NAPOLEON

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(5) NAPOLEON.

(6) BT THE SAME AUTHOR &**. POEMS WITH FABLES IN PROSE in. two volumes, including. DEIRDRE WEDDED. THE QUEEN OF GOTHLAND APOLLO AND THE SEAMAN THE ROCK OF CLOUD THE CANZONE OF SEBASTIAN VALIER STANZAS TO TOLSTOY REQUIEM OF ARCHANGELS FOR THE WORLD BATTLE OF THE MARNE MILO. NIGHT UNDER MONTE ROSA SONG OF THE VINE. And. other. Poems and Songs. [Second impression].

(7) NAPOLEON TLAT BY. HERBERT TRENCH. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD. MDCCCCXIX.

(8) SG/fl.. UN. s.

(9) ACT. I.

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(11) ACT. SCENE. I.. I. The Abbey Farm-house. TIME August in the year of St. Radegund* s Abbey Farm-house, :. The. interior. in the. A. At the back Study. country near Dover, Kent. is a door leading into a laboratory. DOCTOR WICKHAM, a grey-haired man with a powerfulface, comes out of the laboratory with a retort in his hand, and absently warms it before the fire ; he then ',. places it on the table, and turning to the fireplace grasps the mantelpiece with both oj' his knotted hands outstretched, into the fire.. Anne Doctor a. and. stares absorbed in painful thought. His WIFE, ANNE WICKHAM, enters. Do I disturb you ? I have brought my little chair. You're the only woman ever born who never disturbs You make the room larger for one. laboratory.. You make. my. For a savage temper. fingers steadier.. that's soothing.. Anne. My. Said to please. savage!. me. !. I. do nothing;. just. fit in.. Doctor. Anne Doctor. Anne. No, no. To-day we've been married remember ? No.. To celebrate. the day I. if I leave. say you for yourselves. am going to. Did you. leave you.. What. for a while (don't laugh) to fend. ?. Doctor. Are you. serious. Anne. Smile. Listen.. !. you. thirty years.. ?. I. am,. after all,. French-born.. You. remember that escaped French prisoner we found starving under the garden wall ? What he told us How at Portsmouth the French prisoners are packed on hulks.

(12) ACT five. hundred. SCENE. I.. to a single. I. no. deck. air. hundred. and no. light. night have to packed at a signal ? No games turn over side to side except rat I must races, and dicing away their rags for crumbs. to mend their clothes ; Portsmouth to down with play go them keep them human. How do you propose to go ? If I cannot ride there, I'll walk persuade the captain of the hulk! There was once a Quaker maidservant who walked from Greece to Constantinople to reason with the Grand Turk of the inner light Ah, what inner light have I ? Still, one must go by one's glimmer. Smile (With her fingers on his cheeks so close that all the five. at. ;. Doctor. Anne Doctor. !. Anne. !. Doctor. make him smile?) Never mind what Well, you shall go. Anne. What. she attempts. Doctor. to. !. I. ails. could. my man. make. tism, but that. all. not. 's. Kent and Sussex ring with rheumait. I. have,. Anne. What. Doctor. Geoffrey sailed from Dover Our Geoffrey ? Sailed on his own boat.. Anne Doctor. Anne Doctor. Anne Doctor. Anne Doctor. I say to-day.. ?. my. dear,. ill. news.. is it ?. this. morning.. But the old sloop has been laid up these two years. since war broke out again with Bonaparte. Sailed whither ?. Ever. Who Why. knows. ?. should we be surprised ? our eldest son ? Trained. By by me for the sciences trebly trained ? play fast and loose with them thus suddenly, a second time ? Wasn't volunteering with the French in Italy years ? After chains. Why. ago enough long of experiments I am on the edge of breaking up air and water into their gases But I am on the edge too, of breaking up myself. Who can assist me in these wilds but Geoffrey, with his level head, and his habit of.

