Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: Paul Kauvar; or, Anarchy | Page 7

of the rack! What is it to a woman's tongue?
NANETTE.
What know you of a woman's tongue?
POTIN.
Enough to damn me, if knowledge were a crime.
NANETTE.
[To GOUROC.]
Come, Citizen, there's no use waiting. President Kauvar don't do business at home; you've no rights here.
GOUROC.
[Rising sternly.]
The patriot has unlimited rights, woman. He may dare all--violate all, in his zeal for the Republic.
NANETTE.
Well, then, dare my dusting.
[Strikes brush into her hand and sends dust all over GOUROC.]
GOUROC.
[_Moving off, sputtering_.]
Who is this, Citizen Potin?
POTIN.
[Proudly.]
My wife, Citizen Gouroc.
GOUROC.
Who taught her manners?
POTIN.
The Goddess of Liberty, a rough and ready teacher.
GOUROC.
Who teaches with sharp tools.
NANETTE.
Aye--tools so sharp they often cut the fools that use them. Mark that.
GOUROC.
[Crossing to DIANE.]
You are the wife of President Kauvar, I suppose?
[DIANE _starts up and stares. The_ DUKE _rises and advances with stern hauteur. At sight of_ GOUROC, _he starts, and surveys him with amazement_.]
Well, old man, are you mad, or do you know me?
DUKE.
[Significantly.]
I think we have met before.
GOUROC.
Yes, and may meet again. Permit me to introduce myself. I am Citizen Gouroc, of the Jacobin Club, and one of the Public Accusers of the Revolutionary Tribunal.
[DIANE draws close to NANETTE.]
Now, who are you?
DUKE.
I am George Leblanc, private secretary to Paul Kauvar.
GOUROC.
Ah, indeed!--His private secretary? Then I can do my business with you. It is said that two aristocrats in disguise are lurking about this house.
[All start.]
I must communicate with you in secret, Citizen.
[Turning to DIANE.]
Are you the daughter of this old man?
DIANE.
I am his daughter, Diane Leblanc.
GOUROC.
You remain.
[To SANS CULOTTES.]
You, Comrades, wait across the street;
[Exeunt SANS CULOTTES.]
and you, Citizen Potin, take your wife, leave the room, and wait within call. You understand?
POTIN.
I do, Citizen. When the Republic commands, I obey.
[_Exit, with_ NANETTE.
GOUROC.
[Bowing with great politeness.]
Monsieur le Duc de Beaumont.
[DIANE starts.]
DUKE.
[Turning with contempt.]
Monsieur le Marquis de Vaux.
DIANE
[Amazed.]
This--the Marquis de Vaux?
GOUROC.
You are surprised to see me in this garb. I am equally surprised to find you the guests of Citizen Kauvar, President of the Republican Section of Fraternity.
DUKE.
Not quite as strange as discovering the dainty Marquis de Vaux a Public Accuser and the servile slave of the guillotine.
GOUROC.
Reserve your contempt till you understand the meaning of my presence here. I come to warn you against your host.
DIANE.
[Haughtily.]
How, sir! You suspect the loyalty of Monsieur Kauvar?
GOUROC.
What if he has trapped you here only to betray you?
DIANE.
That's impossible, sir! Monsieur Kauvar is the soul of honour and devotion.
DUKE.
Besides, his head is surety for ours. The discovery that he had sheltered us would entail his own death.
GOUROC.
Precisely! And what if the sense of that danger had prompted a denunciation, while there still was some merit in it?
[The DUKE starts. DIANE turns aside with scorn.]
One thing is certain: an anonymous denunciation of you, describing your disguise and your retreat, has been made to our club.
DIANE.
[Clasping her father.]
What!--Discovered and denounced?
GOUROC.
As Public Accuser, the denunciation fell first into my hands. I have risked my life by withholding it from the Tribunal until your safety is assured.
DUKE.
[Giving GOUROC his hand.]
Pardon, Marquis, that I did not realize before the motives of your course.
GOUROC.
Grant me, then, the privilege of saving you.
DUKE.
We will. You belong to our own race; we may trust you.
GOUROC.
Then prepare for sudden and secret flight.
DIANE.
[Starting.]
Flight! Where can we be safer than under our present host's protection?
GOUROC.
Under mine, Mademoiselle. Kauvar is a man of the people. To him such words as loyalty, truth and honour are but empty puffs of air.
DIANE.
[Proudly and passionately.]
On whose lips is there meaning purer, or prouder, than on Paul Kauvar's?
DUKE.
[With haughty surprise.]
Mademoiselle! When you speak so warmly, you forget the distance that separates you from one of his rank.
[Cries in the distance of "To the Guillotine!" with the roll of muffled drums.
DIANE.
[In solemn voice.]
Nay, father, listen!--Do we need more to remind us of the nearness of the protected to the protector?
[The DUKE listens with bowed head. GOUROC goes to window.
DUKE.
[To GOUROC, as drums draw near.]
Is it the patrol?
GOUROC.
[Solemnly.]
No. Tis the guard of the death-cart, with to-day's load for the guillotine.
DIANE.
[Hiding her face.]
This constant agitation is torture.
GOUROC.
You can easily escape it, Mademoiselle. Accept the refuge I offer you.
DUKE.
We will, Marquis, at once. Come to my room, and we will complete our plans.
[To DIANE.]
My child, prepare to leave this house to-night, in haste and in secret.
[Exit with GOUROC.
DIANE.
Fly from this house to-night?--No! I will not go! And yet I must, or tell my father the secret I have kept from him so long.
PAUL.
[Outside.]
I am not at home to anyone. I will not brook intrusion here.
NANETTE.
[Outside.]
I'll keep out all I can.
DIANE.
Paul is coming!--How can I tell him we must part?
[PAUL enters. DIANE turns quickly toward him.
PAUL.
[_Absorbed in documents he is carrying. Crossing slowly to desk, he lays the papers down and, turning, sees_ DIANE.]
Diane! Thank heaven you're alone!
[DIANE _checks him by a warning gesture; crosses quickly to the door, listens a moment, then slowly approaches_ PAUL, looking back anxiously.]
Have you