[_Tuesday, July 14th. The Interior Court of the Bastille. To the left are seen the bases of two enormous towers the tops of which are invisible. Between them are thick masses of wall, rising up like mountains of stone. Opposite is the gate and the draw-bridge leading to the Government Court. To the right, a one-story structure standing against the walls of the other towers. As the curtain rises, the Pensioner_ BÉQUART _and his companions are stationed in the Court, with three cannon._ VINTIMILLE, _commander of the Pensioners, is seated, bored and indifferent. Swiss Guards enter now and then from the draw-bridge with news of the revolt, which is now heard outside the other gate leading to the Government Court. The rattle of muskets, cries, and the beating of drums are heard without. Occasional smoke clouds rise above the walls._] DE LAUNEY [_Governor of the Bastille, enters from the other court, nervous and agitated_]. Well, Monsieur de Vintimille, you see? They are attacking! VINTIMILLE [_with a touch of irony and weariness_]. Well, Monsieur de Launey, let them attack. What is it to us? Unless they have wings, like the Messieurs Montgolfier, I defy them to make their way in. THE PENSIONERS [_among themselves_]. Good God! BÉQUART. Poor devils, they'll be ground to bits! Not one will be left living. Those damned Swiss keep firing on them. It's wrong to shoot down defenseless people like that! Especially when you are in a fort behind good solid walls. A PENSIONER. Tell me, why are they attacking us? BÉQUART. Can't tell what's come over them at all. Not like it used to be. Don't understand. They're all mad, this last month especially. Well, anyway, it's too bad to treat them like that. They're not bad. They're people like us. PENSIONER. Well, it's the order. So much the worse. They had no business doing it. BÉQUART. Of course. And it's fine to hear that music! I never thought I'd live to see another battle. DE FLUE [_Commander of the Swiss Guards, entering from the other court_]. Monsieur le Gouverneur, will you please burn the houses in the neighborhood? They can shoot into the court from the roofs. DE LAUNEY. No, I can't burn private property. I have no right. DE FLUE. War without incendiarism is like eel without mustard. Very good of you to have these scruples! But when you make war, you must stop at nothing, or else never begin. DE LAUNEY. What do you think, Monsieur de Vintimille? VINTIMILLE [_with a shrug_]. It makes no difference to me. Do as you like. They'll never come in here. But if you care to profit by the occasion to clean out the quarter, together with those idiots who meet there, don't hesitate. Do as you like; it's a matter of no importance. DE LAUNEY. Let us wait; there is no immediate hurry. We have plenty of men and ammunition; we are not yet reduced to extremes. Are we, old Béquart?