(13) ACT. SCENE. I.. I. ? He has what few have, the scientific idea. His calculations were useful as a control of mine. I had Now again he vanishes. I confess counted on him. .... (Pauses). exactitude. Anne Doctor. I see, it cuts deep. at what a. ? Do you think you would where you and I lived peacefully so recognize Boulogne, ? Now a vast blockaded by us. And fortress, bristling long French privateers scouring the Channel all the lightships left lightless against the enemy. Can Geoffrey's. And. moment. sloop escape. Anne Doctor. Anne. Doctor. ?. wonder. He took a long leave of me last night. For months I have felt something smouldering and brooding. He said nothing ? Yes, he said a very strange thing. He said he had made a discovery: The discovery of the organic in the ties between human beings. The discovery of the organic in the relations between human beings ? Nonsense. We are solitary atoms. Ever since the Renaissance we have all men and nations Lives separate individual distinct ; lived apart minds essentially and increasingly alone I will not have, him blamed. He is a slow ripener, of like all your family sure shy speech, poor lamb of little hard to shake from his purpose. What is he but shaken from his purpose to-day ? He, the student of tides, sea-mapmaker, hydrographer ? Isn't that a craft wide enough for a lifetime ? Where 's I. ^. :. !. Anne. Doctor. Anne. the continuity in this ? he can stand inaction no longer? Wants to Suppose from get maps into the world of four dimensions and test his discovery on himself? Don't we all feel that undertow of the war-tide, sucking us out ? Haven't you. yourself five times volunteered. Doctor. But us, his. why. this. mystery. own, who bred him. ?. I dislike. ? ?. it.. Why. not trust.

(14) ACT Anne. Why. not. SCENE. I.. trust. I. him, our own,. whom we. have bred. ?. breathes light Geoffrey sings in the middle of the note of his beautiful young body. with every He is set. pore. on some high mark Doctor. Tell. Anne. He. me. invisible to us.. what he. again exactly '. said.. think the secret of living where lies in the life seems so chaotic, flowing and unstable discovery of an organic soul, first in ourselves ; then in other human creatures ; and finally even in the myssaid,. Mother,. I. between ourselves and them/ He said, If I have discovered the organic in that final stage an inward shape and purpose in the relations between men, terious currents *. must use the knowledge I must test it. I am going ' it to the severest of all.' I said, How can proof you put to the proof a discovery of the organic soul in human society?' And he answered, gaily, as he kissed me, 'I must bring it to bear on the most I. ;. to put. powerful living antagonist/ Pause DR.. WICKHAM sees in his wife's a sudden surmise and apprehenface first sion as to whom this be. antagonist .. .. .. He tries to. Doctor. may. turn aside her surmise.. Rainbow-chasing But if he has sailed !. Anne. Well?. Doctor. And Well. Doctor. Anne. The. sailed to. France in mid-war-time,. as. you sav. ?. antagonist. whom. he has in mind may be. Napoleon. Doctor. He may be mad, but hardly so mad as that. How should he get near Napoleon ? Does he think to be admitted to the presence ? How should he deal with Napoleon? As well try to ride a comet. No; it's some rainbow-chasing The dash of the sublime in Well! if he draws that from Geoffrey. you, dear, !. I. suppose he has his reward.. my.

(15) ACT Anne Doctor. Anne Doctor. I.. SCENE. I. Sublime that wants reward is not the sublime. the beautiful and the true are not wanted here they have to be enforced. How ? The things of the spirit enforced? By sheer compassion for the sufferings of the worker He must have hewn himself into the very himself of Look at me (Pause) Another statue deformity. me stumbles where 's thing Raymond ? ? Two I sons cannot lose. Raymond There 's Margaret coming through the orchard She. Even. !. :. Anne Doctor. !. is late.. *. The girl MARGARET. Margaret. enters breathlessly. Father, guess what I've seen the wind 's so gloriously high on the motherkin, -I've been running so fast But the news, the. Good morning,. !. Oh. my Down news. I'll. !. give you five,. you I was Doctor. Margaret. I'll. give you. fifty, I'll. give. doomsday to guess The news, so hard to keep sworn to secrecy till they were clean out to sea.. till. !. !. What have you to tell us ? You know where the brass half circle,. with the names of the ports of France on it, is let into the wall on the high cliff? I ran there they let me look through the there she was telescope over the Channel far, out !. beyond the undercliff. Geoffrey's old sloop, all gay and And a cloud-shadow glittering, beating out to sea! after I her. could make out the little figures on racing and who was at the wheel board, Geoffrey himself! For then, as though he knew I was watching, he just came out of the wheel-house, took off his cap, and bowed, saluting the cliffs of England!. Anne Margaret. Ah. !. Imagine. Geoffrey's sailed. it,. mond with him Doctor. Fools, fools. Margaret. How seagulls. France, and Ray-. !. wish. how. I. wish. diving from the. cliff!. I. to. !. I. were with them. !. Our.

