"But your rehearsals at the Odéon?" "Bah! The parts are being collated to-day; for a fortnight they will read round a table or rehearse with the parts in their hands. By the end of the fortnight Richard will be finished." _"Amen!_" "Adieu." "Are you going already?" "I must get to work." "At what?" "Why at _Richard_, of course! Do you think I have too much time? Our first act is not an easy one to begin." "Don't forget the part of Tompson!" "You needn't be anxious, I have it ... When we come to the scene where Mawbray kills him we will give him a Shakespearian death!" "Mawbray kills him then?" "Yes ... Did I not tell you that?" "No." "The deuce! does it displease you, then, that Mawbray kills Tompson?" "I? Not the slightest." "You will leave it to me? Tompson?" "Certainly." "Then he is a dead man. Adieu." I ran off and got into bed. At that time I still maintained the habit of writing my dramas in bed. Whilst I wrote the first scene of the first act, Goubaux and Beudin did the election scene, a lively, animated scene, full of character. When Goubaux came to dine with me, on the following Thursday, everything was ready and the two scenes could be fitted together. I then began on the second act, that is to say, upon the vital part of the drama. Richard's talent has caused him to reach the front rank of the Opposition, and he refuses all offers made him by the ministers; but he is cleverly brought in contact with an unknown benefactor, who makes him such offers and promises that Richard sells his conscience to become the son-in-law of Lord Wilmor and to be a minister. It is in the second scene of that act that the divorce incident takes place between Richard and Jenny, which was imitated from Schiller. On the Tuesday following we had a fresh meeting. All went swimmingly, except the scene between the king and Richard. I had completely failed in this, and so Goubaux undertook to remould it, and he made it what it is, that is to say, one of the best and cleverest in the work. Here is the scene imitated from Schiller-- "ACTE IV.--SCENE IX. LE ROI.--Je ne me connais plus moi-même! je ne respecte plus aucune voix, aucune loi de la nature, aucun droit des nations! LA REINE.--Combien je plains Votre Majesté! LE ROI.--Me plaindre? La pitié d'une impudique! L'INFANTE, _se jetant tout effrayée dans les bras de sa mère._--Le roi est en colère, et ma mère chérie pleure! (_Le roi arrache l'infante des bras de sa mère._) LA REINE, _avec douceur et dignité mais à une voix tremblante._--Je dois pourtant garantir cette enfant des mauvais traitements!... Viens avec moi, ma fille! (_Elle la prend dans ses bras._) Si le roi ne veut pas te reconnaîtra, je ferai venir de l'autre côté des Pyrénées des protecteurs pour défendre notre cause! (_Elle veut sortir._) LE ROI, _trouble._--Madame!