The Goddess of Reason 2

The Goddess of Reason 2

GRÉGOIRE

 

How should I know?

His home was once within the village there,

And now and then he visits the curé.

 

FIRST LACKEY

 

The curé! He visits Yvette Charruel!

 

LALAIN (_as before_)

 

Mirabeau and I were born in the south.

Oh, the orange flower beside the wall!

And the shaken olives when Mistral wakes!

 

GRÉGOIRE

 

Once they were friends, Baron René and he;

The Revolution came between—

 

FIRST LACKEY (_He sends a pike whirling into the

shrubbery_)

 

Long live

The Revolution!

 

GRÉGOIRE

 

My friend, ‘twill live

Without thy bawling!

 

THIRD LACKEY (_arranging the bottles upon the small

table_)

 

So! The red wine here,

The white wine there!

 

(_To a fallen bottle._) Stand up, Aristocrat!

 

LALAIN

 

The sun is high!

 

[_He approaches the terrace and addresses the nearest

lackey._

 

How long must I await

The pleasure of Monsieur the Baron here?

 

THE LACKEY

 

Monsieur?

 

LALAIN

 

Go, fellow, go! and to him say,

Rémond Lalain—

 

THE LACKEY

 

I go, monsieur!

 

[_Exit the lackey._

 

LALAIN

 

‘Tis well,

René de Vardes, to keep me waiting thus!

 

[GRÉGOIRE _pours wine into a glass and descending

the steps offers it to_ LALAIN.

 

GRÉGOIRE

 

The old vintage, Monsieur Lalain!

 

LALAIN

 

Thanks, friend.

The day is warm.

 

[_He raises the glass to his lips. Laughter and voices

from the winding garden paths._

 

What’s that?

 

GRÉGOIRE (_shrugging_)

 

More guests, no doubt!

The count, the vidame, and the young marquise!

All Morbihan felicitates Morbec,

And brings our baron bonbons and bouquets,

As if there were no hunger and no frost!

 

[_A distant sound from the wood of harsh and complaining

voices._

 

LALAIN

 

And that?

 

GRÉGOIRE

 

Soldiers and huntsmen beat the woods;

For half the village is in hiding there,

Having assayed last night to burn Morbec!

As if ‘twould burn! This time the soldiers came!

Mon Dieu! the times are bad.

 

LALAIN (_abruptly_)

 

All the village!

Did Yvette Charruel—

 

GRÉGOIRE (_shrugging_)

 

Yvette!

 

FIRST LACKEY (_from the terrace_)

 

Yvette!

 

SECOND LACKEY

 

I warrant monseigneur will hang Yvette!

 

[LALAIN _pours the wine upon the ground and throws

the glass from him. It shatters against the balustrade.

Laughter and voices. Guests appear in the garden

walks, the women in swelling skirts of silk or muslin,

powdered hair and large hats; the men in brocade

and silk with cane swords, or in hunting dress._

 

A LADY (_curtseying_)

 

Monsieur le Vicomte!

 

A GENTLEMAN (_bowing_)

 

Madame la Baronne!

 

MME. DE MALESTROIT

 

A heavenly day.

 

ENGUERRAND LA FÔRET

 

No cloud in the sky.

 

THE VIDAME (_saluting a gentleman_)

 

Count Louis de Château-Gui!

 

COUNT LOUIS

 

Ah, monsieur!

 

[_Presents his snuff-box._

 

MME. DE PONT À L’ARCHE

 

For laces I advise Louise. Fichus?

The Bleeding Heart above the flower shop.

 

THE VIDAME

 

—A _lettre de cachet_. To Vincennes he went!

 

MME. DE MALESTROIT

 

But ah! what use of laces or fichus!

We emigrate so fast there’s none to see!

 

THE ENGLISHMAN

 

I quote a great man—my Lord Chesterfield:

“Exist in the unhappy land of France

All signs that history hath ever shown”—

 

MME. DE PONT À L’ARCHE

 

The Queen wore carnation, Madame, pale rose,

The Dauphin—

 

LALAIN

 

What do I in this galley?

(_To_ GRÉGOIRE.) I’ll walk aside!