My God! Just God! Condemned to death! They've taken him away. To kill him! Oh, I brought this ruin on him with my cries! I called for help, but my unhappy voice Found death in the dark streets and brought her here. Impossible! A duel is no crime! [_To L'Angely._ They'll not kill him for that? L'ANGELY. I think they will. MARION. He can escape! L'ANGELY. The prison walls are high! MARION. I've brought this crime upon him with my sins. God strikes him for my sake! My Didier! love! [_To L'Angely._] Nothing on earth seemed good enough for him! A prison cell--my God! Death! Torture too! L'ANGELY. Perhaps! It all depends-- MARION. I'll find the King! He has a royal heart; he pardons. L'ANGELY. Yes, The King does, not the Cardinal. MARION. Then, what-- What can I do? L'ANGELY. A capital offense, Nothing can save him from the fatal rope. MARION. Oh, grief! [_To L'Angely._] You freeze my blood, sir. Who are you? L'ANGELY. I'm the King's jester! MARION. Oh, my Didier, love, I'm lost, unworthy; but what God can do With a weak woman's hands, I'll show to you. Go on, my love; I follow! [_She goes out on the side from which Didier left._ L'ANGELY (_alone_). God knows where! [_Picking up the sword which Didier left on the ground._ Among all these, who'd think I was the fool? [_He goes out._ _ACT III_ THE COMEDY Scene.--_The Castle of Nangis. A park in the style of Henry IV. In the background on an elevation, the Castle of Nangis, part new, part old, is visible. The old, a castle-keep with arches and turrets: the new, a large brick house with corners of wrought stone, and pointed roof. The large door of the castle-keep is hung with black: from afar one distinguishes a coat-of-arms--that of the families of Nangis and of Saverny_ SCENE I _M. DE LAFFEMAS, undress costume of a magistrate of the period. Marquis de Saverny, disguised as an officer of the Regiment of Anjou; with black mustache and imperial, and a plaster on the eye_ LAFFEMAS. Then you were present, sir, at the attack? SAVERNY (_pulling his mustache_). I was his comrade: had that honor, sir! But he is dead! LAFFEMAS. The Marquis de Saverny? SAVERNY. Yes, from a thrust in tierce, which burst the doublet, Then carved its cruel way between the ribs Through to the chest and to the liver, which, As you well know, makes blood. The wound was fearful. 'Twas horrible to see! LAFFEMAS. He died at once? SAVERNY. Almost. His agony was short. I watched The spasm follow frenzy; tetanos Then came, and after opisthotonos There followed improstathonos. LAFFEMAS. The deuce! SAVERNY.