(16) ACT Anne Margaret. I.. SCENE. I. You have dropped a piece of paper. were going Raymond threw (Picking it up) As they me this, for you.. '. Anne. ' alarmed at Jan's absence (Reading) Mother, don't be little absence Jan (Continues reading) my Jan's * He begged to be allowed to sail, and as I know Geoffrey would not hear of it, I have smuggled Jan on !. !. board as stowaway/ Doctor. Margaret. Anne Anne. little. Fools. !. How else why. Margaret. my. Jan! Fools. scamp. Fools. !. a thing. weaned. scarce. !. can they come back sea-wise. ?. .. .. .. Mother,. so pale ? keep his twelfth birthday. are. you. on the Goodwins ? Will Jan Shall I go and get you some cordial, Mother ? After all, Stripped of three sons in one day Meg is right. They're ripe for sea-faring at twelve !. .. .. .. .. years old.. Margaret. Mother,. he. with. 's. Geoffrey. he'll. be safe. with. Geoffrey.. Anne. I suppose it. Doctor. Human that. Anne. Anne. !. .. .. .. is. nature .. human !. (Tame). if. nature.. they've no better counsellor than dear, will you go to your. My. French prisoners ? Not now. The house would be too empty without the boys. I will stay with you, my friend, until comes back. Geoffrey The DOCTOR goes out.. Ah, these sons, these sons We make them bring them into life, and go through our little troubles for. Like birds, they must be twice-born, and break from us and the nest away again. Suddenly they too have purposes, wiser than ours. But O why should them.. these purposes be so unspeakable? young creatures' hearts, I say. Who. What. is. in. these. will tell us that. ?.

(17) ACT It. SCENE. I.. II. The Cliff's Face. night, under the precipitous. cliff near Cap east the Coast of France^ Crtche on of Boulogne. Slabbed rocks just emergefrom the sea at the foot of French the cliff, which is partly seen in outline.. is. A. MARINE GUARD, with a great lantern, enters on the rocks from the east side. He hauls out a rope which the down sits down, and fastens to hangs cliff ; the ropers. end the lantern between his feet on the. ground.. Marine. Guard. (Shouting up the cliff after listening to the Sentinefs All's well challenge above on the cliff-top) Eon quart! ! I Bon missed No him, yes, ( answer) (To himself) quart wise old owl sat in an oak but wait, wait .... the more he saw, the less he spoke Misjudged the distance, did I ? Well, the sun was shining behind my back, !. A. !. happen I ##<&r-judged it. But I was aiming young devil over rocks and boulders and he in shade, and heat rising so happen I 0wrjudged it. A see-saw affair (Fluttering his palm this way and that?) and. so. at the. !. foice. (Frvm the cliff-top^ in the remote distance overhead] Ohe, Old Efficiency c them that can't Ohe, Old Efficiency , this from handle an oar 111 tell No, you, (Addressing his so mum on musket) sitting your butt-end, why I missed him He came up so young and foolish after his dive, !. Marine. *. !. :. my very face, that I was staggered, and let But you wait, wait, wait. He rises and adjusts the lantern with its light towards Boulogne; then goes round the cliff eastward in the direction of Fort Cray.. smiling into. him. off].

(18) ACT. 10. A. SCENE. I.. boat. with. II. three. cloaked. men. in. it. cautiously appears out of the darkness round the cliff along the rocky slabs of the foreshore. are GEOFFREY WICKHAM, his brother. They. RAYMOND WICKHAM, and WATT, (In a low clear tone). Wickham Raymond. He. 's. passed. a seaman.. the shore patrol. 's. Bring her in close. passed. RAYMON D jumps ashore. WICKHAM lands. In half an hour he'll return to put this lamp out. Now then, (Addressing RAYMOND) jump in. must I (Stepping back into the boat reluctantly) Why ? with Ill land back Geoffrey you, go (After a pause of astonishment) You've had your !. Wickham. orders.. Raymond Wickham Raymond tfîckham. Raymond Wickham. Raymond. Look. papers.. !. Watt take charge (Pointing to the I'm seaman). going ashore with you, Geoffrey. If risk is what you want, you've had it for the last twenty seconds. I refuse. Halt (Jumps back to shore?) Mountebank! (To WATT) My pistols are under the boat-cloak in the stern. (He takes the pistols.) a mocking smile) Shoot his arms with (Folding here, let. !. !. We. are. Don't I Calais. Wickham. Off you go. Just so. away. Wickham Raymond. Take charge of sloop and. Yes, yes. No. under nine miles of batteries. know every tussock of this cliff from here to. ?. doubt.. But the. cliff. may. not recognize you,. just now.. Raymond. Why, I slipped ashore in the dinghy here, yesterday went through four clean away again.. Wickham. of huts and canteens. and got. You slipped ashore without orders? (Turning to WATT) Is this so. Watt. lines. (Nods). r. I didn't. report. it. against him,. sir..

