ENGUERRAND LA FÔRET No cloud in the sky. THE VIDAME (_saluting a gentleman_) Count Louis de Château-Gui! COUNT LOUIS Ah, monsieur! [_Presents his snuff-box._ MME. DE PONT À L’ARCHE For laces I advise Louise. Fichus? The Bleeding Heart above the flower shop. THE VIDAME —A _lettre de cachet_. To Vincennes he went! MME. DE MALESTROIT But ah! what use of laces or fichus! We emigrate so fast there’s none to see! THE ENGLISHMAN I quote a great man—my Lord Chesterfield: “Exist in the unhappy land of France All signs that history hath ever shown”— MME. DE PONT À L’ARCHE The Queen wore carnation, Madame, pale rose, The Dauphin— LALAIN What do I in this galley? (_To_ GRÉGOIRE.) I’ll walk aside! [_Exit_ LALAIN. COUNT LOUIS (_to_ GRÉGOIRE) Was that Rémond Lalain? GRÉGOIRE It was, Monsieur le Comte. COUNT LOUIS Ah, scélérat! THE VIDAME The talked-of Deputy for Vannes? LA FÔRET Tribune Eloquent as Antony! COUNT LOUIS Demagogue! THE ENGLISHMAN I heard him in the Jacobins. He spoke, And then they went and tore a palace down! COUNT LOUIS Stucco! _Enter, laughing_, MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI, MELIPARS DE L’ORIENT, _and_ CAPTAIN FAUQUEMONT DE BUC. DE L’ORIENT _has in his hand a paper of verses_. My daughter and De L’Orient, Captain Fauquemont de Buc! MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI Messieurs, mesdames! The poet and his verses! THE COMPANY Ah, verses! COUNT LOUIS Who is the fair, Monsieur de L’Orient? Lalage or Laïs or little Fleurette? Men sang of Célestine when I was young,— Ah, Célestine, behind thy white rose tree! DE L’ORIENT I do not sing of love, Monsieur le Comte! MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI He sings of this day— DE BUC The Eve of Saint John. DE L’ORIENT It is a Song of Welcome to De Vardes! DE BUC But yesterday poor Colonel of Hussars! MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI