Not as partisan.
Only as friend. Indeed no slight occasion
Was needed--

FLAMBEAU.

[_To the_ DUKE.]

Mount!

THE DUKE.

The dawn is in the east,
I seize the reins, and--_Alea jacta est!_

THE ATTACHE.

My Lord, if I have sought this rendezvous,
'Twas to defend you--

THE DUKE.

To defend me, sir?

THE ATTACHE.

I feared you were in danger--

THE DUKE.

Danger?--What?

THE ATTACHE.

The rogue Tiburtius, whom I hope to pink,
Sneaked from the ball and never sent his seconds,
So I ran after him, and saw him meet
Another rogue, and heard the two conspire
To kill you at some rendezvous.

THE DUKE.

The Countess!

THE ATTACHE.

The rendezvous was here, as you had told me.
I came. All's well. I go.

THE DUKE.

The rendezvous
Was in the hunting-lodge. They'll kill the Countess!
We must go back!

ALL.

No! No!

A CONSPIRATOR.

Oh, why?

MARMONT.

The Countess--?

PROKESCH.

She can unmask.

THE DUKE.

Alas, you little know her.
She'd die ten times to let me win ten minutes.
Come back!

VOICES.

No!

THE DUKE.

But I cannot--Ah, come back!--
I cannot let them kill her in my absence!

OTRANTO.

Our efforts wasted!

MARMONT.

If we re-conspire
They will not let you fly.

ANOTHER CONSPIRATOR.

And France?

ANOTHER.

The Empire?

THE DUKE.

Back!

MARMONT.

Forward!

THE DUKE.

Back!

MARMONT.

You cast away the crown!

THE DUKE.

To leave her were to cast my soul away!

MARMONT.

One sometimes has to sacrifice--

THE DUKE.

A woman?

MARMONT.

Risk--for a woman--all the chance of triumph--!

FLAMBEAU.

He's a French Prince! That's certain, anyhow!

OTRANTO.

We must abduct him!

FLAMBEAU.

Back!

OTRANTO.

My coach is here.

FLAMBEAU.

I'll run you through the body if you touch him!

THE DUKE.

Back! or with whip uplifted I will charge
After the fashion of Murat, my uncle!

PROKESCH.

Stand back!

THE DUKE.