(19) ACT Wkkbam. SCENE. I.. II. II. (Taking off'his hat he throws it flown on the flat rock, takes RAYMOND by the shoulder up to the lantern, so that the light is on both their faces) So ho The toast is The night glasses of all three island forts are mutiny. and. !. .'. already braced on. and No,. in this. us.. We. may. as. well sink decently. (Regarding RAYMOND'S face curiously) not the face of a changeling this is my. order. is. brother's face.. Raymond Wickbam Raymond Wickbam. Raymond Wickham Raymond. always the same old face. here we part, for good.. I fear so. A pity Well, Why part ?. I prefer not to send my brother dingle dangle from a yard-arm ; and I don't want a deserter. Oh come deserter ? !. Wasn't there a. clear pledge that. you would serve. ?. Damme, Geoffrey I'm no longer in the cradle Are we crossed on a Government commission ? No. What 's our errand ? I have it Cousin Elise, that I used to gather bait with the light-foot limpet- gatherer all accounts has no lack of rescuers. she By I to at old over Nan's Tavern. my go lodge lodgings Trust me with an attempt on Bonaparte's head!. !. !. !. Wickham Raymond. quarters, and a mere idea ?. Wickham. I'll. serve. !. Or have you. Yes. For a mere idea. I'm not on a military cuttingout expedition. But I'll trust you with this. In case things miscarried, I needed you as mate, to take back charts and on board, and now Jan, your stowpapers If for away. nothing else's sake then for the sake of them who think him lost.. RAYMOND shakes. Watt Raymond. his head.. Master Ray, no coltish tricks. !. the colt, you see, to the men you expect command. By Jove I'll land independently Still. me. to. !. !. Wickham. crossed for. (Pointing up the clijf) Up with you (Long pause) Halt, Ray Ray, I'll drop the skipper. Mine 's a forlorn !. !.

(20) ACT. 12. Raymond. SCENE. I.. II. Could hope, that I can neither explain nor betray. I explain, you would not oppose. Will you go aboard ? I am the untrained ignoramus you, the eternal student Eight years between us two, and three educagranted to you, and refused to me. Though be nameless, I want to make a name. rather you'd May I not have as bold a plan as other men and a map of. tions;. sewn in. the batteries. Wickham. Wickham Watt. Raymond Wickham. waistcoat pocket. sup in. I'll. ?. in a buffet of sound. Supper To-night I'll dine with the Tenth legion. mounts the rope of the lantern , hand over fist.). Take. Five. !. !. doubtful.. 's. Raymond. this. Dover Your ghost may reach Dover. nights hence. these pistols.. (Hands. (He. the pistols?). (To WICKHAM) You'll be unarmed, sir let the cub go. Thanks, Watt! (Taking the pistols) Thanks, Geoffrey. (He climbs rapidly~ out of sight.). (Half to himself for No, he. He. missed his footing out of sight I hate that he should end, After all, others like to answer for themselves, as well as I. gun booms.. done. !. looking up). 's. round. 's. By Jove, hating me so. !. !. A. Wickham Watt. Wickham. (To WATT) Take charge of all aboard. Ay, ay, sir. There'll be slippy cracks between the slabs what light will you have along the beach ? More than I care for, Watt. Ten thousand burning wrongs, on both sides of the water.. He. Wickham. stands looking up. paper. (Stoops to pick it up, and reads top.. Heigho. A stonefalls 'with a. it). He. 's. reached the. !. He. cliff^. and. departs rapidly round the disappearing into the darkness to the. sighs ;. westward..

