Page:Rolland - Two Plays of the French Revolution.djvu/45

Rh end of the Garden.Come here! Come along!—What is it? They are ducking a countess!

a countess?

insulted the people! They're ducking her in the fountain!

[on ' arm, laughing]'s run! How amusing!

most amusing performance in Europe!

! What about the Comédie''They go out laughing. The Crowd surges out. ' and ' are down-stage alone; ' stands, while ' sits at a café table. The back of the stage is crowded; some are standing on chairs, watching to see what is happening in the Garden. People walk about under the galleries beyond  and ''.]

[pointing toward the Crowd]! They are not seeking liberty; they prefer plays! Today, when their very lives are in danger, they think of nothing but performing for each other. I want nothing to do with such people! Their insurrections are nothing but absurd antics. I don't want to see any more of them. Oh, to live shut up in a cave, hear nothing of the noise outside, to be free from the vileness of the worldHe sits down, his head between his hands.]

[tranquilly smoking, with a look of irony, says to Marat], Monsieur Marat, you mustn't be discouraged. It's not worth it. They are only big children playing. You know them as well as I do: