Yes.  He was condemned to die with you.

DUKE.

This journal says that he escaped from the death-cart as it rumbled to the scaffold through the crowd.

GOUROC.

[Starting, and with great emphasis.]

Impossible!

DUKE.

[Holding out the paper.]

See for yourself!

[GOUROC takes paper eagerly.

LA ROCHE.

[Entering, with a cry of joy.]

Duke!

DUKE.

[Holding out his arms.]

Henri!

LA ROCHE.

[Embracing the DUKE.]

In days of misery, a moment such as this is sweet indeed.  But how did you escape?  I saw your name among the guillotined.

DUKE.

[Turning to GOUROC.]

This gentleman wrought a way for our deliverance!—­Monsieur le Marquis de Vaux.

LA ROCHE.

[Grasping GOUROC’S hand.]

Monsieur—­the King’s friends are all your debtors.

GOUROC.

Nay, sir, the debt is mine.  Tis a privilege to save such precious lives.

DUKE.

[Presenting DIANE.]

Here’s a lass you played with, years ago.

LA ROCHE.

What!—­My little cousin—­grown so stately and so sad!  Mademoiselle, I claim a kinsman’s right to kiss away these shadows.

DIANE.

And I yield the right with pleasure, cousin Henri.

LA ROCHE.

[Kisses her.]

Good cheer, sweet cousin!  You are now protected by the soldiers of the King, who—­God willing—­will punish those who brought this shadow to your face.

GOUROC.

That may not prove an easy task!  Granville is overrun with rebels, who are urged to most atrocious crimes by Carrac.

LA ROCHE.

Yes—­Thomas Carrac—­a brutal monster, reeking with loyal blood; a loathsome anarchist, who glories in the vilest deeds.

GOUROC.

Ravishing without remorse the daughters of our race.

LA ROCHE.

If we could capture wretches such as he, it might end our civil war.