Bravo!  Their beauty and their lives are ours!

[Cheers from MOB.]

Bring them in!

[Exeunt eight SANS CULOTTES.]

Citizens, we’ve won to-day a glorious victory.

POTIN.

There he goes boasting, when he never struck a blow.

CARRAC.

Let’s complete our triumph—­prove our power—­

MOB.

Bravo!—­Bravo!

CARRAC.

You are the people!—­You are France!—­Let the Nation voice her will through you.—­What shall we do with our prisoners?

BOURDOTTE.

Kill them.

MOB.

Aye—­kill them—­kill them!

BOURDOTTE.

Drown the men like puppies, and put the women to public shame!

MOB.

Aye!  Aye!

CARRAC.

The voice of the people is the voice of God.—­Have your will—­it is
God’s command!

Enter CITIZENS, dragging the DUKE, GOUROC, DIANE, NANETTE, and ALINE, a young girl.

The MOB groan and laugh mockingly.

The young girl is dragged forward—­two_ SANS CULOTTES contending for her.

FIRST SANS CULOTTE.

She’s mine!

SECOND SANS CULOTTE.

You lie!—­I caught her first!

ALINE.

Mercy!—­Kill me if you will,—­but spare me this!

CARRAC.

[Laughing.]

Citizens,—­behold your victims!

[MOB rush forward with ferocious yells.

DUKE.

[Interposing.]

No, no!—­Let my grey hairs suffice!

[The MOB pause.

PAUL.

[Starting up, speaks aside.]

My God!—­That voice!

[During what follows, PAUL—­screened from the MOB’S view by his soldier GUARDS—­expresses in pantomime his conflicting emotions.

CARRAC.

[To the DUKE.]

Who are you?

GOUROC.

[Speaking quickly.]

We are Citizens of the Republic!—­He