me.
LA HURIÈRE
Gregory—my arquebus.
COCONNAS
(drawing his sword)
Damn! Aren’t you boiling, Mr. La Môle?
LA MÔLE
Not at all! For while we are boiling, our supper is freezing—
(to La Hurière)
My friend, for how much do you ordinarily rent your room?
LA HURIÈRE
A half crown a day.
LA MÔLE
Here are eight crowns for eight days. Have you anything else to say?
LA HURIÈRE
My word, no—and with such manners. Come in, gentlemen, come in.
(La Môle passes first, followed by Coconnas.)
COCONNAS
Even so! I have real trouble in putting my sword back in its scabbard before assuring myself that is has pricked the fat of this clown!
LA MÔLE
Patience, my dear companion! All the inns are full of gentlemen drawn to Paris by the marriage festivities and by the next war with Flanders. We probably couldn’t find another room.
COCONNAS
By God! You’ve got cool blood, Mr. de La Môle. But let that rascal take care of himself! If his cuisine is bad—if his bed is hard—if his wine isn’t three years old—if his valet is not supple like a reed—it will be my affair.
LA HURIÈRE
(putting away a large knife)
There, there, sir, you are in the land of Cocaine. Calm down.
(aside)
He’s some Huguenot. These traitors are so insolent since the marriage of their Bearnaise with Princess Margot.
(smiling)
It would be funny if two Huguenots came to me today—St. Bartholomew’s day—
COCONNAS
So, Count, tell me, while they are preparing our room for us, do you find Paris a gay city?
LA MÔLE
My word, no. It seems to me to have only frightening and surly faces—perhaps the Parisians are also afraid of the storm. See how black the heavens are—and how heavy the air.
COCONNAS
You will be going to the Louvre, right? After doing me the honor of conversing with me.
LA MÔLE
Yes.
COCONNAS
Well, if you like, while waiting for supper, we can find it together.
LA MÔLE
We could dine first?
COCONNAS
Not me! My orders are precise, to be in Paris on Sunday the 24th of August and go directly to the Louvre.
LA MÔLE
Let’s go—so be it. It is well, says Plutarch, to accustom one’s soul to sadness and one’s stomach to hunger—
COCONNAS
You know Greek?
LA MÔLE
My word, yes. My preceptor taught me.
COCONNAS
By God, Count, your fortune is assured. You will compose verses with King Charles IX and you will speak Greek with Queen Marguerite.
LA MÔLE
Not to mention that I can still speak Gascon with the King of Navarre—are you coming?
COCONNAS
I’m with you.
(to La Hurière)
Finish up, here, master—what’s your name?
LA HURIÈRE
La Hurière.
COCONNAS
Well, Master La Hurière, tell us the quickest way to get to the Louvre.
LA HURIÈRE
Oh! My God—it’s very easy—you follow the street to the church of Saint Germain—l’Axerrois—at the church you take a right and you are facing the Louvre.
LA MÔLE
Thanks.
(Coconnas and La Môle exit.)
LA HURIÈRE
(alone)
Hum! Now there are two gentlemen who seem to me to have the air of frightful freethinkers, I will recommend them to M. de Maureval—or rather since they are here—I will do my business myself.
(The Admiral’s door opens.)
DE NANCY
(calling)
The King’s litter!
LA HURIÈRE
Ah—King Charles the IX. He’s leaving the Admiral’s. O Great King, go. May God give you the prudence of the Basilisk and the strength of a lion.
THE KING
(leaning on the Admiral’s shoulder)
Be easy, father, what the devil, when I give my only sister, Margot, to my cousin, Henry, I give her to all the Huguenots in the Kingdom. The Huguenots are all my brother’s now.
ADMIRAL
(his arm in a sling)
Ah, sire, I don’t doubt your intentions, but Queen Catherine—
THE KING
Coligny, I don’t say this to anyone but you, but I can tell you, my mother is a mischief maker. With her, no peace is possible. These Italian Catholics only know how to exterminate each other. As for me, on the contrary, not only do I wish for peace, but I even wish to give power to those of the religion. The others are very dissolute, father.
