e._]

You've told me all you know
About my Father's youth?

MARMONT.

I have.

THE DUKE.

We'll sum it up
You'd call him great?

MARMONT.

Oh, very.

THE DUKE.

But 'twas you
Who helped--

MARMONT.

I helped him to avoid--

THE DUKE.

Disaster?

MARMONT.

Well, he believed so stoutly--

THE DUKE.

In his star?

MARMONT.

We perfectly agree in our conclusions.

THE DUKE.

And I suppose he was, as we were saying--

MARMONT.

He was a General of some importance;
Yet it were hardly fair to call him--

THE DUKE.

Wretch!

MARMONT.

What?

THE DUKE.

Now I've learnt whatever you could teach me,
Whatever memories of him you had,
All that, in spite of you, was splendid in you.
I cast you off: a useless sponge!

MARMONT.

My Lord!

THE DUKE.

Duke of Ragusa, you betrayed him! You!
Ah, yes, I know, when you beheld your comrade
Climbing the throne you all said, "Why not I?"
But you, whom even in the ranks he loved,
And loved so well his men grew discontented,
Created Marshal at the age of thirty--

MARMONT.

No; thirty-five.

THE DUKE.

You, traitor of Essonnes,
The mob has found new uses for your name
And coined a verb "_Raguser_," to betray!
Why do you stand there silent? Answer me.
'Tis not alone Prince Francis Charles, it is
Napoleon the Second speaking to you.

MARMONT.

[_Listening._]

They come--Prince Metternich--I know his voice.

THE DUKE.

Well! you know what to do. Betray us twice!

METTERNICH.

[_Entering with_ PROKESCH.]

Don't interrupt your chat. I'm taking Prokesch
Across the park to see the Roman ruins
Where I propose to give a ball. I am
The last survivor of a crumbling world.
I like the idea of dancing over ruins.
Good-night.

[_He goes out with_ PROKESCH.]

MARMONT.

My Lord, you see I held my peace.

THE DUKE.

It only needed that you should _raguse_.

MARMONT.

Oh, conjugate the verb! I'll take a seat.

THE DUKE.

What!

MARMONT.

I will let you conjugate the verb
Because you were magnificent just now.

THE DUKE.

Sir!

MARMONT.

I have spoken evil of your Fa