(21) ACT. SCENE. I.. Nan's Tavern,. III. in Boulogne, on the quay.. WICKHAM. is looking out of the window the noisy forest of masts outside.. Wickham. and contemplating. (Putting hisjingers in his ears) Pity you live in a city, Plants too near Give every each other. poison one his proper patch of loneliness, say I (He returns to the middle of the room.) (Who has been pouring out coffee) I let you sleep on through the morning. You slept right through the ship-. Nan.. !. Nan. hammering and pile-driving. I came in and feasted my eyes on you, my lamb. You're brown why you might be a Corsair, child ? What Hasn't shore-life damaged my complexion ? I like my dreamers to be of bronze and not dank as though they were grown in a cellar. Why it was on wright's. !. Nan. you, my firstling, that I spent my soul of nights thought-reading your little wizened face. Was it hunger, or thirst, or wind that pinched ye ? Who was there but I to guess what you wanted ? And now you can And that 's why poor old Nan speak by the bushel. can't read your face. What have you come back for ?. Wickham. Nan Wickham. Nan. (Smiling) Ah In these wild times, through the blockade long yarn, Nurse. !. ?. A. Ay, and I'm going. to. have. it. .... You got. the sealed. packet, addressed here to your old lodging, and that waited here so long, which I sent across by a smuggler ?. tfickham. Yes.. Nan. You're not in love ? There 's but -one lady in. all. Boulogne. for. me. But.

(22) ACT she. When. a Catholic.. 's. SCENE. I.. did. III. you. last. to. go. mass,. Nan?. Nan. No. such havers you've not crossed to see me. Not so often as I ought. It 's the dear? my hill that of Cathedral many puffings little steepness and no arm of now to lean on. yours strength think of mother 's to your house under My unhappy our English fire. What battles I used to have with Ah, your mother her over you all! But with her, that was so gentle, Satan himself could not be angry. Is she still crazed with love for your father ? God to leave France !. Mass,. Wickbam. Nan. !. My. man. to follow a. Ifickham. !. She 's torn between two countries. Strange to wake here in my old lodging, and not in my old attic All the winds of heaven whistle through your old !. Nan. The. attic.. made by an English cannon-. hole was. ball.. Wickham. You sent in a claim for damages ? twelve hundred francs. ' Sire, I am a poor old 4 This is Beautifully written it was. Monstrous. Nan. ay. woman your poor. ' .. .. .. !. .. .. war. Majesty's .. .. but. the. State's. .. .. .. hard. on. us. .'. Wickham. The. Nan. But the State. Wtckbam. Only large-scale housekeeping, Nan. You don't set much store by the State, my dear 1 shall, when it lets us all be kings and queens. Does. Nan Wickham. Nan. ha ha. State .... !. 's. a. !. my. mighty thing,. dear.. !. Bonaparte come. down. to. Boulogne. ?. Often, often Swings in over the cobbles from Paris, at two in the morning at the gate where the Tree of Liberty was planted in his great Berlin carriage. !. The. sentries. see. him working. inside. with. a. lamp. holding two reviews, he. steals. behind his bed.. Wtckham. Nan. Ah! And sometimes. after.

(23) ACT. SCENE. L. to the crossroad's out at night in a large soft hat to hear the hearsay on the downs, chapel, yonder up of the fisher-folk. But why have you come over, my dear ? Still at the old sea-survey, with your leadlines and instruments ? Yes. Come to work here quietly. If folk remembered I'm half English, they might grow suspicious send me inland to be interned at Arras. .. Wickham. III. .. .. Nan. What. Wickham. Yes, but no politics. Nan. Nor of politicians. Wickham. Poor creatures that bribe us with mean reasons for. talks we'll. have. !. !. taking great measures ' The saving of France indeed What do they mean when they talk of ' France ? Is there, my dear, a real !. Nan. '. !. '. France. Wickbtm. Yes,. Nan. How. Wickham ;. Nan Wickham. ?. Nan, the. real. France. is. you. !. d'you make a living nowadays ? I make nautical instruments and instead of em, use them mostly myself.. selling. And that packet, that waited for you here so long ? Years ago in peace-time the days of the Consulate I sent in to the Paris Institute of Sciences a paper on the law of forecasting Channel tides. Well, that It invited me to an interview packet was an answer But the delay, the delay The Consulate's gone now How '11 you be received ? Isn't the letter of invitation a sort of safe-conduct ? Anyhow I've crossed on the strength of it. !. Nan tPickbam. Nan. !. !. They may. call. !. you a natural philosopher for knowing But it's my belief you were. the currents as you do. born a mackerel. Wtckham. Flatterer. !. !. I'll. make you. ELISE,. a. DUBOIS. enter.. read. brilliant. my. book on. lady,. tides. They talk in a low. seated at a table.. !. and GENERAL tone,.

