Enter_ DE FRESNE, _in altercation with_ DU FRONT _and_ LA PLUME.

_Du F._ Never tell me, my lord--bones of my father! You have broken faith! The lady was already promised to one of us!

_De F._ ’Oons! what of that!

_La P._ I hold it highly contrary to good manners, my lord, to claim a gentleman’s promise.

_De F._ Then, why do you?

_La P._ Excepting when he doesn’t mean to keep it; and then it is universally admitted to be high time.

_De F._ How could I help it if she would’nt have you?

_Du F._ Body of me! ’Tis the first time the noble superintendent ever doubted his authority! His authority! Soul of St. Dennis! His authority is like his jaw, that never snaps for any one but himself.

_La P._ Relying upon your excellency’s good faith, we have taken our _congé_ of the king, and slammed the door upon our own backs!

_De F._ Well, well, you can go and knock again, can’t you?

_Du F._ And so be shewn up to be hanged out of the first pair of stairs.

_De F._ Not a bit of it, I’ll warrant you--’tis odds if he has ever missed you, and certain he’d forgive you for all the harm you could do him.

_La P._ Your reason, sir, for breaking with us, would be clear to the visual organs of a mole. The Duc de Maienne has sent to demand money, as well as the king, and has not the same polished breeding in taking an apology.

_Du F._ And the marquis would be a convenient hand in patching up old grievances, and that’s the truth on’t.

_De F._ Well, and isn’t this a very good reason? Odds! would you talk about promises in the face of reasons like these? Haven’t you had a greater share of the king’s revenues than the king himself? Haven’t you grown conceited, insolent, and insatiable, upon the strength of large rewards for a proportionable want of merit? For serving yourselves at a table for princes, and a toilet for tomfools, when honest folks go naked by thousands and starve in heaps. Promises! Odds! If I could make you disgorge what you have had already, I promise you I would do _that_, and there’s an end on’t.

_Enter the_ MARQUIS, _unperceived_.

_Marq._ [_aside, having observed the discontent_]. Eh! Is it so? Hem! [_aloud_]. My lord de Fresne--[_advancing_].

_De F._ What, Rosny! Thou art a most determined gallant! Early and late! Well, well, I’m glad to see thee, spite of the novelty--

_Marq._ It was not till last night, when you bestowed your niece upon me, that I knew of your good will--let that suffice.

_De F._ [_to Du Front and La Plume_]. We’ve business--don’t you see?

_Du F._ [_to La Plume_]. By Mars, and so have we!

_La P._ [_to Du Front_]. If I have a hope in life, it is to see him hanged.

[_Exeunt_ LA PLUME _and_ DU FRONT.

_Marq._ I have surprised you somewhat early, my lord De Fresne, in order to discuss the arrangements for our approaching family connection.

_De F._ I’m glad to see you in such a hurry, though, i’faith, I should hardly have suspected [_regarding the Marquis’ figure significantly_]. However, there’s no judging from appearances.

_Marq._ I will grant you, they are often deceptive--and now, without farther preface, the point of main importance in our alliance is to link our interests together for their mutual furtherance, and to espouse the cause of one master.

_De F._ Good.

_Marq._ Now, you will bear with me, for it is necessary we should be quite sincere in this business--it never has been very evident _who_ was _your_ master, King Henry, or the Duc de Maienne, his enemy; for, whilst you have held your appointment under the one, you have done everything in your power to serve the other.

_De F._ Why, that’s the king’s own fault for being displeased that I represented him here in a becoming manner, and spent his revenue royally--there was nothing left for me, d’ye see, but to join t’other party.

_Marq._ I admire your sincerity, and will confess plainly that there are certain reasons against my pursuing that course--in the first place, the Duc de Maienne has been divided from me by long enmities, and, in the next, his majesty is so exclusively engaged in war, that he makes me his deputy in everything else.

_De F._ Well then, not to go into a long roundabout, diplomatic puzzle, and forget one end before we arrive at the other, I only ask of the king the continuance of my office, with no enquiry for arrears--I hate arithmetic.

_Marq._ You shall never hear a word about it. And now since we have arrived at this happy understanding it is important to re-inforce the king with arms and money, without a moment’s delay.

_De F._ I know that well enough, and we’ll send them off immediately after the marriage.

_Marq._ [_puzzled_]. The--the marriage?

_De F._ Aye, the marriage--you have not forgotten that, have you? The marriage with my niece, you know. You say we must be sincere, and therefore, no apologies. The fact is, our treaty must be duly ratified. I cannot quite make you out. I believe you mean the marriage, and somehow I believe you don’t. I believe the king is with the army; and then again, may I be hanged if I don’t believe he was in my garden last night; so no communication with the army, and no egress from the city till the day after the wedding.

_Marq._ I respect your caution. It becomes a true statesman [_aside_], and a traitorous vermin, that I have a mind to pin to the wall! [_aloud_]. And for the marriage, I should be transported if there were time for it--but the branches of our two houses are widely scattered, and could scarcely be summoned in less than--than six weeks or so.

