I have the executioner.
SIMON RENARD.
Your Majesty swore upon your mother"s prayer-book that you would not pardon him.
THE QUEEN.
Here is a signature in blank which he has sent to me, in which I swear on my imperial crown that I will pardon him! My father"s crown is worth as much as my mother"s prayer-book. One oath destroys the other. But who says that I will pardon him?
SIMON RENARD.
He has boldly betrayed you, madame!
THE QUEEN.
What does that matter? All men are alike about that. I don"t want him to die. Listen, my lord--I mean Sir Bailiff. Good G.o.d! you confuse my mind so much that I can"t even tell whom I am talking to. Oh, I know all that you want to say to me! I know he is a vile, degraded, contemptible man. I know it as well as you, and I blush for it. But I love him! What do you want me to do about it? I would probably love a better man less. Moreover, who are you--all of you--great as you may be? Are you any better than he? You will tell me that he is a favorite, and the English nation detests favorites! Don"t I know that you only want to overthrow him to put the Earl of Kildare--that fool, that Irishman--in his place, that he may have twenty heads a day cut off? What does that matter to you? Don"t talk to me about your Prince of Spain; you make light enough of him. Don"t talk to me about the anger of M. de Noailles, the French emba.s.sador! M. de Noailles is an idiot, and I will tell him so to his face. As for me, I am a woman; I want things, and then I don"t want them. I am not made all in one piece. That man"s life is necessary to my life. Oh, I beg of you, don"t put on that air of virginal sincerity and good faith. I know all your intrigues. Between us two, you know as well as I that he didn"t commit the crime for which he is condemned. Well, it is settled. I don"t want Fabiani to die. Am I the mistress, or am I not?
Come, Sir Bailiff, let us talk about something else, will you?
SIMON RENARD.
I withdraw, madame. All your n.o.bles have spoken to you through my voice.
THE QUEEN.
What do I care for my n.o.bles!
SIMON RENARD (_aside_).
Suppose we try the people!
[_He goes out with respectful salutation._
THE QUEEN (_alone_).
He went out with a singular expression. That man is capable of arousing a rebellion. I must hurry off to the City Hall. What ho!
Some one! [_Master Eneas and Joshua appear._
SCENE V
_The same, without Simon Renard. Master Eneas, Joshua_
THE QUEEN.
Is it you, Master Eneas? This man and you, you must attend to it that the Earl of Clanbra.s.sil makes his escape at once.
MASTER ENEAS.
Madame--
THE QUEEN.
Very well! I won"t trust you; I remember you are one of his enemies.
Are there none but enemies of the man I love, around me? I will wager that this turnkey, whom I don"t even know, he hates him too.
JOSHUA.
You are right, madame.
THE QUEEN.
My G.o.d! My G.o.d! This Simon Renard is more a king than I am a queen!
What! not one person to trust? No one to whom I can give power to plan his escape?
JANE (_coming out from behind the pillar_).
Yes, madame, I!
JOSHUA (_aside_).
Jane!
THE QUEEN.
You! Who are you? Ah, it is you, Jane Talbot. What are you doing here? Never mind, you are here! You have come to save Fabiani; thank you! I ought to hate you, Jane; I ought to be jealous of you. I have reason enough to be! But I"m not! I love you for loving him! In front of the scaffold there is no more jealousy--nothing but love! You are like me, you forgive him. I understand; men don"t understand these things. Lady Jane, let us have it clearly understood. We are both of us miserable, are we not? We must save Fabiani! I have no one but you. I must let you do it! At least, I am sure, you will do it with all your heart. Take charge of it, gentlemen, both of you. Do everything that Lady Jane directs you to do, and upon your heads, you will be answerable for the execution of her orders. Embrace me, young woman!
JANE.
The Thames washes the base of the Tower on this side. I noticed a secret pa.s.sage. A boat at that place, and the escape might be made by the Thames. It is the safest way.
MASTER ENEAS.
It will be impossible to get a boat there, before an hour.
JANE.
That is very long.
MASTER ENEAS.
It will soon pa.s.s! It will be dark, too. That will be better if her Majesty wishes to keep the escape secret.
THE QUEEN.
Perhaps you are right. In one hour then. I leave you, Lady Jane. I must go to the City Hall. Save Fabiani!
JANE.
Make yourself easy, madame!