SECOND MARQUIS (_seeing Guiche, as he comes from Roxane's box, crossing the pit, surrounded with fawning friends, among whom Valvert_). Guiche! Ff! Another Gascon! FIRST MARQUIS. Yes, of the cool and supple breed, the one that thrives. We had better greet him, believe me. (_Both go up to meet Guiche. General salutations._) SECOND MARQUIS. Beautiful ribbons! What colour, Count? "Kiss-me-darling," or "roe's-breast?" GUICHE. Colour? "Sickly-Spaniard." FIRST MARQUIS. The colour is fast and true; for soon, thanks to your valor, the Spaniard will be worse than uneasy in Flanders! GUICHE. I am going to my seat on the stage. Are you coming? (_He and his followers walk up on to the stage. Guiche turns and calls._) Come along, Valvert! CHRISTIAN (_who has heard, starting_). That viscount! Now I'll fling at him!.... (_Puts his hand to his pocket and finds there the hand of a thief._) (_holding on to the pickpocket_). I was looking for a glove! PICKPOCKET (_smiling_). And you find a hand. (_Aside and rapidly._) Let me go and I'll tell you a secret. CHRISTIAN (_still holding him_). What secret? PICKPOCKET. Lignière, who has just left you, is going to his death. A song of his gave offence to.... some great man, and one hundred men, I know it, will lie in wait for him to-night.... CHRISTIAN (_still holding on_). One hundred! Paid by whom? PICKPOCKET. Discretion.... CHRISTIAN (_shrugging his shoulders_). Oh! PICKPOCKET (_with great dignity_). Professional discretion.... CHRISTIAN. Where? PICKPOCKET. At the Porte de Nesle, his way home. Warn him in time. CHRISTIAN (_freeing the pickpocket_). Where can I find Lignière? PICKPOCKET. In one of the taverns near here: "The Golden Wine-Press," "The Fir-Cone," "The Bursting-Belt," "The Two Torches," "The Three Funnels." Go the rounds and leave a note in each. CHRISTIAN. I'll do it! The wretches! A hundred men against one! (_Looking up toward Roxane._) But to leave her! (_With a look of fury toward Valvert._) And him! But I must save Lignière! (_He rushes out. Guiche and his followers have gone on to the stage behind the curtain, to take their seats. The pit is full; so are the galleries and boxes._) THE AUDIENCE. The play! The play! Curtain! TRADESMAN (_whose wig flies up hooked by one of the pages above_).