SAINT-RÉAULT. This trail which he has blazed, I, too, have followed, and not without distinction, if I may be permitted to say so. Another, coming after us, has tried to snatch a few words of wisdom from the eternal Verity of the Sphinx, until our time unfathomed in any theogony. I speak of Revel, highly esteemed both as scholar and gentleman. My illustrious father is dead, and Revel is not long for this earth—if he has not already passed away. Therefore I alone am left monarch of this new domain of science of which my father, Guillaume Eriel de Saint-Réault, was the discoverer. I, alone! (_Looking at_ TOULONNIER) May those who govern us, those who are invested with power and authority, those upon whom will devolve the delicate task of choosing a successor to our lamented colleague—whom perhaps we shall mourn to-morrow—may these eminent men (_Looking at_ BELLAC, _who is speaking with_ TOULONNIER) in spite of the more or less legitimate solicitations to which they are prey, make an impartial, enlightened choice, determined solely by the threefold requirements of age, aptitude and acquired experience—a choice of a successor worthy to my illustrious father, and of the great work which is his,—and of which, I repeat, I am the sole living representative. (_Everyone rises. Applause and general confusion. Meanwhile servants enter with refreshments._) SEVERAL VOICES. Splendid! Bravo! PAUL. At last I understand what he’s driving at! MME. DE CÉRAN. A candidate for Revel’s place! BELLAC. In the Academy, the New School, in everything! MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Aside_) I might have expected it! SERVANT. (_Announcing_) The General! Comte de Briais!—Monsieur Virot! (_Enter the_ GENERAL _and_ M. VIROT.) GENERAL. (_Kissing_ MADAME DE CÉRAN’S _hand_) Countess! MME. DE CÉRAN. Ah, Senator—— VIROT. (_Kissing_ MADAME DE CÉRAN’S _hand_) Madame la comtesse! MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To_ VIROT) Too late! my dear Deputy, too late! GENERAL. (_Gallantly_) One cannot come too early to your salon, Countess! MME. DE CÉRAN. Monsieur de Saint-Réault was speaking; can one say more? GENERAL. (_Bowing to_ SAINT-RÉAULT) My loss! VIROT. (_Taking the_ GENERAL _to the left_) Well, Senator, if the House passes the law, will you vote it down? GENERAL. Of course—at least the first time! The Senate must do that much. VIROT. Ah! Duchess! (_Together with the_ GENERAL, _they go to greet the_ DUCHESS. PAUL RAYMOND _and_ JEANNE _slip out of the room into the garden_.) MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To_ SAINT-RÉAULT) You surpassed yourself this evening, Saint-Réault! MME. ARRIÉGO. Yes, you surpassed yourself. There is no other word for it. MME. DE LOUDAN. Ah, Baron, Baron, what a world you have opened up to us! How captivating are these first stammering professions of primitive faith! And that Buddhist Trinity, oh, I’m quite mad about it!