Yvette said bitter hunger, cold, and want Came with _noblesse_ and with _noblesse_ would go! Yvette said the Queen was an Austrian! Yvette said the King was a fainéant! Yvette said the princes were traitors! Yvette said the armies would turn to us! Yvette heard the drums of the Republic! THE GUESTS Out! COUNT LOUIS Enough! SÉRAPHINE Thou hellicat! A PEASANT Monseigneur! Saint Yves le Véridique knows it is truth! She ever rings the tocsin in our hearts! ANOTHER Yvette Charruel! A WOMAN She led us here! ANOTHER WOMAN Yvette! Yvette Charruel! ANGÉLIQUE Yvette?— [_Several of the women laugh._ DE VARDES Why, you are all cowards! SÉRAPHINE So they are, monseigneur, so they are! DE VARDES (_to the peasants_) Who speaks for you? [_A silence._ THE PEASANTS Monseigneur—monseigneur— [_They break off._ DE VARDES _stands waiting for them to speak, his hand upon the chair_. AN OLD WOMAN Yvette— AN OLD MAN Yvette— THE PEASANTS Monseigneur— [_They break off. They make a sighing sound. The old woman begins to say her beads._ YVETTE Monseigneur, They are so hungry! Monseigneur, ‘tis said You are a soldier and have been to war! Oh, to us all there comes one battle-field When we must look into a conqueror’s eyes! Think then upon that last dark plain and show Mercy to us who in the shadow stand! We are your enemies! DE BUC Faith of an officer! De Vardes— YVETTE The children are crying at home, Monseigneur! A WOMAN O Sainte Vierge, have pity! YVETTE With bowed heads the old men wait! A WOMAN Oh, my father! YVETTE The young men hear the ravens crying! THE PEASANTS Aie!— YVETTE