this movement
Were not my own. Within me still remains
A reverence for my mother and her freedom!
'Twas he--'Twas he by whom my soul's possessed,
Who sprang upon you with this tragic force!
Thank God! I'm saved! The Corsican leapt out!

BOMBELLES.

Sir--!

THE DUKE.

Nothing, sir!

[_To_ MARIA LOUISA.]

My humble duty, Madam!
Return to Sala, spend your days in peace.
The castle has two wings, as I am told:
One is a theatre and one a chapel.
Thus dwelling in the middle, you shall feel
Evenly balanced 'twixt the world and God.
My humble duty!

MARIA LOUISA.

Franz!

THE DUKE.

Why, truly, Madam,
It's your prerogative to be mere woman.
Go, be a woman in the Sala palace;
But tell yourself, Ah! tell yourself--and this
Shall be your sad atonement for his glory,
Widow who cast aside her widow's weeds!--
Tell yourself this: Men only gaze upon you
For the immortal fame he robed you in,
And only whisper praises of your beauty
Because of old he conquered all the world!

MARIA LOUISA.

I'll hear no more! Bombelles, let us begone!

THE DUKE.

Return to Sala. I am saved. Thank God!

MARIA LOUISA.

Farewell!

THE DUKE.

O hands, cold hands within the tomb,
Sad hands because the Imperial ring slipped from you,
Hands that have held her brow who years ago
Shed bitter tears that I was not her son,
Hands laid in blessing on my orphaned soul,
Weeping I kiss you, hands of Josephine!

MARIA LOUISA.

The Creole! Do you think at Malmaison--?

THE DUKE.

Silence! If it be true, all the more reason!
All the more reason why I should be faithful!

[MARIA LOUISA _and_ BOMBELLES _go out_.]
[_Enter_ METTERNICH _and_ SEDLINZKY.]

METTERNICH.

[_To_ SEDLINZKY.]

Yes, yes; I humbled that rebellious child!

[_He sees the_ DUKE.]

You here? And in this uniform? What means?

THE DUKE.

Were we not asked to come here in--disguise?

SEDLINZKY.

The pride your Excellency broke last night
Even in its fragments keeps its insolence.

[_To the_ DUKE.]

What are you dreaming of, far from the ball,
My little Colonel?

THE DUKE.

Of my Little Corporal!

METTERNICH.

[_On the point of breaking out._]

Oh, I--

[_Mastering himself._]

But I must go to my despatches.
'Tis all to do again!

[_He and_ SEDLINZKY _go out._]
[_Enter_ FANNY ELSSLER.]

FA