ve him a chance to play at clemency!
An emperor should be a sort of vitalized stone, capable
of action but incapable of impression.

Dup. Then I'm the man for emperor! I've always suspected my
qualifications for the part. By the lord, I've made women
who were hungry enough to eat their own children watch my
soldiers throw bread into the sea! And when I was with the
French and English in old Chinee--well, they've called me
the 'Tigre' since then. You've heard about that! (Struts
and sings)

I'm the tigre of the East,
Got my claws in old Pekin
When the yellow kids we fleeced
And held up the mandarin!

O we caught him by the queue,
As he from our captains flew,
That quaking little, shaking little mandarin.
And we dragged him out to view
By that most convenient queue,
When we sacked the summer palace at Pekin!

My friends, if you will excuse me, there are several
dozens of ladies in the ball room waiting for a dance with
the costume par excellence of the evening. I am not always
sure of a welcome for my face, but my costume is never in
doubt. Ah, sweet woman! you can please me twice. I can
dance with you--and I can kill you! When the Emperor asks
for me I shall not decline an introduction,--though he was
not born an emperor and I was born Dupin! (Exit)

Baz. Is he as villainous as his conversation?

Mir. His talk is but the mildest prologue to his deeds.

Baz. Then he's the man for us. We shall never drive back the
Liberals but by methods of unmitigated severity.

Mir. There is no barbarity too great for the intimidation of
these towns.

Baz. The only absolutely safe plan is to raze them from the
earth.

Mir. Trust Dupin! (They go into ballroom. Enter, right, Count
Charles and Aseffa. Her disguise is thrown back revealing
her beauty)

Asef. You help me though a Liberal and your foe!

Char. A foe! Dear lady, when you besought my aid
Methought it was divinity that spoke,
So sacred sweet seemed the request. I'll save
Your brother.

Asef.