his uniform!

A MASK.

His uniform wants patching now, though; what?

FLAMBEAU.

So did your breeches when he'd kicked you; what?

SEVERAL.

Ha! Very funny!

FIRST MASK.

Natural.

SECOND MASK.

Exact.

THIRD MASK..

But doubtful taste.

THE USHER.

The comedy's begun!

FANNY.

[_To the_ DUKE.]

I'm back again. The Countess understands.

FLAMBEAU.

[_To_ THERESA.]

Will you accept a veteran's arm?

THERESA.

No.

FLAMBEAU.

Why?

THERESA.

I'm leaving, sir. Apart from that, I'm French,
And see no humor in a parody
Of heroes whom by chance you conquered.

FLAMBEAU.

You--
Ah! I adore you!

[_She runs away. Just as she is disappearing the_
DUKE _makes a movement toward her._]

THE DUKE.

Ah!--the tryst.

THERESA.

The tryst--?

THE DUKE.

No--nothing.

[THERESA _passes on._]

She must keep it. She must show
Whether she would have been sublimely weak,
And given herself unthinking--without hope--
Only because she saw me sad to-night.

FANNY.

[_To_ FLAMBEAU.]

Watch where they've got to in the comedy.

[FLAMBEAU _goes to the entrance of the theatre._]

[_To the_ DUKE.]

The time has come.

FLAMBEAU.

All eyes are running over
With grief for Stanislas, the mournful Pole.

FANNY.

Here is the Countess, Duke.

THE DUKE.

My very image!
I'm coming toward myself as in a glass.

[_The_ COUNTESS CAMERATA _enters, dressed exactly
like the_ DUKE, _with the exception of her
cloak, which is brown._]

THE COUNTESS.

Well met, Napoleon!

THE DUKE.

And Napoleone!

THE COUNTESS.

I'm very calm--and you?

THE DUKE.

I see the risks
You'll run for my sake.

THE COUNTESS.

Not for your sake.

THE DUKE.

Ah?

THE COUNTESS.

No! For the name, the glory, and our blood!

THE DUKE.

You bravely clash your arms, fair Amazon!

THE COUNTESS.

The deed were nothing, were it done for love.

THE DUKE.

Speaking of love, if, when you've taken my place
In yonder hunting-lodge, by any chance
A woman ca