A man condemned to die--whom I disguised--to take your father's place. DIANE. [_Falling on her knees_.] O God! Spare this man all pain in death--and give him life eternal! CURTAIN. ACT III. SCENE. _Headquarters of Royalists in Vendée. Interior of hall in old chateau. Fireplace; large doorways with staircase leading to terrace, overlooking Granville; Faubourg de Calvaire in middle ground. Doors from hall. Bay window with large table covered with papers, maps, etc. Charts near table and fireplace_. DISCOVERED: SENTINEL _on terrace_; LA HOGUE _seated at the table busy with papers_. _At rise of curtain--drums and fifes heard in distance_. DENISE _enters, goes to terrace, gazes anxiously, then turns and crosses quickly to_ LA HOGUE. DENISE. [_Shouting loudly_.] Monsieur La Hogue! LA HOGUE. [_Gruffly_.] Well? DENISE. Do you hear? LA HOGUE. [_Impatiently_.] Hear what? DENISE. The drums and piccolos yonder. LA HOGUE. [_Listening_.] I can hear nothing. [_Drums, etc., sound more loud_. DENISE. But listen now, it grows louder--up from Ville d'Avranches. LA HOGUE. [_Starting up_.] D'Avranches?--Ha! Re-inforcements for the Kings' army! None too soon! [_Drums, etc., cease_.] [_Enter an_ ORDERLY, _who presents papers_. LA HOGUE _takes papers, reads, and exclaims_.] The Count de Parame with recruits! [_To the_ ORDERLY.] Tell your Colonel to report here instantly! General de la Rochejacquelein [_Enter_ LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.] is indignant at his delay, and-- LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN. [_To_ LA HOGUE.] Gently, old friend! La Rochejacquelein will speak for himself. [_To_ ORDERLY.] Ask the Count to honour me with his presence here as speedily as possible. [_Exit_ ORDERLY.] Now these re-inforcements have arrived, we'll give these rebels battle. LA HOGUE. At last, thank God! And we're ready for the fight. [_Pointing_.] In the Faubourg de Calvaire there's hardly a house but harbours a detachment of our men. LA ROCHE. With that village in our hands we'll bring Granville town to terms. To-night we will assault the place at every point. LA HOGUE. [_Reverently_.] And God in mercy aid King Louis' men! LA ROCHE _and_ DENISE. [_Together_.] Amen! LA ROCHE. [_To_ LA HOGUE.] Await the Count upon the terrace, and take him to my private room. But no roughness to the Colonel--try to be charming for a change. LA HOGUE. Bah! Leave charmers to women,--only fighters win at war! [_Exit_. LA ROCHE. [_To_ DENISE.] How long since you have heard from Jean Litais? DENISE. Not since he, my lover, went to Paris to aid the Duc de Beaumont to escape. LA ROCHE. This fiendish reign of terror has prevented me from hearing of the Duke till now. DENISE. And you have heard--? LA ROCHE. The worst of news! Among some papers captured in a skirmish, I found this journal, [_Producing paper_.] printed at Paris some three months ago. It contains a list of those beheaded the preceding day.--See this name I've underlined.