_Enter from one of the garden paths a lackey and_ RÉMOND LALAIN. LALAIN _wears a riding dress with a tricolour cockade_. LALAIN Say to Monsieur the Baron of Morbec, Rémond Lalain, the Deputy from Vannes, In haste is riding north, but hath drawn rein— Hearing to-day of Baron Henri’s death— And audience craves that he may homage pay To Morbec’s latest lord! THE LACKEY I go, monsieur! [_Exit the lackey._ LALAIN These gloomy towers! [_He muses as he paces the garden walk before the terrace._ Mirabeau is dead! Gabriel Riquetti, dead, I salute thee, Great gladiator! Who treads now the sand That yesterday was trod by Mirabeau? Barnave, Lameth, ye are too slight of frame! There’s Lafayette. No, no, _mon général_! Robespierre? Go to, thou little man! Jean Paul Marat, dog leech and People’s Friend? Wild beast to fight with beast! Faugh! Down, Marat! Who stands this course, why, that man’s emperor! Now how would purple look upon Marat? Jacques Danton?—Danton! Hot Cordelier! Dark Titan forging to a Titan’s end! Shake not thy black locks from the tribune there, Nor rend the heavens with thy mighty voice! ‘Tis not for thee, the victor’s golden crown, The voice of France— [_The doors of the château open. Enter three lackeys bearing a great gilt chair, which they place with ceremony at the head of the steps which lead from the terrace into the garden._ FIRST LACKEY (_stamping with his foot upon the terrace_) The gilded chair place here! We always judge our peasants from this chair, We lords of Morbec! North terrace, gilt chair! SECOND LACKEY Baron Henri sat here the day he died! FIRST LACKEY Now Baron René takes his turn! [_They place the chair._ LALAIN (_as before_) Danton! Why not Lalain? It is as good a name! Mirabeau’s dead! Out of my way, Danton! THIRD LACKEY (_gathering up the stones which lie upon the terrace_) I’ll throw these stones into the shrubbery! SECOND LACKEY (_lifting a rusty scythe from the steps_) This scythe I’ll fling into the fountain! FIRST LACKEY (_his hands in his pockets_) Hé! One sees quite well that we have stood a siege! [_The lackeys gather up the stones, the sticks, the broken and rusty tools and weapons._ LALAIN