n to my present grade.

LA ROCHE.

What if your willingness to die to save her father had convinced Diane
that you were innocent, and had taught her a deeper love for you?

PAUL.

Ah! Then life would be worth living once again!--Can you have heard
from her--seen her?

LA ROCHE.

You can see her for yourself--save your own life--and bring boundless
joy to hers.

PAUL.

How?

LA ROCHE.

Espouse our cause!

PAUL.

What!--Betray my country?

LA ROCHE.

No.--Redeem your country!--Desert the side of those who bring disgrace
upon your native land--of fiends, who drown her soil in blood!--blood
bred from the noblest heroes of her history.

PAUL.

Heroes who debauched our women, and enslaved our men!--Libertines who
let harlots reign in France! Despots whose arrogant descendants are
crushed to-day beneath their fathers' sins!

LA ROCHE.

What, sir! You, a soldier, justify these Jacobins--anarchists like
Carrac, who slaughter hundreds of defenceless women every day, and
even outrage little children?

PAUL.

Anarchists are monsters your race bred when it brutalized their
mothers.

LA ROCHE.

Enough, sir! I see that I must leave you to your fate.

PAUL.

But Diane, my wife! Give me one word of her.

LA ROCHE.

Yes. You shall know that she believes you innocent, is sick with grief
and desolation in thinking you are dead.

PAUL.

You have seen her, then?

LA ROCHE.

Yes--here, within an hour.

PAUL.

She is here now, within call--?

[LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN _makes sign of assent_. PAUL _kneels at his
feet_.]

My God! In pity's name, let me see her once again.

LA ROCHE.

And so re-open the old wounds?--re-awaken hope, but to deepen her
despair?

PAUL.

[_Rising slowly_.]

No, no! You're right. I will not purchase joy at the cost of pain to
her!--Call your guards. I die happy, knowing she'll remember me with
love.

LA ROCHE.

For her sake renounce rebellion, and I unite you both forever.

PAUL.

Better I should never see her face again than be unworthy of her love.

LA HOGUE.

Great Caesar! Here's an eagle facing death in loyalty to carrion
crows!--The noble bird is mad! We must not kill, but cure him.

LA ROCHE.

What do you propose?

LA HOGUE.

Put him on parole. Let him give his word that he'll not fight until
he's exchanged.

LA ROCHE.

True! Captain Kauvar, you are a prisoner of war, a man of proven
honour