PAUL.

Owe whom nothing?

[The tramp of SOLDIERS is heard outside.

DIANE.

Hark!—­The Guard!—­Take care!

Enter the DUKE, with GUARD and POTIN.

DUKE.

[Contemptuously to PAUL.]

You here, traitor?

DIANE.

[Aside to the DUKE.]

You must not call him that.  He did not betray.  The proof is this—­that he has come to save you.

DUKE.

And so make my debt to him a means of reaching you;—­but I would not accept my life from hands unclean with treachery.

PAUL.

There’s not a drop of traitor’s blood within my veins!

DUKE.

Yet you signed the warrant for my arrest.

PAUL

Then another hand than mine—­unknown to me—­filled in your name.

DUKE.

Plausible trickster!—­We have here double proof that you are guilty.

[Enter GOUROC in background.]

The evidence of the man to whom you gave the warrant, commanding him to take it to the Guard.

PAUL.

There’s no such man alive—­or dead!

DUKE.

Potin, advance.

[POTIN comes forward sullenly.]

Repeat what you swore in court.—­From whom did you receive the warrant for my arrest?

POTIN.

[After a struggle.]

I received it from—­

[Hesitates.

GOUROC.

[Aside to POTIN.]

Take care!—­If I denounce—­you die!

DUKE.

Well, sir, we are waiting.

POTIN.

[Desperately.]

I received it—­[Pointing at PAUL.] from him.

[PAUL recoils with horror.  DIANE, with cry of agony, hides her face upon her father’s breast.

PAUL.

[Crossing to POTIN.]

Potin, look at me.—­On your word hangs the honour of your old and steadfast friend!  Look in my eyes, and, in the name of your own salvation, speak nothing but the truth.

DUKE.