The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda Part 18

The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda Part 18

Send for him. I want to speak to him.

SIMON RENARD.

Yourself?

THE QUEEN.

Myself.

SIMON RENARD.

The Queen will speak to the executioner!

THE QUEEN.

Yes, the Queen will speak to the executioner. The head will speak to the hand! Send for him.

[_A Guard goes out._

My Lord Chandos, and you, gentlemen, will answer to me for this man.

Keep him there among you, back of you. Certain things are about to happen here which he must witness. Sir Lieutenant d'Amont, is Lord Clanbra.s.sil in the palace?

SIMON RENARD.

He is there, in the painted chamber, awaiting the Queen's good pleasure to see him.

THE QUEEN.

Does he suspect anything?

SIMON RENARD.

Nothing.

THE QUEEN (_to Lord Chandos_).

Let him come in!

SIMON RENARD.

The entire Court is also waiting there. Will n.o.body be admitted before Lord Clanbra.s.sil?

THE QUEEN.

Who are those among our n.o.bles who hate Fabiani?

SIMON RENARD.

All!

THE QUEEN.

Which hate him the most?

SIMON RENARD.

Clinton, Montague, Somerset, Earl of Derby, Gerard Fitz-Gerard, Lord Paget, and the Lord Chancellor.

THE QUEEN (_to Lord Chandos_).

Admit them all--except the Lord Chancellor. Go! [_Chandos goes out._

[_To Simon Renard._] The worthy Bishop Chancellor is not any fonder of Fabiani than the rest, but he is a more scrupulous man.

[_Noticing the papers which Gilbert left upon the table._

Ah, I must look over these papers!

[_While she is examining them, the door in the background opens.

Those lords designated by The Queen enter, making profound salutations._

SCENE VI

_The same. Lord Clinton and the other lords._

THE QUEEN.

Good-day, gentlemen! G.o.d be with you, my lords! [_To Lord Montague._] Anthony Brown, I do not forget that you held your own most worthily against John of Montmorency and the Count of Toulouse during my negotiations with my uncle, the Emperor! Lord Paget, to-day you will receive your letters patent of Baron Paget de Beaudesert in Stafford. And this is our old friend, Lord Clinton. We are always your good friend, my lord. It was you who exterminated Thomas Wyatt in St. James's Field. Let us all remember it, my lords. The crown of England was saved that day by a bridge which enabled my troops to reach the rebels, and by a wall which prevented the rebels from reaching me! The bridge was London Bridge. The wall was my Lord Clinton!

LORD CLINTON (_low to Simon Renard_).

The Queen has not spoken to me for six months. How kind she is to-day!

SIMON RENARD (_low to Lord Clinton_).

Patience, my lord. She will be kinder still, by-and-by.

THE QUEEN (_to Lord Chandos_).

My Lord Clanbra.s.sil may enter. [_To Simon Renard._] After he has been here a few moments--

[_She speaks to him in a low voice and indicates the door through which Jane pa.s.sed._

SIMON RENARD.

I understand, madame. [_Fabiani enters._