(24) ACT. i6. Nan. (Aside. Itfckham. Elise. Nan. SCENE. I.. III. WICKHAM) There's your cousin. to. she's gay, but she's a. Yes. !. kind customer to me, for. and brings half the town here want to meet nobody.. old time's sake,. Hush. tîckham. Elise. ?. I. !. for coffee.. NAN. takes coffee to ELISE. Mademoiselle, your servant Dear Nan General, I could stick a pin into. Nan. !. lilise. !. jealousy. She. !. And. I do.. 's. she. A. so. young, and makes. all. 's. the. bottle of. General. ( To NAN). Elise. (In a withering tone). NAN. mode. Nan. for. better coffee than. !. Chambertin, Madame.. retires.. And. / congratulate you !. so you're. going to marry. !. Force majeure ! Let us forget it, in this ante-chamber I haven't been off duty in the saddle for. General. to Paradise.. eighteen months, and. now I'm. sitting. with you.. It. makes one tremble. Elise General Elise. You. interest me.. Elise. !. Do you interest me ? I wonder. What sentimental cherubs men are Tumbling back over the clouds of What fools, we poor women glory !. !. General hlise. Why, Elise ? While the grossness of reality stares us in the face dream that you can have for us more than a momentary kindness. There 's money, of course.. to. What Why,. General Elise General. is. money?. I'd sell. my. soul for. it.. No, no, you would not. Come world Beauty like yours I knowmy eye 's very. to the big. and. brilliant. !. Elise. it. of General. go in the the terrors beauty, who'll take care. bright, as eyes. provinces. !. creates in. me. in. Elise. !. my. My. me. .'. beauty. Odds. old age. ?. !. If you. gast. my. knew. all.

(25) ACT 'ise An.. SCENE. I.. III. That maid of mine! "What carelessness mad (She carefully adjusts a curl before and in a larger mirror catches sight of WICKHAM. As WICKHAM ts rising to go out, ELISE recognizes him, starts violently, and advances with both hands Tiens!. shell drive me a hand-mirror,. !. out}. Haughty Ifickhatn. creature,. (Smiling). you were going. me. to cut. !. was!. I. Come and join. us.. WICKHAM,. (She motions him to her table.) surprised, bows, hesitates.. ELISE returns to the GENERAL. General a near relative me, Forgive !. General Etise General. An. Iilise. Brought up to the. General. And. lise. I suspect relatives.. old playmate.. I detest old playmates. I. abhor the. sea.. sea.. A. genius shipwrecked on a desert England! (In a lower tone) Nonsense, I haven't seen him for three years. (Aloud} General Dubois, my cousin M. Wickham, c. it. (She pronounces. ficamp'}. a distinguished. young man. of science. General. Charmed. Iilise. When. extend the circle of my acquaintance. you escape from England, Geoffrey ?. to. did. Quite lately.. General. Wickham. Through one of the regular escape-agents ? double what you bargained for, 111 warrant! You're right there,. Orderly. Nan. Orderly. A. letter.. paid. sir.. An ORDERLY a. You. in a. His. military cloak enters with. cloak is wet.. letter for la patronne.. (Takes the letter: puts on spectacles, and reads) My dears, the Head-quarter Staff are going to look into my claim for damages. ( To the ORDERLY) Coffee, Monsieur ?. Thank. you,. Madame.. NAN and the ORDERLY. talk in an undertone..

