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Damas。 I did。
Mel。 And in two years！
Damas。 It is true； that's no wonder in our army at present。
Why the oldest general in the service is scarcely thirty； and we
have some of two…and…twenty。
Mel。 Two…and…twenty！
Damas。 Yes； in the French army； now a days； promotion is not a matter
of purchase。 We are all heroes； because we may。 be all generals。
We have no fear of the cypress； because we may all hope for the laurel。
Mel。 A general at two…and…twenty！ ＇turning away＇Sir； I may ask
you a favor one of these days。
Damas。 Sir； I shall be proud to grant it。 It is astonishing how much
I like a man after I've fought with him。 ＇Hides the swords。
Enter MADAME DESCHAPPELLES and BEAUSEANT。
Mme。 Deschap。 Oh； prince；prince！What do I hear？ You must fly
you must quit us！
Mel。 I！
Beau。 Yes； prince： read this letter； just received from my friend
at Paris； one of the Directory； they suspect you of designs
against the Republic： they are very suspicious of princes；
and your family take。part with the Austrians。 Knowing that I
introduced your highness at Lyons； my friend writes to me to say
that you must quit the town immediately； or you will be arrested；
thrown into prison； perhaps guillotined！ Fly！I will order horses
to your carriage instantly。 Fly to Marsailles； there you can take
ship to Leghorn。
Mme。 Deschap。 And what's to become of Pauline？ Am I not to be
mother to a princess； after all？
Enter PAULINE and MONSIEUR DESCHAPPELLES。
Pauline ＇throwing herself into MELNOTTE's arms。＇ You must
leave us！Leave Pauline！
Beau。 Not a moment is to be wasted。
M。 Deschap。 I will go to the magistrates and inquire
Beau。 Then he is lost； the magistrates； hearing he is suspected；
will order his arrest。
Mme。 Deschap。 And I shall not be a princess…dowager！
Beau。 Why not？ There is only one thing to be done：send for the priest
let the marriage take place at once； and the prince carry home a bride？
Mel。 Impossible！＇Aside。＇ Villain。
Mme。 Deschap。 What； lose my child？
Beau。 And gain a princess！
Mme Deschap。 Oh； Monsieur Beauseant； you are so very kind； it must
be so；we ought not to be selfish； my daughter's happiness at stake。
She will go away； too； in a carriage and six！
Pauline。 Thou art here still；I cannot part from my heart will break。
Mel。 But thou wilt not consent to this hasty union？thou wilt
not wed an outcasta fugitive？
Pauline。 Ah！ if thou art in danger； who should share it but Pauline？
Mel。 ＇aside＇。 Distraction！If the earth could swallow me！
M。 Deschap。 Gently！ gently！ The settlementsthe contracts
my daughter's dowry！
Mel。 The dowry！I am not base enough for that； no； not one farthing！
Beau。 ＇to MADAM＇。 Noble fellow！Really your good husband
is too mercantile in these matters。 Monsieur Deschappelles；
you hear his highness： we can arrange the settlements by proxy；
'tis the way with people of quality。
M。 Deschap。 But
Mme。 Deschap。 Hold your tongue！Don't expose yourself！
Beau。 I will bring the priest in a trice。 Go in all of you and prepare；
the carriage shall be at the door before the ceremony is over。
Mme。 Deschap。 Be sure there are six horses； Beauseant！ You are very
good to have forgiven us for refusing you； but you seea prince！
Beau。 And such a prince！ Madam； I cannot blush at the success of so
illustrious a rival。＇Aside。＇ Now will I follow them to the village；
enjoy my triumph； and to…morrow； in the hour of thy shame and grief；
I think； proud girl； thou wilt prefer even these arms to those of
the gardener's son。 （Exit。
Mme。 Deschap。 Come； Monsieur Deschappelles； give your arm to her
highness that is to be。
M。 Deschap。 I don't like doing business in such a hurry；
'tis not the way with the house of Deschappelles & Co。
Mme。 Deschap。 There； now； you fancy you are in the counting…house；
don't you？
＇Pushes him to PAULINE。
Mel。 Stay； stay； Paulineone word。 Have you no scruple； no fear？
Speakit is not yet too late。
Pauline。 When I loved thee； thy fate became mine。 Triumph or danger
joy or sorrowI am by thy side。
Damas。 Well； well； prince； thou art a lucky man to be so loved。
She is a good little girl in spite of her foibles make her as happy
as if she were not to be a princess ＇slapping him on the shoulder＇。 Come；
sir； I wish you joyyoung tenderlovely；zounds； I envy you！
Mel。 ＇who has stood apart in gloomy abstraction＇。 Do you？*
（* On the stage the following lines are added：
〃Do you？ Wise judges are we of each other。
'Woo； wed； and bear her home！ So runs the bond
To which I sold myself；and thenwhat then？
Away？I will not look beyond the hour。
Like children in the dark； I dare not face
The shades that gather sound me in the distance。
You envy meI thank youyou may read
My joy upon my browI thank you； sir！
If hearts had audible language； you would hear
What mine would answer when you talk of ENVY！〃
ACT III。SCENE I。
The exterior of the Golden Leontime； twilight。 The moon rises
during the scene。
Enter Landlord and his Daughter from the Inn。
Land。 Hahaha！ Well； I never shall get over it。
Our Claude is a prince with a vengeance now。 His carriage breaks
down at my innhaha！
Janet。 And what airs the young lady gives herself！ 〃Is this the best
room you have； young woman？〃 with such a toss of the head。
Land。 Well； get in； Janet： get in and see to the supper：
the servants must sup before they go back。 ＇Exeunt。
Enter BEAUSEANT and GLAVIS。
Beau。 You see our princess is lodged at lastone stage more；
and she'll be at her journey's endthe beautiful palace at the foot
of the Alps！haha！
Gla。 Faith； I pity the poor Paulineespecially if she's going
to sup at the Golden Lion ＇makes a wry face＇。 I shall never forget
that cursed ragout。
Enter MELNOTTE from the Inn。
Beau。 Your servant； my prince； you reigned most worthily； I condole
with you on your abdication。 I am afraid that your highness's
retinue are not very faithful servants。 I think they will quit
you in the moment of your fall 'tis the fate of greatness。
But you are welcome to your fine clothesalso the diamond snuff…box；
which Louis XIV。 gave to your great…great…grandmother。
Gla。 And the ring； with which your grandfather the Dodge of Venice
married the Adriatic。
Mel。 I have kept my oath； gentlemensay； have I kept my oath？
Beau。 Most religiously。
Mel。 Then you have done with me and mineaway with you！
Beau。 How； knave？
Mel。 Look you； our bond is over。 Proud conquerors that we are；
we have won the victory over a simple girl compromised her honor
embittered her lifeblasted； in their very blossoms； all the
flowers of her youth。 This is your triumph；it is my shame！
＇Turns to BEAUSEANT。＇ Enjoy thy triumph； but not in my sight。
I was her b