AUL.

Wife gone!--Home desolated!--Naught left but the haunting memory of
joy forever lost!--Ah, I am weary, heart-broken--helpless!

[_He sinks into the chair at desk, and buries his face in his arms.
Slowly the light dims to darkness. At back, the stage is transformed
into a_ TABLEAU OF KAUVAR'S DREAM OF ANARCHY.

_Mysterious music accompanies the Dream, which consists of a tableau
of the guillotine in the Place de la Revolution, in Paris, by
moonlight.

Here is seen the scaffold, with its ghastly paraphernalia, surrounded
by ferocious_ SANS CULOTTES, _and_ GENS D'ARMES. _Amidst them is an
old hag.

The death-cart, with its load of victims, is seen in the
foreground--the entrance to the garden with the palace of the
Tuilleries in the background.

The_ HEADSMAN _stands ready, near the knife of the guillotine.

From the death-cart_ DIANE _glides on and slowly goes up the scaffold
steps.

As she reaches the top, she is seized roughly by the_ HEADSMAN.

_At this moment_ PAUL _starts with a cry of agony from his chair--and
at his shriek, the whole Tableau of the Dream instantly disappears_.

PAUL.

[_Starting up wildly_.]

No, no!--My life for hers!--My life for hers!

[_Waking, as the Dream disappears, he looks about dazed and
bewildered; then bursts into hysterical laughter_.]

A dream!--Thank God, a dream!--Only a horrible dream!

[_Suddenly stops short in horror_.]

How dark and still the house is. My God!--Something has
happened!--What is it?

[_Shrieks with terror_.]

Diane!--Diane!

NANETTE.

[_Entering with lamp_.]

What's the matter?

PAUL.

Diane--Mademoiselle Diane, where is she?

DIANE.

[_Appearing, dressed to go away_.]

Here!

PAUL.

[_Makes a spontaneous movement toward her, then checks himself and
turns to_ NANETTE.]

Leave us!

[NANETTE _goes silently away_. PAUL _speaks to_ DIANE _hoarsely_.]

Where are you going?

DIANE.

I am going to do my duty--follow the father who would die without my
care.

PAUL.

[_After a pause_.]

Yes, I remember now.--You are right.--You will be safer out of
France.--The dream! The dream!

DIANE.

What dream?

PAUL.

No matter! I am resigned now! Yes, resigned--resigned--resigned!

[_Sinks sobbing into chair_.

DIANE.

No, no, Paul!--I cannot endure this!--I will stay! I will stay!

PAUL.

[_Starting up_.]

No! You must not! I dare not keep you here.--I fear the worst!

DIANE.

W