A picture by Raffet!--Charlet!--Vernet! SEVERAL MASKS. How worn his coat is!--And how singed!--And dusty!-- Who's your costumier?--Tell us! FLAMBEAU. They are ladies:-- The ancient firm of War and Victory Sisters. A MASK. That's good. FLAMBEAU. It's not the firm you patronize. FIRST MASK. I'll swear it's Zichy. _Offering his hand._] Count, your hand. FLAMBEAU. [_Blowing a puff of smoke in his face._] Get out. FIRST MASK. [_Going out, to the others._] He's masked his language as he's masked his face. FLAMBEAU. [_Singing._] When we marched to Krasnoï, Cold and hungry, too, were we! A MASK. He's really excellent. In Russia, old 'un, 'Twas pretty cold? FLAMBEAU. Yes; till we gave 'em hell. [_Sings._] By Jingo, but it keeps you warm Merely to see 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?