[SOLDIERS _aim at_ PAUL, _who does not move_] [_To_ PAUL.] General La Rochejacquelein, we recognize your uniform. Surrender! [PAUL _does not move_.] General, your sword, or we fire! PAUL. [_Rising coolly_.] Fire! POTIN. We do not want to kill you. [_Advancing with extended hand_.] We'd rather have your sword. PAUL. [_Recognizing_ POTIN, _speaks aside_.] Potin!--The wretch!--He may recognize me before the hour is up! [_He draws his sword and extends it backward_. POTIN. [_Taking the sword_.] General, you are our prisoner. [_To_ SOLDIERS.] Comrades, to us--a squad of the battalion of the Bonnet Rouge--is due the glory of taking the leader of these Royalist Brigands!--Hurrah for our Battalion! [_All cheer_. VOICES. [_Outside_.] Long live the Republic! POTIN. [_Looking off_] Bah! Here come the rabble--a crowd of anarchists! GOUJON. Who never share the fighting. POTIN. But claim all the glory fighting brings. GOUJON. Curse these civil shouters! SOLDIERS _all groan. Cries of "Carrac! Carrac!" with cheers heard outside_. POTIN. Here they come, led on by Scarlotte-- GOUJON. Scarlotte! A woman in form--a fury in nature! POTIN. Like my wife. [_Cheers outside_.] Good heavens! Worse and worse! Yonder comes Carrac--the king of curs!--Damme! The devil himself is a saint compared with him. GOUJON. The beast! POTIN. The bloodiest beast of all--a tiger! [_To_ SOLDIERS.] Quick, form on this side [_Pointing to the left_.] and protect the General.--This hog will want to eat him, before we can deliver him to Kleber and get the credit of his capture. [SOLDIERS _form in front of_ PAUL. SCARLOTTE. [_Outside_.] This way, you fools!--Death to Rochejacquelein. Come on! MOB. [_Outside_.] Death to Rochejacquelein! SCARLOTTE. [_Entering, followed by_ MOB.] Rochejacquelein!--Rochejacquelein!--Where is Rochejacquelein? MOB. Down with Rochejacquelein! Down with Rochejacquelein! BOURDOTTE. [_Appearing_.] Silence! Here comes Carrac, the great Carrac--representative of the Republic--who never spares an enemy! [_Comes down stage_. POTIN. And never makes a friend. MOB. Carrac!--Carrac!--Long live Carrac! CARRAC _appears, followed by a second_ MOB, _and makes a gesture commanding silence_. CARRAC. So--this is the ancestral hall of that cursed kin of kings, La Rochejacquelein!--Ha! He's doubtless sneaking like a coward in some safe corner of his den. Is the place surrounded? BOURDOTTE. On every side. SCARLOTTE. Good!--Tear his house about his ears! CARRAC. Aye--strip the old hawk's nest. MOB. Aye!--Aye! [_The_ MOB _dismantle the house, with yells of exultation_. SCARLOTTE. [_Urging them on_.] Heroes of Liberty!--demolish every trace of beauty in the place! _Amid a scene of anarchic rage and turmoil, the room is stript stark_. CARRAC.