ALBIN. Like Alexander the Great. DUKE (smiling). Yes, Alexander the Great.... (To FLIPOTTE.) Give me my sword. (He puts it in the sheath. Slowly.) It is the finest way of making fun of the world; a man who can play any part and at the same time play us is greater than all of us. (ALBIN looks at him in astonishment.) Don't you reflect on what I say. 'Tis all only true at the actual moment. Good-by. MICHETTE. Give me a kiss before you go. FLIPOTTE. Me too! [They hang on to him, the Duke kisses them both at once and goes. In the meanwhile:] ALBIN. a wonderful man! FRANCOIS. That is quite true; ... but the existence of men like that is almost a reason for not marrying. ALBIN. But do explain; what are those girls? FRANCOIS. Actresses. They, too, belong to the troupe of Prosper, who is at present the host of the tavern. No doubt they've done in the past much the same as they're doing now. [GUILLAUME rushes in apparently breathless.] GUILLAUME (making toward the table where the actors are sitting, with his hand on his heart--speaking with difficulty--supporting himself). Saved--ay, saved! SCAEVOLA. What is it? What ails you? ALBIN. What has happened to the man? FRANCOIS. That is part of the acting now. Mark you. ALBIN. Ah! MICHETTE and FLIPOTTE (going quickly to GUILLAUME). What is it? What ails you? SCAEVOLA. Sit down. Take a draught! GUILLAUME. More!--more! Prosper, more wine! I have been running. My tongue cleaves to my mouth. They were right at my heels. JULES (gives a start). Ah! be careful; they really are at our heels. HOST. Come, tell us, what happened then? (To the actors.) Movement!--more movement! GUILLAUME. Women here ... women--ah! (Embraces FLIPOTTE.) That brings one back to life again! (To ALBIN, who is highly impressed.) The Devil take me, my boy, if I thought I would ever see you alive again. (As though he were listening.) They come!--they come! (Goes to the door.) No, it is nothing ... They ... ALBIN. How strange! There really is a noise, as though people outside were pressing forward very quickly. Is that part of the stage effects as well? SCAEVOLA. He goes in for such damned subtleties every blessed time. (To JULES.) 'Tis too silly-- HOST. Come now, tell us why they are at your heels again? GUILLAUME. Oh, nothing special. But if they got me, it would cost me my head. I've set fire to a house. [During this in and sit down at the tables.] HOST (softly). Go on!--go on! GUILLAUME (in the same tone). What more do you want? Isn't it enough for you if I've set fire to a house? FRANCOIS. But tell me, my friend, why you set fire to the house. GUILLAUME. Because the President of the Supreme Court lived in it. We wanted to make a beginning with him. We wanted to keep the good Parisian householders from taking folk into their houses so lightly who send us poor devils to the prison. GRAIN. That's good! That's good!