The Pensioners [among themselves]. Good God!
Béquart. Poor devils, they'll be ground to bits! Not one will be left living. Those damned Swiss keep firing on them. It's wrong to shoot down defenseless people like that! Especially when you are in a fort behind good solid walls.
A Pensioner. Tell me, why are they attacking us?
Béquart. Can't tell what's come over them at all. Not like it used to be. Don't understand. They're all mad, this last month especially. Well, anyway, it's too bad to treat them like that. They're not bad. They're people like us.
Pensioner. Well, it's the order. So much the worse. They had no business doing it.
Béquart. Of course. And it's fine to hear that music! I never thought I'd live to see another battle.
De Flue [Commander of the Swiss Guards, entering from the other court]. Monsieur le Gouverneur, will you please burn the houses in the neighborhood? They can shoot into the court from the roofs.
De Launey. No, I can't burn private property. I have no right.
De Flue. War without incendiarism is like eel without mustard. Very good of you to have these scruples! But when you make war, you must stop at nothing, or else never begin.
De Launey. What do you think, Monsieur de Vintimille?
Vintimille [with a shrug]. It makes no difference to me. Do as you like. They'll never come in here. But if you care to profit by the occasion to clean out
