e roars like a lion) it was the Duc de Cadignan, and I murdered
him.

HOST (who now at last takes it for the truth). Madman!

[HENRI looks up, gazes fixedly at HOST.]

SEVERINE. Bravo!--bravo!

ROLLIN. What are you doing. Marquise? The moment you call out "bravo!"
you make it all acting again--and the pleasant shudder is past.

MARQUIS. I do not find the shudder so pleasant. Let us applaud, my
friends; that is the only way we can throw off the spell.

[A gentle bravo, growing continually louder; all applaud.]

HOST (to HENRI, during the noise). Save yourself--flee, Henri.

HENRI. What!--what!

HOST. Let this be enough, and see that you get away.

FRANCOIS. Hush!... Let us hear what the host says.

HOST (after a short reflection). I am telling him that he ought to
get away before the watch at the city gates are informed. The handsome
Duke was a favorite of the King--they will break you on the wheel. Far
better had it been had you stabbed that scum, your wife.

FRANCOIS. What playing up to each other!... Splendid!

HENRI. Prosper, which of us is mad, you or I! (He stands there and
tries to read in PROSPER'S eyes.)

ROLLIN. It is wonderful; we all know that he is acting, and yet if the
Duc de Cadignan were to enter now, it would be like a ghost appearing.

[Noise outside--growing stronger and stronger. People come in;
shrieks are heard. Right at their head GRASSET. Others, among
them LEBRET, force their way over the steps. Cries of "Liberty!
Liberty!" are heard.]

GRASSET. Here we are, my boys--in here!

ALBIN. What is that? Is that part of the performance?

FRANCOIS. No.

MARQUIS. What means it?

SEVERINE. What people are those?

GRASSET. In here! I tell you, my friend Prosper has still got a barrel
of wine left, and we have earned it. (Noise from the streets.) Friend!
Brother! We have them!--we have them!

SHOUTS (from outside). Liberty! Liberty!

SEVERINE. What has happened?

MARQUIS. Let us get away--let us get away; the mob approaches.

ROLLIN. How do you propose to get away?

GRASSET. It has fallen; the Bastille has fallen!

HOST. What say you? Speaks he the truth?

GRASSET. Hear you not?

[ALBIN wants to draw his sword.]

FRANCOIS. Stop that at once, or we are all lost.

GRASSET (reeling in down the stairs). And if you hasten, you will still
be in time to see quite a merry si