Collected Works (Vol. III)

A DRAMATIC VERSION OF THI SIRE DE MALETROIT’S DOOR 69 ALAIN, Let her be resigned to the will of Heaven. [Zhe PRiEST smeles subtly, ALAIN perceives wt.) And my will. [Strites vong twice.] You may retire, father. [PRIEST dows and retires. Enter CAPTAIN and stands at salute.| Ah, Captain, you have your fifty men in readiness? CAPTAIN. Yes, my lord. [Sa/ztes.] ALAIN. Let them be drawn up behind yon door. When I clap my hands you will raise the arras, but let no man move. And let ’em be silent—the man I hear Thang. [CAPTAIN salutes.} You may go. [CAPTAIN salutes, and exit, ALAIN reaches to a tome on the table.) Now, Flaccus, let us spend this night together as we have spent so many. The crisis of my life—my brother’s trust, God rest his soul! [evosses himself and mutters silently in prayer|—shall not find Alain de Malétroit unready or disturbed. SCENE CLOSES. SCENE II.! A narrow dirty street in Paris, fifteenth century. Night pitch black. Passers-by with lanterns. First PASSER-BY stumbles into SECOND. SECOND PASSER-BY. Zounds, man! have a care with thy goings. FIRST PASSER-BY. Stand, or I strike. Who but a thief goes lanternless o’ nights? 1 The play may be presented in a single scene, by omitting this Scene, and joining Scenes I. and III. by the noise of a banging door. SECOND DPASSER-BY. The saints be praised, tis my good gossip Peter IIalse. What, knowest thou not thy old friend? = [Firsr PAaAsser-by “/és kis lantern to the other's face. First PASSER-BY. Martin Cloche, by the Mass ! SECOND DPASSER-BY. Ay, Martin Cloche! And his lantern hath gone out, and his heart faileth him somewhat. But these be troublous times. [Enter FLORIMOND and waits. FIRST PASSER-BY. The town is full of these drunken Eng- lish men-at-arms. SECOND DPASSER-BY. The English be bad, but God save us from the Burgundians! Their own cousin- germans be we, and for that they are but bitterer. FLORIMOND. Devil take them! What, will they stand here gossiping all night? FIRST PASSER-BY. Tis a cold night: I would be home. SECOND PASSER-BY. Light me, prithee, to my door: it lieth as thou knowest, but a stone’s-throw from St. Yniold’s. FIRST PASSER-BY. Well, let us be going. [ Aveunt. FLORIMOND. Now for the moment I have longed for this three months! Blanche! Blanche! I shall see thee, touch thee—who knows what