ear.

GOUROC.

You are wise.

[_Going_.]

Within an hour, the trial comes on. Be at hand, or--

[_Making a sign across his throat_.]

There's nothing like this to quiet a traitor's tongue.

[_Exit_.

POTIN.

[_Looking after him_.]

To lie living, and be a coward--or to lie dead, and be a corpse;
that's the riddle.--No! I'll be neither a coward nor a corpse. I'll
run away!--run like a brave man, enlist in the army of Vendee, and so
escape damnation, and my wife.

[_Starts off_.]

Liberty, lend thy wings that I may fly--

[NANETTE _appears_.]

Ye gods!--Fate is false again!

NANETTE.

Ha! It's you, is it?

POTIN.

No, it was me; but now you're here, I'm nobody.

NANETTE.

Where's the Duke?

POTIN

[_Pointing_.]

In that cell.

NANETTE.

And I believe 'twas you betrayed him!

POTIN.

[_Indignantly_.]

That's a lie!

NANETTE.

Well said! Short and sharp, like the truth.

[_She pats_ POTIN _on the back. He turns away_.]

Bravo!--But one moment! Do you know who did betray him?

[POTIN _shakes his head mournfully_.]

You do know! I can see by the wag of your head you know, and I mean
to make you tell me!--But I can't stop now; I'm here to see Mam'selle
Diane; where is she?

POTIN.

[_Pointing to cell_.]

There--with her father.

NANETTE.

I'll be back soon, and then I'll give you a piece of my mind.

POTIN.

Give me peace if you like, dear, but keep the mind for yourself;
you've none to spare.

NANETTE.

Woe to you when next we meet!

[_She flounces out_.

POTIN.

Yes, it's woe to me whene'er we meet!--But now to fly; I've no time
to lose; between my wife and Gouroc, I shall go cracked. So here's for
liberty, and Vendee!

[_Exit into his room_.

_Enter_ GOUROC, _followed by_ GUARDS _escorting_ MARDOCHE.

GOUROC.

[_To_ GUARDS.]

You may leave the prisoner with me.

[_Exit_ GUARDS.]

And so, Mardoche, you have been tried and condemned.

MARDOCHE.

Yes. Accused by beasts, tried by fools, and condemned by assassins.

GOUROC.

And of what were you accused?

MARDOCHE.

I was a quiet cobbler; I made shoes for Jacobins that pinched their
toes, so I was accused of sympathy with aristocrats.

GOUROC.

Is this all the cry they raised against you?

MARDOCHE.

No. I was never heard to swear, so I was watched--and was seen upon
my knees. As piety is poison to the Republic, I was accused of being a
prie