DIANE. No, no, Paul!--I cannot endure this!--I will stay! I will stay! PAUL. [_Starting up_.] No! You must not! I dare not keep you here.--I fear the worst! DIANE. What do you mean? PAUL. Don't ask me. I do not know myself. But you--when you are gone--you will not forget me? DIANE. Not while memory lasts! PAUL. And I--perhaps I--some day--shall be free to seek you. DIANE. God grant that day is near! PAUL. And we--when we meet again, will you find courage to acknowledge who I am? DIANE. Nay--if you desire it--I'll prove my deathless love before I go.--I'll tell my father all. PAUL. No, never!--Never till I've won a name that even your proud father is forced to honour. Meantime, I ask but this--your love and trust, while I have life to strive. DIANE. You shall have it!--Yes, through sunshine and shadow, I will love and trust you to the end. [_They embrace_. DUKE. [_Outside_.] Nanette, the coach is ready: be quick, bear our baggage to the door. [PAUL _and_ DIANE _separate quickly. Entering, the_ DUKE _glances suspiciously at the two, then advances to_ PAUL.] Paul Kauvar, let us not part in bitterness. I owe you much; I grieve to see you suffer. Courage! Believe me, I never honoured you as I do now. [_Extends his hand_. PAUL _turns away_.] Will you not take my hand? PAUL. No, Monsieur. Not until you think it worthy to guide and guard your daughter, as my wife. DUKE. [_Starts haughtily, then turns to_ DIANE.] Come, child! Tis time that we were gone. DIANE. [_Crossing and extending her hand to_ PAUL.] Farewell! PAUL. [_Taking her hand, speaks aside to her_.] Remember, love and trust. DIANE. Forever! [PAUL _kisses her hand. She comes slowly to her father, keeping her eyes in anguish on_ PAUL. [_The_ DUKE _leads her toward the folding doors which are suddenly thrown open, disclosing a platoon of_ GUARDS. DIANE _shrieks, the_ DUKE _starts back_, PAUL _turns in horror_. TABOOZE _advances into the room_. TABOOZE. In the name of the Republic, I arrest Honoré Albert Maxime, heretofore Duc de Beaumont. DIANE. [_Clasping the_ DUKE.] Father! PAUL. [_Sternly_.] What does this mean?--Whose name is on that warrant? TABOOZE. [_With surprise_.] Why, your own, Citizen. [PAUL _recoils, stunned_. DUKE. What! Betrayed by you? DIANE. No, no! It is not true! [_Snatching the paper, looking, then with a cry_.] Great heaven!--It is!--His name and hand! [_She sinks down in despair_. PAUL. [_Passionately, to the_ DUKE.] I betray you!--I, Paul Kauvar.--Tis false! [_To_ DIANE.] You at least will not believe this lie. DUKE. [_Interposing_.] Silence! Better death to her than the pollution of another word from you! PAUL. But my God!--You do not know.--She is-- DIANE. [_Starting up wildly_.] Stop!--I forbid you to say more! CURTAIN. ACT II.