Banquet in the background_--DE FRESNE _is led forward partly drunk, by_ LA PLUME _and_ DU FRONT, VAUTEUR _following--a large motley company of the Bravo stamp remain at table_.

_De F._ Why do you call me from supper? You know I never like to be called from supper till it is time to carry me to bed.

_La P._ My lord, here are some new partizans who have not yet been presented to you. This is Captain Vauteur, a brave gentleman, despitefully used by the king for helping himself to his fair share of plunder.

_De F._ ’Tis the king’s usual mode of paying services--just as he means to pay mine. But what is your special grievance, eh, Captain Vauteur?

_Vau._ I was drummed out of my regiment.

_De F._ You are just the gentleman we want. Brave as a lion, no doubt.

_Vau._ [_his hand on his dagger_]. Try me.

[BRAVACHE _and_ POIGNARD _advance from table_].

_De F._ And these, by their looks, are gentlemen whose merits have been equally ill appreciated.

_La P._ This, my lord, is Monsieur Poignard--this Monsieur Bravache--cavaliers of no particular title, but deserving of a great many.

_De F._ No doubt of it, and that’s the reason why they have not got any. ’Tis a rule with the king that good servants don’t need encouragement--bad ones do. You have been ill used, of a certainty--you bear all the appearance of injured men.

_Brav._ The king has thrown us upon our wits, and made it felony to use them.

_Poig._ So, hearing there was a want of a few soldiers of fortune here, we are come in to say we are in no wise particular--that’s the sum on’t.

_La P._ We have many more strangers of the same independent character; but having been a little out of sorts with the times, they are a little out of suits also, and therefore our invitations to supper have been confined to the most select.

_De F._ Gentlemen, you are welcome all--the more the better--and so another carouse to the superintendent.

_Vau._ Aye, aye; the superintendent.

_Brav._ Or any body else.

_Poig._ We are no wise particular [_they return to the table_].

_Omnes._ Aye, the superintendent.

_Du F._ Hark ye, my lord, we’ve something to tell you.

_La P._ In the first place, sir, your niece, Madam Katherine, did this evening receive a letter most mysteriously--refused to say from whence it came, and made it evident to us that the writer was some person of importance.

_De F._ Eh! who could it be?

_Du F._ That was the question; and therefore we set about enquiring whom she had seen of late, and discovered that she had this day visited some one in the house of the Marquis de Rosny.

_De F._ Rosny? No. He never thinks of wooing anything but a stone wall with a battering ram.

_La P._ True, sir, for which reason we extended our research to the city gates to learn what strangers had come in.

_De F._ Well, well,--what then?

_Du F._ And there we found a cavalier had entered, answering the description of the king!

_De F._ The king!

_La P._ Patience, sir! you must not betray your intentions until we are more certain. If he be here he is safe enough. The gates are closed against all who would pass out of them.

_De F._ But--my niece pay a visit to the king?

_Du F._ We know her partiality for his cause, and she knows our league against it. ’Twas not so very extraordinary in her to give him notice.

_De F._ By my life, a conspiracy! Plotting under our nose! ’Slife, but we’ll be of the party! Let me go, I say! [_going_].

_La P._ Caution, or you spoil all. As we entered, we found she had not yet returned from the garden.

_De F._ Well--well--what dost thou augur from that?

_La P._ That she would not be wandering in the dark without a companion.

_De F._ ’Oons do I understand aright? Do you believe the king to be now in my garden?

_Du F._ Those who know him would not be surprised at it.

_De F._ Arm all our friends!

_La P._ Caution, sir, this is only conjecture.

_De F._ No, by Jupiter, tis true! Ho! Where are you all? Where’s Captain Bravache? Where’s Captain Poignard?

[_All come forward_].

Follow me, follow! ’Oons, if I could only walk straight! Follow, follow! The king’s in the garden, and there’s not one of you but is set down for a traitor! Shoot all you meet, and cut down the rest! Here’s for Maienne!

_Omnes._ Hurrah!

[DE FRESNE _staggers out, followed by the others tumultuously_].