THE MOB Both! Both! A TRICOTEUSE To prison with them! ANOTHER To the Loire! Ho! ho! _Les Noces Républicaines!_ [_The mob surges forward, but with his sword_ DE VARDES _keeps a clear space about him and_ THE MARQUISE. _They move slowly backward to the church steps, which they mount._ DE VARDES (_to_ THE MARQUISE) We’ll smile and die! THE MARQUISE Together, yes! THE MOB Down! Down! Aristocrats! [DE VARDES _sends a knife whirling from the hand of a red cap_. DE VARDES Follow! Follow! (_To_ THE MARQUISE.) I have been long in prison. THE MARQUISE In England I!—And there I pined for France— This sunshine dazzles me— DE VARDES Clarice-Marie! [_Trumpets within._ SÉRAPHINE Hark! Hark, Citoyens, to the trumpets blowing! THE MOB She comes! Nantes’ goddess comes! [_Faces appear at the windows of the tall houses._ A TRICOTEUSE The windows fill! [_The rolling of drums._ ANOTHER TRICOTEUSE The drums begin to roll! A MAN Citoyens, all! We’ll see best by the statue there! ANOTHER (_pointing to_ DE VARDES _and_ THE MARQUISE) But these?— THE FIRST They’re safe! Let them await our pleasure! Peste! We waited once on theirs! A THIRD That’s true! [_The mob divides. Men and women cluster about the base of the statue or upon the doorsteps of the surrounding houses. Enter men with banners._ THE MOB Look! Look! The painted banners! _Vive la patrie!_ SÉRAPHINE (_to_ THE MARQUISE) Hist! Hist, madame! behind the pillar there! [_She points to the pillar of the church._ DE VARDES Go! [THE MARQUISE _conceals herself behind the pillar. A crash of music._