It was already dusk.—Like grey death moths They slipped away! I knew not whom to trust, For in these times there’s no fidelity, No faithful groom, no steadfast messenger! My little page brought me my Zuleika. I knew the red Hussars were at Auray, And that ‘twas said they loved their colonel well! So to Auray came Zuleika and I! DE BUC We thought it was Dian in huntress dress! DE VARDES How deeply am I, Goddess, in thy debt! No gold is coined wherewith I may repay! [_Music within._ THE MARQUISE Give me a rose from yonder tree! [_Laughing voices within._ MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI More guests, They’re on the south terrace! DE L’ORIENT Violins too! Ah, the old air— [_He sings._ _There lived a king in Ys, In Ys the city old! Beside the sounding sea He counted o’er his gold._ DE VARDES Let us meet them. [_He gives his hand to_ THE MARQUISE. _Exeunt_ COUNT LOUIS, THE ABBÉ, DE BUC, DE L’ORIENT, _etc._ GRÉGOIRE _approaches_ DE VARDES. GRÉGOIRE Monseigneur—Monsieur the Deputy! DE VARDES Ah! Say to monsieur I’m not at leisure now. [_Exeunt_ DE VARDES _and_ THE MARQUISE. _The terrace and garden are deserted save for_ GRÉGOIRE, _who seats himself in the shadow of the balustrade_. GRÉGOIRE Humph!—Monseigneur’s not at leisure. [_He draws a Paris journal from his pocket and reads, following the letters with his forefinger._ What news? What says Jean Paul Marat, the People’s Friend? [_A cry from the wood and the sound of breaking boughs._ YVETTE _and_ SÉRAPHINE _enter the garden_. RAÔUL THE HUNTSMAN’S _voice within_. THE HUNTSMAN Hilloa!—Hilloa!—Hilloa! [YVETTE _and_ SÉRAPHINE _turn towards one of the garden alleys. Laughter and voices._ YVETTE Go not that way! SÉRAPHINE There is no way! THE HUNTSMAN (_within_) Hilloa!—Hilloa! SÉRAPHINE