(26) ACT. 18 General. Wickham lise. Wickham lise. I.. Have you. (To WICKHAM) cliffs yet ?. Not. SCENE. III. the camps on the. seen. yet.. Ten miles of merry with little thatched huts, streets, and gardens, and their camp-theatre, where and even canaries, and chapels, I sometimes act.. Two mushroom cities sprung up. You. !. !. look at the harbour The thousands of pennons with the thousands of ships all heaving all waving man's heart one. And. !. !. Wtckh&m General. Etise. Whose. ?. must understand, sir, that ladies in (Ironically) You the provinces have one demi-god, Napoleon. Take his personal What an artist What a mind ' Match me that, among laurelled device the !. N. !. '. your Caesars Very imposing. !. !. General. for. them on whom. it. is. meant to. impose Can Goethe match his General, don't be an iceberg. in brief Rude halting sentIliads bulletins ? Epics His every word ences, but every halt a victory leaf of his a decree Every despatches, a laurel !. Iilise. !. !. General. Wickham General. Wickham General. Round. !. his. own brows. !. He has mind. Has he the music of the mind ? Or has France found a flawless master ? Flawless no. His tactics are damned poor. Tactics don't interest him he prepares far too little, and he's rash. Take his habit of reconnoitring alone personally at night, almost in the I like that. enemy. lines.. !. The grant you, his scale of strategy's superb way and that, to put 'em off (Waving his wine-glass) Egypt, Ireland, West Indies, and then the blow at the enemy's very heart But. I. !. feinting this. !. Wickham. And. the enemy's very heart. is. ?.

(27) ACT. SCENE. I.. III. General. Do you drop from Heaven,. Wickham. Indeed. London.. sir ?. ?. A. GUARDSMAN and a MARINE GUARD. enter.. They sit at another table in fatigued attitudes> drinking. lise. (With a nod towards them) Do look at my audience I am fresh back from rehearsal. yonder ; I act for them wave a scroll to the I am Bononia, Goddess of Boulogne when he arrives, and repeat the poetry of the !. Emperor. {She rises and declaims:) of the marshes drear, Bononia, daughter And the entire department of the Pas de Calais,. Prefect, conceive '. it. !. Rejoice at your august presence. In order to humble the overweening British. And God General Jilise. O. peace on Earth. settle. created Napoleon Bonaparte perfect, perfect Prefect. But those adorable infantry. Wickham. me men The. General. (Pointing out of the. love to. General I* Use. Wickham. make. are keen to cross the water. window). We. ?. are all gay as that. officially.. And. you,. sir,. {Modestly) Succeeded!. have succeeded. Ah, well. ?. !. He's to be married to an heiress, with of a million francs from the Emperor. a wedding gift Field-marshal may blossom into there? end Why prince. General. How simply they. !. !. bunting. Wickham. and then rested/. ;. !. I. !. get some fiddling little duchy down in Italy. are slaves who can't call our souls our own. But his violent caprice only hope he's got one. may Still, we. We Why. !. !. has he. left. me. in. the. air. without a. com-. mand ? tilise. (To WICKHAM). command Wickham. Is it. The. dear General. at. Dijon. jealousy or promotion. ?. is. no longer in.

(28) ACT. 2O. I.. SCENE. III. Let 's hope it 's the fiddling little duchy But after all, it 's only the bellows of war blows a man !. General. how it War the great lottery heat the on of it. You crest the pace! gamble quickens Turcoman charge (Gesture) and you've all Europe or a grave you know nothing about in your haversack white. to. !. !. A. !. War 's natural And clumsy as \. Jptckham. nature. !. lise. Europe shouting, 'Brotherhood! and you cleave your brother from nape Brotherhood Isn't there something of dingy subterfuge to middle about the mixture ? Dingy subterfuge? Of course! That's war. I can't see the fallacy, but I smell one (She holds her. General. her nose, in fairy disgust?) handkerchief Don't be jealous of me, for the bauble palaces, stars,. Iilisc. You. gallop across '. !. !. General. !. to. nor even for me. I. Wickham Elise. !. They. weren't meant. are for the legions that fell at my side. the paltry symbol, that stands the chance survivor. am. for. me. kisses, that fall to. They. them.. For that, sir, I salute you. (Fanning herself) Mes compliments^ General, I disYou handle masses, and you think in herds. agree You gallop back into the dark ages. Since the brute in (Rising) !. man. 's. eternal,. come. let. 's. adore. Now. it. !. Your greed. 's. for. take this absurd Cousin of mine He may be queer, but he's for quality. He keeps the poise that your galloper loses quantity.. Wick ham. Elise, Elise. He. !. !. thinks the art of. His follow field-paths. mind not the of perfect sobriety smoky Ambition La He is more ambitious than. intoxication. the herd. He. life's to. is. !. !. wants nothing less than the air, space, and you. of all Nature ; but himself to take light up as little room as possible. He drinks pure water, eats anything, walks and sails much. An idea strikes him the texture of.

