Such a declaration from me is sure perdition to you. How say you now:
will you swear?
POTIN.
[_Wilting_.]
I will swear.
GOUROC.
You are wise.
[_Going_.]
Within an hour, the trial comes on. Be at hand, or--
[_Making a sign across his throat_.]
There's nothing like this to quiet a traitor's tongue.
[_Exit_.
POTIN.
[_Looking after him_.]
To lie living, and be a coward--or to lie dead, and be a corpse;
that's the riddle.--No! I'll be neither a coward nor a corpse. I'll
run away!--run like a brave man, enlist in the army of Vendee, and so
escape damnation, and my wife.
[_Starts off_.]
Liberty, lend thy wings that I may fly--
[NANETTE _appears_.]
Ye gods!--Fate is false again!
NANETTE.
Ha! It's you, is it?
POTIN.
No, it was me; but now you're here, I'm nobody.
NANETTE.
Where's the Duke?
POTIN
[_Pointing_.]
In that cell.
NANETTE.
And I believe 'twas you betrayed him!
POTIN.
[_Indignantly_.]
That's a lie!
NANETTE.
Well said! Short and sharp, like the truth.
[_She pats_ POTIN _on the back. He turns away_.]
Bravo!--But one moment! Do you know who did betray him?
[POTIN _shakes his head mournfully_.
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