--myself to wit. For your own sake, be stirring; whilst I, upon the strength of my command, close up the gates on all who would leave the city.

_La P._ I pledge myself to this condition.

_Du F._ Blood, so do I--

_Kath._ Whilst thou hast life, thou wilt repent this!

_Vict._ Now then, to business!

_Kath._ Monsieur La Plume! Monsieur du Front!--a moment.

_La P._ Madam, you have wounded my feelings most distressingly.

_Du F._ Madam, our rival shall be served up to you daintily--split open and skewered with a brace of rapiers.

_Kath._ Victor, I have a word--a single word--that shall paralyze thee--stay--and thou shalt do me justice.

_Vict._ Aye, madam--when I have done justice for myself. Come, sirs, away.

[_Exeunt_ LA PLUME, VICTOR, DU FRONT].

_Kath._ The king is lost. [_Exit._

END OF THE SECOND ACT.