Richelieu: . gigantic to the gloomThe old rude towers of the Bastile cast farAlong the smoothness of the jocund day. —Well, thou hast scaped the fierce caprice of Richelieu; 64 Richelieu : But art thou farther from the headsman, fool? Thy secret I have whispered to the King; — Thy marriage makes the King thy foe. — Thou standst On the abyss — and in the pool below I see a ghastly, headless phantom mirrored; — Thy likeness ere the marriage moon hath waned. Meanwhile — meanwhile — ha — ha, if thou art wedded, Thou art not wived. Enter Mauprat {splendidly dressed). DE MAUPRAT, Was ever fate like
Richelieu: . gigantic to the gloomThe old rude towers of the Bastile cast farAlong the smoothness of the jocund day. —Well, thou hast scaped the fierce caprice of Richelieu; 64 Richelieu : But art thou farther from the headsman, fool? Thy secret I have whispered to the King; — Thy marriage makes the King thy foe. — Thou standst On the abyss — and in the pool below I see a ghastly, headless phantom mirrored; — Thy likeness ere the marriage moon hath waned. Meanwhile — meanwhile — ha — ha, if thou art wedded, Thou art not wived. Enter Mauprat {splendidly dressed). DE MAUPRAT, Was ever fate like mine?So blest, and yet so wretched ! BARADAS. Joy, De Mauprat! —Why, what a brow, man, for your wedding day! DE not! — Distraction ! BARADAS. What, your wife a shrewAlready? Courage, man — the common lot! DE MAUPRAT. Oh ! that she were less lovely, or less loved ! or, The Conspiracy. 65 BARADAS. Riddles again! DE MAUPRAT. You know what chanced betweenThe Cardinal and BARADAS. This morning broughtYour letter: —faith, a strange account! I laughedAnd wept at once for gladness. DE MAUPRAT. We were wedAt noon ; — the rite performed, came hither; — scarceArrived, when 5 66 Richelieu : — DE MAUPRAT. Wide flew the doors, and lo,Messire de Beringhen, and this epistle! BARADAS. T is the Kings hand ! — the royal seal! DE MAUPRAT. Read — read — BARADAS {reading). Whereas Adrien de Mauprat, Colonel and Chevalierin our armies, being already guilty of High Treason, bythe seizure of our town of Faviaux, has presumed, with-out our knowledge, consent, or sanction, to connecthimself by marriage with Julie de Mortemar, a wealthyorphan attached to the person of Her Majesty, withoutour knowledge or consent — We do hereby proclaimand declare the said marriage contrary to law. Onpenalty of death, Adrien de Mauprat will not commu-nicate with the said Julie de Moitemar by word orletter, save in the presence of our faithful servant
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1896
