Not just yet, maybe. You should have sooner fled! The coach is waiting and the baggage packed. [He again peers out.] Yes, there the coach is; and the clamourers near, Led by Montijo, if I see aright. Yes, they cry “Uncle Peter!”--that means him. There will be time yet. Now I'll take you down So far as I may venture. [They leave the room. In a few minutes GODOY, having taken her down, re-enters and again looks out. JOSEFA'S coach is moving off with a small escort of GODOY'S guards of honour. A sudden yelling begins, and the crowd rushes up and stops the vehicle. An altercation ensues.] CROWD Uncle Peter, it is the Favourite carrying off Prince Fernando. Stop him! JOSEFA [putting her head out of the coach] Silence their uproar, please, Senor Count of Montijo! It is a lady only, the Countess of Castillofiel. MONTIJO Let her pass, let her pass, friends! It is only that pretty wench of his, Pepa Tudo, who calls herself a Countess. Our titles are put to comical uses these days. We shall catch the cock-bird presently! [The DONA JOSEFA'S carriage is allowed to pass on, as a shout from some who have remained before the Royal Palace attracts the attention of the multitude, which surges back thither.] CROWD [nearing the Palace] Call out the King and the Prince. Long live the King! He shall not go. Hola! He is gone! Let us see him! He shall abandon Godoy! [The clamour before the Royal Palace still increasing, a figure emerges upon a balcony, whom GODOY recognizes by the lamplight to be FERNANDO, Prince of Asturias. He can be seen waving his hand. The mob grows suddenly silent.] FERNANDO [in a shaken voice] Citizens! the King my father is in the palace with the Queen. He has been much tried to-day. CROWD Promise, Prince, that he shall not leave us. Promise! FERNANDO I do. I promise in his name. He has mistaken you, thinking you wanted his head. He knows better now. CROWD The villain Godoy misrepresented us to him! Throw out the Prince of Peace! FERNANDO He is not here, my friends. CROWD Then the King shall announce to us that he has dismissed him! Let us see him. The King; the King! [FERNANDO goes in. KING CARLOS comes out reluctantly, and bows to their cheering. He produces a paper with a trembling hand. KING [reading] “As it is the wish of the people---” CROWD Speak up, your Majesty! KING [more loudly] “As it is the wish of the people, I release Don Manuel Godoy, Prince of Peace, from the posts of Generalissimo of the Army and Grand Admiral of the Fleet, and give him leave to withdraw whither he pleases.” CROWD Huzza! KING Citizens, to-morrow the decree is to be posted in Madrid. CROWD Huzza! Long life to the King, and death to Godoy!