]

I fear this is a death-blow to our plans to-night.

PRISONER.

A death-blow dealt by me!--You'd better kill me quickly before I do
more damage.

LA ROCHE.

You are right, sir; I should be faithless to my King if I showed you
mercy now.

PRISONER.

Bravo! Mercy to enemies is as base as cruelty to friends.

LA HOGUE.

Damn me! There's no fun in killing such a fool--he seems to like it!

[_Enter_ ORDERLY _with_ GUARDS.

LA ROCHE.

[_To_ ORDERLY.]

Take the prisoner outside and shoot him there at once.

[GUARD _crosses to_ PRISONER.]

Have you any last request?

PRISONER.

But one.--You have shown me the kindness of an honest-hearted man.
War has made us enemies, but, in the presence of the peace of death,
I would like to feel that as Frenchmen we are friends, and ask one
parting grasp from you.

LA ROCHE.

[_Grasps his hand_.]

With all my heart!--May we meet like this above.

LA HOGUE.

[_With emotion_.]

Curse these youngsters, they make me snivel like a fool.

[_He blows his nose furiously.

The_ PRISONER _bows, takes his place in the platoon of_ GUARDS, _who
begin to march off. When they are on the terrace_, LA HOGUE _suddenly
cries out_.

LA HOGUE.

Halt!--

[ORDERLY _about-faces and waits for orders_.]

You have not given us your name.

PRISONER.

I prefer to let it die with me.

LA HOGUE.

Hang it, sir! Courage is glorious even in a rebel rascal like
yourself.

LA ROCHE.

Some friend may be glad to know how fearlessly you met your fate.

PRISONER.

The only ears I'd care to reach would rather never hear my name again.

LA HOGUE.

But curse your stubbornness! I want to know your name myself. Can't
you be civil as well as brave?

PRISONER.

[_Laughing_.]

Well, then, to please your gentle highness, I must give it. I am
Captain on the Staff of General Kleber--Captain Kauvar.

LA ROCHE _and_ LA HOGUE.

[_Starting_.]

Kauvar?

PAUL.

Yes--Captain Paul Kauvar.

LA ROCHE.

[_Turning amazed to_ LA HOGUE.]

What do you think of this?

LA HOGUE.

That if I had a regiment of Paul Kauvar's, I'd conquer Europe.

LA ROCHE.

My cousin's husband was guillotined. There's some mistake.

[_To_ GUARD.]

Leave the prisoner, and wait outside for orders.

PAUL.

[_Stopping the_ GUARD.]

Stay!--

[ORDERLY _waits for further orders_.]

[_To_ LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.]

General, I beg of you to spare me furt