The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, EsmeraldaHugo, Victor
General
The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda
Hugo, Victor
French drama -- 19th century -- Translations into English
[_It is night. While Didier has become absorbed in his thoughts,
Marion and The Jailer enter through the opening in the wall; The
Jailer precedes her. He carries a dark-lantern and a bundle, both of
which he places on the ground, then advances cautiously toward Marion,
who has remained standing on the threshold, pale, motionless,
half-wild._
SCENE VI
[The scenes are mis-numbered in the book and skip from the number IV
to the number VI in Act V. (note of etext transcriber)]
_The same._ Marion, The Jailer
THE JAILER (_to Marion)._
Be sure to come at the appointed hour.
[_Goes up stage; during the rest of this scene he continues to walk up
and down at the back._
MARION (_advances with tottering steps as if absorbed in some
desperate thought. Every now and then she draws her hand across
her face as if to rub off something_).
His lips, like red-hot iron, have branded me!
[_Suddenly she discovers Didier, gives a cry, runs and throws herself
breathless at his feet._
Didier--Didier!
DIDIER (_roused with a start_).
Here, Marion! My God!
[_Coldly._] 'Tis you?
MARION.
Who should it be? Oh, leave me here--
Here at your feet! It is the place I love!
Your hands, your dear loved hands, give them--your hands!
Oh, they are wounded! Those harsh chains did that.
The wretched creatures! But I'm here--you know--
Oh, it is terrible! [_She weeps; her sobs are audible._
DIDIER.
Why do you weep?
MARION.
Why? Didier, I'm not weeping! No, I laugh!
[_She laughs._
We'll soon escape from here! I laugh. I'm happy.
You will live; the danger's passed.
[_She falls again at Didier's feet and sobs._
My God!
All this is killing me! I'm broken--crushed.
DIDIER.
Madame--
MARION (_rises, without hearing him, and gets the bundle and brings
it to him_).
Now hurry! We have not much time!
Take this disguise. I've bribed the sentinels.
We'll leave Beaugency without being seen.
Go down that street, at the wall's end, out there!
The Cardinal will come to see them execute
His orders; we can't lose an instant now.
The cannon will be fired when he arrives,
And we'll be lost if we should still be here.
DIDIER.
'Tis well!
MARION.
Quick! hurry! Didier, you are saved!
To be free! Didier, how I love you--God!
DIDIER.
You say a street where the wall ends?
MARION.
I do.
I saw it. I've been there. It is quite safe.
I saw them close up the last window, too.
It may be we shall meet some women, but
They'll think you're just a passer-by. Come, love;
When you are far off--please put on these things--
We'll laugh to see you thus disguised. Come, dear!
DIDIER (_pushing the clothes aside with his foot_).
There is no hurry.
MARION.
Death waits at the door.
Fly! Didier! Since I've come!
DIDIER.
Why did you come?
MARION.
To save you! What a question to ask me!
Why such a freezing tone?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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