_De F._ Six weeks! Why then, we must try and do without them; for how can you that were so violent--you must needs jump my walls at midnight, at the risk of having more points in you than a porcupine--wait six whole weeks! no, by my word, you shall be indulged this very day! I’ll say no more about the matter, but go and see the writings prepared according to agreement, which I will presently call upon you to sign. In the meantime [_calling_]. Ho! mistress niece! The marquis! Make the most of your courting, for odds, ’twill be none of the longest. [_Exit._

_Marq._ He--em! The town bristling with bayonets--the gates closed--the king suspected to be here--and nothing to serve him but this extremity!

_Enter_ KATHERINE.

Madam, I fear my tongue is too long used To the cold, measured, march of policy To praise, as I should praise, your matchless goodness-- Your ready courage--most rare apprehension-- For ’twas to these the king did owe his life Last night--

_Kath._ My lord, I know your character Too well to underprize your good opinion; But ’tis your _aid_--our need is desperate!

_Marq._ You have the pride and consolation, madam Of a most loyal service to the king; And they should ne’er despair who do their duty.

_Kath._ Had the king thought of _his_, this ne’er had been-- I will continue this deceit no longer.

_Marq._ Let me but see him through this one dilemma! We’ll be as prompt as coolness and due caution--

_Kath._ Coolness and caution lag too slow for me, For time will fix th’ impression of my falsehood-- Coolness and caution! Was I cool and cautious When you depended on my aid last night? What gain is mine? Alas! what need had I Of a base subterfuge? I cast it off! The day must not conclude, nor noon arrive, Before this cloud be cleared.

_Marq._ A royal maid With right upon her side. Beseech you, madam, Give me but time enough!

_Kath._ What time was given To help him in a thousand deadlier straits? These heroes!--Do but view them at a distance! What giants they appear! What cheats they are! What contradictions to all nature else! The farther off the greater! View them near-- How quick to serve their ends at others’ cost How notable to think the wrong repaid With caution and delay!

_Marq._ Happen what will, There shall be no delay.

_Kath._ Nor caution neither.

_Marq._ Be satisfied, for I’ll be desperate--

_Kath._ And soon, my lord--I’ll wear this mask no longer. [_Exit_

_Marq._ I cannot blame her, but, if fortune please, I’d rather wed a tigress--’tis indeed High time for something desperate--but _what_? This was the door--St. Denis, blink awhile, Or judge me by my need--not by my helpmates!

[_Opens the door at which_ LA PLUME _and_ DU FRONT _went out_.

Sirs, will you please come forth?

_Enter_ LA PLUME _and_ DU FRONT.

Short compliments in time of trouble--your entertainment here is not what it was wont to be--service is sometimes the seed of injury--and the superintendent is a clod of little hope. In few words, gentlemen, we are each in want of the other.

_Du F._ May I be food for crows--but I will join with any one who ensures us vengeance.

_La P._ And replaces us in the good opinion of the king.

_Marq._ To that end have I invited your fellowship--the king shall makes amends for whatever injuries you may have suffered from his enemies, provided you help him to the means, and the first of these is to assist me and my household out of this cursed city.

_Du F._ The gates are closed against all who would pass from it.

_Marq._ Why, that I know.

_La P._ The soldiers are so used to bribery that nothing will prevail with them but gold--

_Marq._ That I know likewise--

_Du F._ The question is how to get it.

_Marq._ Aye--that I do _not_ know.

_Du F._ Then there, sir, I can help you--I am his purse bearer, and your own eyes shall convince you how far he has wronged the revenue--

_Marq._ Aye? And my own fingers too? Hast thou pocketed a providential store?

_Du F._ No, sir, I have done better--I have pocketed it _all_.

_Marq._ Thou paragon of purse bearers! Heaven help thy noble pocket!

_La P._ He means, my lord, his office is to keep the key of the treasury.

_Marq._ Can’st rob it for us? eh?

_Du F._ Only have patience with me till it be dark.

_Marq._ No, our necessities are crying! Steal us but enough to help us past the barrier, and load one steed, now on the instant, and before ’tis dark we’ll give the world news that shall make it ring.

_La P._ Meanwhile, as chamberlain, I have the ordering of the household, and can so dispose of it that none shall interfere with you.

_Marq._ Besides, broad day puts out the eyes of doubt, Which darkness ever brightens. Off to work! Bear me your plunder to the city gates, Whither I’ll follow you--and if at night You’ve heads upon your shoulders, they’ll look down On some that now o’ertop them--Mercury, Thou god of thieves, look kindly on beginners!

_Du F._ Old hands, and all--

_La P._ You’ll find we are men of honour--

_Marq._ Away! I’ll keep De Fresne engaged awhile! And then let each come jingling like a pack-horse! Be strong as elephants and fleet as deer!

[_Exeunt_ LA PLUME _and_ DU FRONT.]

We’ll save him yet! If that’s not desperate, I never will redeem another promise. [_Exit._