Page:Rolland - Two Plays of the French Revolution.djvu/115

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THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY
109

Julie. No, no, I know them very well: I've seen them. Only, I can't say—

Béquart. Tell us.

Julie. Mamma lives in the Rue Saint-Antoine, near here. The carriages that go to the prison pass our house at night. I get up and see them—I see nearly all. But sometimes I miss them, and when I wake up, they've already passed.

Béquart. Why did you want to see them?

Julie. Because they suffer.

Béquart. It's not very pleasant to see people who suffer. Why do you want to see them?

Julie [naïvely]. Because it makes me sad.

A Pensioner [laughing]. There's a reason for you!

Béquart. Shut up! You fool!

The Pensioner [angry at first]. Fool? [He reflects a moment, scratching his head.] True, though!

Julie [who sits down and plays with a cannon]. You're not going to fire on us, are you? [They do not answer.] Tell me you won't. Please. I like you. You must like me.

Béquart [kissing her]. Good little thing!

De Launey [shrugs his shoulders, after reading the letter]. This is unheard-of! Messieurs, this strange message which has been delivered to me by some committee of tramps—this—this Permanent Committee, asks me to divide the guard of the Bastille between the rest of our own troops and the people! [The Soldiers laugh, the officers rage.]

Vintimille. Charming proposal!