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Jaques.-No, your Excellency; I tell you he is

a very great man.

D'Ess. I know he is-six foot two in his stockings-what signifies that ?

Jaques. I say he's a Lord!

D'Ess. A Lord! ha, ha!-why, what is all this?

Jaques He's a Marquis, and talk'd about one Count-Count Montgomery, I think.

D'Ess. Ha! Count De Montgomery! -(aside) -this old recluse must have heard of that unfortunate decision -he knows me, too

Jaques Oh, he knows you very well-he said you were a cruel, cross-grain'd old fellow-and then he laid it on about your character, and all that, till it did my heart good to hear him.

D'Ess. Did it, stupid scoundrel!-Who can can the fellow be !-some relation, perhaps-no matter-stir not from this spot till I return, unless they leave the Cottage. I will be here anon! [Exit in haste.

Jaques. Ah, you're a bad one! but as you say, your orders must be obey'd by me, or you'll order me to be hang'd, which will certainly be obey'd by somebody else.

Brun. (from the window). Don't go, Jaques. Jaques. No-I'll be hang'd if I do.

Brun. I'll come down to you. (Brunette leaves the window).

Jaques. Come down to me!

she's kind! she

smiles upon me-Oh dear! I'm all over in a combustion, and as hot as a furnace-My love!

Enter BRUNETte.

Brun. Is the Count gone?

Jaques. Yes, but he can't be gone far-shall I call him back? (going).

Brun. No! no!

Jaques. Why, what's the matter? Oh this is all right-she's in as great a twitter as I am-all over in a taking, as a body may say. Why you look as pale and as red, and-what's the matter? Brun. Hush! you shall hear.

SONG-BRunette.

A maiden there was by her guardian confin'd,
And she sighed for her lover-like me.
Her lover was handsome, and tender, and kind,
And watch'd at the door-like thee.

Jaques. Ah! but what was the use of watching -if they had placed a guard like me, you know he might have watched till doomsday.

Brun. Why so they did, as you shall hear; but it was the lover's business, you know, to elude the guard's vigilance, and get the girl safe out of the

house.

Jaques. Aye, that would have been cunning enough. (Here Carlo appears at the door.) Brun.

But love soon a fair opportunity found:

She cried-now no longer delay;

And in Hymen's soft fetters the maiden he bound-
For he bore her in safety away.

Jaques. Aye, but how? How did he elude the guard, you know? I want to hear that.

Brun. Have patience-only look this way, and pay attention.

(During the foregoing, Geraldo, Julia, and Carlo escape).

Brun.

The Clown who was plac'd as a guard at the door,
Was assail'd by a smart pretty maid--

(Geraldo and Julia are seen passing over an Alpine
Bridge.)

While the lovers escap'd, she so puzzled the boor,
That the poor silly man was betray'd.

(Towards the conclusion of the Scene, Carlo
returns, and escapes with Brunette).

Jaques. Bless me! to think of such a thing! what a fool he must have been! Ha, ha, ha! so she puzzled him while they escaped! what a simpleton-hey-what, vanish'd! elop'd! absconded! Zounds! the door open!-whew! (Carlo and Brunette are seen passing over the Bridge). Yonder they go! What shall I do? where shall I go? what will become of me? Ha! I'll follow them -hey! no I won't, that were rashness, not courage; and as the proverb says, discretion is the better part of valour-so I'll to my master. {Exit.

*

SCENE LAST.

Open Country.

Enter GERALDO and JULIA, in alarm.

Ger. We are every way beset-the Count and his myrmidons are close upon us; but I will defend you to the last. He is here!

Enter D'ESSARS and JAQUES.

D'Ess. So, Madam, I have caught you; now then expect the reward you merit, for trepanning the heir of a noble family.

Ger. 'Tis false!

D'Ess. False! pray recollect the man you speak to.

Ger. I do. You are the Count D'Essars-I shall not soon forget you.

D'Ess. Then pray at the same time recollect, that while I am President of Police, you have no authority over this Lady - relinquish her instantly. Ger. Never while I have strength to resist oppression (sternly).

Jul. Oh! do not, do not forsake me!

Ger. I have undertaken to protect her with my life; and while my arm retains its vigour, I never will desert her.

D'Ess. My arm, to be sure, is not quite so strong as yours, but it is aided by a power to which opposition will be useless; for I will never suffer the dignity of my family to be degraded by an alliance with the daughter of a criminal.

Ger. The daughter of a criminal! Suppose it were so the innocent should never suffer for the -guilty. Were it not to the hardened D'Essars I spoke, I'd tell you to be merciful-but mercy is an attribute of Heaven, and cannot harbour in a breast like thine:

D'Ess. Her very name would be a stain upon the honour of my family. I would willingly have buried the disgraceful story, for she was nobly

born.

Ger. Nobly born! her name! speak!

D'Ess. D'Anglade !

Ger. D'Anglade! oh Nature! Nature! have I then been unconsciously the protector of my own daughter!- My child! my child! come to thy father's heart!

Jul. Father!

D'Ess. Is it possible!- it cannot be, yet his features-it is-it is the Marquis himself, and his

very life is again at my disposal.-Advance! (Soldiers rush in music violent). Secure that man! (the soldiers surround Geraldo, and tear Julia from him).

Ger. Persecuted innocent! it is for you I feel!

Enter FRIPON and HENRI.

Hen. How! my Julia in danger!-ruffians! Ha' my father here!

D'Ess. So, Sir, you are here most apropos, to see your father's power defied, his dignity insulted: but his complete revenge. This girl is the daughter of the criminal D'Anglade, who stands before you, once more in my power.-Away with them instantly!

Frip (to Henri). Nay, cheer up, man. All may yet be well.

Enter CARLO and BRUNETte.

Car. Well! nothing can be better-the news has set the whole village in an uproar !

D'Ess. What mean you ?

Car. Mean, that a courier has just arrived from Paris that the Marquis D'Anglade has been proved innocent-in consequence of which, the Count D'Essars is no longer President of Police. &c. &c. and consequently his orders will no longer be obey'd-there's news for you!-how do you like it?

Ger. Cau this be true!

Car. True! read the Gazette.

Ger.-(reads) "Two criminals were lately executed at Rotterdam, one of whom confess'd at the place of execution, that he committed the assassination of the Count Du Montgomery, for which the Marquis D'Anglade was condemned Twenty Years ago."Oh, tenfold rap

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