[_It is_ TRIBOULET. _Seeing his daughter in the arms of a man, he rushes forward with a terrible cry._ KING FRANÇOIS _leaves_ BLANCHE, _and, brushing past the jester, who staggers as he catches a glimpse of his face, hastens away._ TRIBOULET: The King! Oh, God, the King! [_Then, in a sort of madness, he mutters to himself._ That man that spoke to me ... Hôtel du Maine; At noon ... yes; in his house ... no noise, no risk ... Oh, King François, the grave is dug for you! ACT II SCENE.--_A tumble-down inn on the outskirts of Paris by the edge of the Seine. The scene is represented on the stage in a sort of section, so that the spectator sees everything that goes on in the interior of the inn, as well as on the road outside. Besides this, the building is so cracked and ruined that any passer-by can see into the room through the holes in the wall. It is night._ TRIBOULET _and his daughter appear in the road._ SALTABADIL _is sitting in the inn._ TRIBOULET: I will avenge you, Blanche. BLANCHE: He cannot be False and untrue. TRIBOULET (_whispering, as he leads her to a hole in the wall_): Come. See with your own eyes, What kind of man our great King François is. BLANCHE (_whispering, as she sees only_ SALTABADIL): I only see a stranger. TRIBOULET: Wait awhile. [_As he whispers,_ KING FRANÇOIS _enters the room by a little door leading from an inner chamber._ BLANCHE: Father! [_She trembles, and follows with angry eyes the movements of_ THE KING. TRIBOULET: This is the man you wish to save. THE KING (_slapping_ SALTABADIL _on the back_): Tell Maguelonne to bring me in some wine. TRIBOULET: King by the grace of God he is, with all The wealth and splendour of the land of France At his command; but to amuse himself He drinks himself asleep in thieves' kitchens. THE KING (_singing while_ TRIBOULET _talks outside_): Oh, woman is fickle, and man is a fool To trust in her word! She changes without any reason or rule, As her fancies are stirred. A weather-cock veering to every wind Is constant and true when compared to her mind. [_While he sings_ MAGUELONNE _enters with a skin of wine._ SALTABADIL _goes out, and seeing_ TRIBOULET, _approaches him with an air of mystery._ BLANCHE _continues to watch_ THE KING. SALTABADIL: We've caught our man! And now it rests with you To let him live or die. TRIBOULET (_looking at_ BLANCHE): Wait for a while.