Mesdemoiselles, One garden of rosebuds time hath not touched! (_To the Sisters._) In your prayers, my Sisters, name Château-Gui! [_The young girls curtesy, then exeunt between the trees._ YVETTE _remains beside the fountain_. COUNT LOUIS _looks at her through his glass_. Ha! DE L’ORIENT The herd girl of Morbec! COUNT LOUIS I have eyes, De L’Orient! THE ABBÉ Hm!—Fair child! YVETTE (_coldly_) Citoyen! MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI Monsieur de L’Orient, you promised me My father should not walk abroad to-day! DE L’ORIENT What could I do? He is so young and rash! COUNT LOUIS (_taking snuff_) ‘Tis true that Nantes is dangerous to-day To all save those wild beasts the sans-culottes! But that’s no reason I should stay at home. Where is De Vardes? His man said he was here. It is his wont, pardieu! SISTER FIDELIS Monsieur le Comte, Monsieur the Baron of Morbec did come To see that all was well with this our charge— A peasant girl, monsieur, whom he did save From cold and hunger and ill company. But now she prospers and we think that he Will come no more. YVETTE Jesu Maria! COUNT LOUIS (_with satisfaction_) Ma foi! He is a soldier is De Vardes! He camps One day beside the hedgerow in the field! The next he’s for some royal mount of love, High as the snow and splendid in the sun! Since he’s not here I know where else he is! DE L’ORIENT (_sings_) _Mignonne, Mignonne! Kiss me, rose of to-day!_ YVETTE O heart! O world! O hedgerow in the field! COUNT LOUIS Well, well, her mother was as fair as she! Clarice de Miramand, long-dead Clarice! Her hair was golden too.—Old times, old times! And now it is De Vardes and the Marquise! [COUNT LOUIS, MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI, _and_ DE L’ORIENT _walk up and down beneath the trees_. DE L’ORIENT _sings_. DE L’ORIENT _Mignonne, Mignonne! The red rose fades away! Mignonne, Mignonne! The white rose will not stay!_ THE ABBÉ My dear, that is a pretty wrist of thine! YVETTE Citoyen! THE ABBÉ Hast said thy rosary to-day?