The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda. Виктор Мари Гюго

What would the Queen say? And then, to-morrow I may be disgraced: this signature in blank is my safeguard. This signature in blank is my head.

      THE MAN.

      What does that matter to me?

      FABIANI.

      Ask me for something else.

      THE MAN.

      I want that.

      FABIANI.

      Jew, give me Jane Talbot's papers.

      THE MAN.

      My lord, give me the Queen's signature in blank.

      FABIANI.

      Accursed Jew, I will have to yield. [Draws a paper from his pocket.

      THE MAN.

      Show me the Queen's signature in blank.

      FABIANI.

      Show me Talbot's papers.

      THE MAN.

      Afterward.

      [They go close to the lantern. Fabiani stands behind the Jew, and with his left hand holds the paper under the Jew's eyes; he examines it. The Man reads.

      "We, Mary, Queen—" It is well. You see, my lord, I am like you. I have calculated upon everything. I have foreseen everything.

      FABIANI (draws a dagger with his right hand and plunges it into the Jew's throat).

      Except this!

      THE MAN.

      Oh, traitor! Help!

      [He falls. In falling he throws a sealed packet into the darkness behind him; Fabiani does not perceive it.

      FABIANI (leaning over the body).

      Faith! I believe he is dead. Quick, the papers. [He searches the Jew.] What! he hasn't got them. He has nothing—nothing at all about him! Not a paper! He was lying, the old wretch! He deceived me: he wanted to rob me. Is it possible, you accursed Jew! No, he has nothing. That is clear. I have killed him for nothing. They are all alike, these Jews. To lie and steal, that is all they can do. Come, let us get rid of this corpse; I can't leave it here at the door. [Goes up stage.] I will see if the boatman is still there; he can help me throw it into the Thames.

      [He descends, and disappears behind the parapet.

      GILBERT (enters from the opposite side).

      I thought I heard a cry!

      [He perceives the body stretched upon the ground under the lantern.

      Some one has been assassinated! The beggar!

      THE MAN (lifting himself half-way up).

      Ah, you come too late, Gilbert.

      [He points to the place where he threw the packet.

      Take them. They are the papers which prove that Jane, your betrothed, is daughter and heiress of the last Lord Talbot. My assassin is Lord Clanbrassil, the Queen's favorite. Oh, I suffocate! Gilbert, avenge me! Avenge yourself! [He dies.

      GILBERT.

      Dead! Avenge myself? What does he mean? Jane, daughter to Lord Talbot? Lord Clanbrassil! The Queen's favorite? Oh, I am lost in wonder! [Shaking the body.] Speak! One word more! He is indeed dead!

      SCENE VII

      Gilbert, Fabiani

      FABIANI (returning).

      Who goes there?

      GILBERT.

      A man has been assassinated.

      FABIANI.

      No, a Jew.

      GILBERT.

      Who killed him?

      FABIANI.

      Faith! You or I.

      GILBERT.

      Sir?

      FABIANI.

      No witnesses. A corpse on the ground. Two men beside it. Which is the assassin? There is nothing to prove it is one rather than the other—I rather than you.

      GILBERT.

      Miserable man! You are the assassin!

      FABIANI.

      Well, yes! To be frank, I am. What of it?

      GILBERT.

      I am going to call the constables.

      FABIANI.

      You are going to help me throw the body into the water.

      GILBERT.

      I will have you seized and punished.

      FABIANI.

      You will help me throw the body into the water.

      GILBERT.

      You are insolent.

      FABIANI.

      Do as I say! Let us destroy all traces of this. Believe me, you are more interested in the matter than I am.

      GILBERT.

      Upon my soul!

      FABIANI.

      One of us two did the deed. I am a great lord, a nobleman. You are a passer-by, a peasant, a man of the people. A noble who kills a Jew pays a fine of four sous; a man of the people who kills one of his fellow-creatures is hanged.

      GILBERT.

      You would dare—

      FABIANI.

      If you denounce me, I will denounce you. I will be believed sooner than you. At any rate, the chances are unequal. Four sous fine for me, and the gallows for you.

      GILBERT.

      No witnesses! No proofs! Oh, my brain is bewildered! This miserable man is right, he has me in his power.

      FABIANI.

      Shall I help you throw the corpse into the river?

      GILBERT.

      You are a demon!

      [Gilbert takes the body up by the head, Fabiani by the feet; they carry it to the parapet.

      FABIANI.

      Yes. Faith, my friend, I can no longer exactly tell which of us killed this man!

      [They go down behind the parapet. Fabiani re-appears.

      It is done. Good-night, comrade! Go your way!

      [He starts toward the house, but turns back, seeing that Gilbert follows him.

      Well, what do you want? Money for your trouble? In truth, I don't owe you anything, but here, take this.

      [He gives his purse to Gilbert, whose first impulse is to refuse it, but who accepts it afterward with the air of a man who has reflected.

      Well, go! What more are you waiting for?

      GILBERT.

      Nothing.

      FABIANI.

      Then stay, if it pleases you. You can have the fine starlight while I have the pretty girl. God be with you!

      [He starts toward the door of the house and is about to open it.

      GILBERT.

      Where are you going?

      FABIANI.

      Faith, into my house!