ANE.

I love another.

DUKE.

[_Starting_.]

Another!

[_After a pause_.]

His name--?

DIANE.

What matter, since we shall never meet again?

DUKE.

I understand at last!--'Tis Paul Kauvar!

[DIANE _bows her head_.]

So! The saviour of your father's life is scorned for his betrayer! No
wonder that you blush to own it! This makes my course more clear. The
safest cure for this disgraceful love will be your marriage.

DIANE.

That cannot be!

DUKE.

[_Going_.]

I say it shall!

DIANE.

[_Startled_.]

Where are you going?

DUKE.

To seek the priest! Delay is dangerous! You wed to-day and sail
to-night for England.

DIANE.

No, no! Have pity! I have no right to marry.

DUKE.

[_In horror_.]

No right?

DIANE.

[_Falling at his feet_.]

I am a wife already.

DUKE.

His wife?--You, my flesh and blood, a traitor's wife!--Oh God! What
have I done to merit such a blow as this?

DIANE.

Father,--forgive! Hear me!

DUKE.

[_Flinging her off, rushes to the door_.]

Henri, Marquis--here! All of you!

[_Enter_ LA HOGUE, LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN, GOUROC, JEAN _and_ DENISE.]

[_To_ LA ROCHE.]

Call your guards! Drag this woman away! Fling her to these rebel
dogs--for she is one of them!

GOUROC.

What has she done?

DUKE.

Deceived a father's love! Become the mate of my betrayer.

[_Turning on_ DIANE.]

Degraded remnant of my race!--Go! Back to your own, wife of a Sans
Culotte!

GOUROC.

[_Stepping between them_.]

Stay! There must be some mistake!

DUKE.

No! She has confessed that she's the wife of Paul Kauvar.

GOUROC.

That cannot be, for Paul Kauvar is dead.

DUKE.

Dead? How do you know that?

GOUROC.

Because he, disguised, took your place on the guillotine.

DIANE.

[_Rising_.]

My God!

DUKE.

What! I owe my life to him?

GOUROC.

He died to atone his treachery to you.

DIANE.

Traitors do not die to save their victims! His life was noble! His
death sublime!

[_To the_ DUKE.]

You have foully wronged the man who bravely met a martyr's death for
you!--have scorned and spurned me from your side, because I was his
wife. You have disowned me--I now disown you!

[_Turning, she goes swiftly up the steps to the terrace_.

LA ROCHE.

Where are you going?

DIANE.

Back to the Sans Culottes!

DUKE.

Diane!--Daughter!

DIANE.

No! Not your daughter--but his wife! N