Page:Poet Lore, volume 21, 1910.djvu/294

 (Low bravos which grow louder and louder, all applauding.)

Landlord (to, during the noise).—Save yourself, fly, Henri!

Henri.—What do you say ?

Landlord.—Make an end and go away as fast as you can!

Francois.—Silence! Let's hear what the landlord says.

Landlord.—I'm telling him that he should fly before the posts at the town gate are notified. The fine duke was the king's favorite—they will riddle you. You had better killed your wife!

Francois.—What a beautiful play! Wonderful!

Henri.—Prospere, which of us is insane, you or I? (Tries to read in Prospere's eyes.)

Rollin.—It is marvellous how we all know that he is playing, and still if the Duke of Cadignan should now enter we would believe him to be a ghost.

(Noise outside, always getting louder. People enter, clamor is heard outside. They are led by, others, among them, behind him, coming down the stairs. Cries are heard: Liberty! Liberty!)

Grasset.—Here we are, children, come in!

Albin.—What is that, does that belong to the play?

François.—No.

Marquis.—What does that mean?

Séverine.—What kind of people are these?

Grasset.—Come in here! I tell you my friend Prospere always has a cask of wine left, and we've deserved it.

(Noise from the street.)—Friend, brother, we have it!

Cries (outside).—Liberty, liberty!

Séverine.—What is the matter?

Marquis.—Let's go, let's go! The mob is coming!

Rollin.—How are you going to get out?

Grasset.—The Bastille is in our hands!

Landlord.—What do you say? Is it true?

Grasset.—Don't you hear?

Albin (is about to draw his sword).

François.—Don't do that now or we are all lost.

Grasset (coming down the stairs).—If you will hurry you might see something jolly outside: upon a very high stick the head of our dear Delaunay.

Marquis.—Is that man crazy?

Cries.—Liberty, liberty!

Grasset.—We have beheaded a dozen; the Bastille is ours; the prisoners are freed, Paris belongs to the people.

Landlord.—Hear, hear! Paris is ours!