HENRI (with growing excitement). I escorted her ... to the theatre ... today was to be the last time.... I kissed her ... at the door ... and she went to her dressing-room ... and I went off like a man who has nothing to fear. But when I had gone a hundred yards, I began ... to have ... within me--do you understand? ... a terrible unrest ... and it was as though something forced me to turn round ... and I turned round and went back. But once there I felt ashamed and went away again ... and again I walked a hundred yards away from the theatre ... and then something gripped me ... again I went back. Her scene was at an end--she hasn't got much to do, she just stands awhile on the stage half naked--and then she has finished. I stood in front of her dressing-room, put my ear to the door, and heard whispers. I could not make out a word ... the whispering ceased ... I pushed open the door ... (he roars like a lion) it was the Duc de Cadignan, and I murdered him. HOST (who now at last takes it for the truth). Madman! [HENRI looks up, gazes fixedly at HOST.] SEVERINE. Bravo!--bravo! ROLLIN. What are you doing. Marquise? The moment you call out "bravo!" you make it all acting again--and the pleasant shudder is past. MARQUIS. I do not find the shudder so pleasant. Let us applaud, my friends; that is the only way we can throw off the spell. [A gentle bravo, growing continually louder; all applaud.] HOST (to HENRI, during the noise). Save yourself--flee, Henri. HENRI. What!--what! HOST. Let this be enough, and see that you get away. FRANCOIS. Hush!... Let us hear what the host says. HOST (after a short reflection). I am telling him that he ought to get away before the watch at the city gates are informed. The handsome Duke was a favorite of the King--they will break you on the wheel. Far better had it been had you stabbed that scum, your wife. FRANCOIS. What playing up to each other!... Splendid! HENRI. Prosper, which of us is mad, you or I! (He stands there and tries to read in PROSPER'S eyes.) ROLLIN. It is wonderful; we all know that he is acting, and yet if the Duc de Cadignan were to enter now, it would be like a ghost appearing. [Noise outside--growing stronger and stronger. People come in; shrieks are heard. Right at their head GRASSET. Others, among them LEBRET, force their way over the steps. Cries of "Liberty! Liberty!" are heard.] GRASSET. Here we are, my boys--in here! ALBIN. What is that? Is that part of the performance? FRANCOIS. No. MARQUIS. What means it? SEVERINE. What people are those? GRASSET. In here! I tell you, my friend Prosper has still got a barrel of wine left, and we have earned it. (Noise from the streets.) Friend! Brother! We have them!--we have them! SHOUTS (from outside). Liberty! Liberty! SEVERINE. What has happened? MARQUIS. Let us get away--let us get away; the mob approaches. ROLLIN. How do you propose to get away?