(29) ACT. SCENE. I.. III. 21. the shape of a splash of water ; the ; of two making four; or of an adjective two and perfection he sits down on a sea-rock with a substantive ; agreeing or country wall with the sheep-bells clinking in the to figure it out. next coombe Looking into that gives. light in a valley. him. makes his senses grow finer ; no one any butcherly discomfort ; and kills off no friends or enemies of mine in droves. (Raising her glass towards WICKHAM) This rarefied and harmless kind of exquisite pleasure, that. costs. me. gentleman for. Wickham General lise. General lise. General Jilise. General. Wtckham General. !. Yes. Let's confess, General, you and I are birds of prey. And. this sea-going. is. !. is. the finer. Finer life?. life,. the soldier's or the civilian's ? If the soldier's. Hum A cognac, Madame !. why, damme,. Marine. Certainly not the soldier. how. Guard. to. row. sailor's. !. the soldier's. say you. if he's. !. ?. got to teach the. .'. (Drawing his pistol) If I did pistol eye's. General. in.. !. (To MARINE GUARD) What. Marine. who come !. General. Guardsman. .. !. Nonsense, I'll be off. By God, sir, you will hear the verdict out Begin with the two yonder, and this orderly Done with you Why pit one against the other ? I insist. (To soldiers) Tell me what you think. in the Imperial Guard,. Guard. Noah's dove. gentleman Submit the case to the first three men. Which Guardsman. !. She's roasting me, General, filise, have mercy to ELISE) You (Angrily, presume to set the civilian ? the soldier against. lose. an eye in Egypt,. my. left.. (Putting up pistol) No jokes, men Don't the fisherman's courage want more staying power than the soldier's ? Ask their wives, waiting for .'. 'em along the coast trees. what. their. bent double in the wind, like our through, year in, year out. men go. I'm a longshoreman bred myself.. !.

(30) ACT. 22. Hurrah. SCENE. I.. Now. !. III. (She turns. the orderly.. for. to. the. messenger who has been standing drinking at the bar) The poor orderly 's all wet his horse stumbled in the ',. Nan. river.. He's had a sousing. EKse. Decide, Orderly. sir. he'll. cooler. us. give. sense!. !. (Turning half round with coffee-cup in one hand and do the men themselves prefer saucer in the other) Listen to their talk, about to lead them, Mademoiselle ? Is it the hell-for-leather leader that the bivouac.. Whom. they. trust. ?. No.. Is. man of judgement.. it. the bravest. But judgement. No.. ?. is. It. 's. the. a civil quality. admits benevolence, looks to the general well-being to ELISE) all the I and humanity (Bowing graces! for the civil plump. it. !. Bravo, bravo Infinitely obliged to you, sir. But (turning wholly round^ full-face^ and addressing himself to the GENERAL) a word with you, sir. (He leads him forward^ and speaks in a low tone) General Dubois, why are you not at Dijon ? !. Orderly. General. (Much. surprised}. My. God. !. Napoleon. Sire. !. (Is. silent).. Napoleon General at. Napoleon General. General Dubois, why are you not (In a low tone) Sire, you relieved Dijon, and I came to Paris.. at. me. Dijon or. ?. my command. You have doubtless received the permission of the Minister of War to leave Dijon ? No,Sire,but having nothing more to do at Dijon, I came and from Paris here, on urgent private affairs. Do you remember the two windmills of Terlincthon ?. to Paris. Napoleon General. Sire. Napoleon. You have from. General. ?. a bad topographical. memory.. About a mile under the. this, there's a grassy hollow, a half circle. windmills of Terlincthon. Ah yes, I remember the foundation of the Legion of. Honour..

(31) ACT Napoleon. SCENE. I.. III. 23. .. There, a twelve-month ago, under the eyes of thousand men, I fixed on your breast the cross seventy of the Legion. But if (Looking at his watcK), within two hours, you are not on your way back to Dijon, I'll have Yes.. you shot. under the eyes of the same army. The GENERAL bows and goes out. Almost. there, to-day,. immediately he returns. the doorway. to. and. beckons violently to WICKHAM, behind NAPOWICKHAM follows him. One LEON'S back. enters and NAPOLEON turns to the SOLDIER and MARINE GUARD.. of NAPOLEON'S STAFF-OFFICERS stands in attendance.. Napoleon. (Taking each by an ear) Now then, my lads, soldier and sailor, squabbling like curs and sea-gulls, under the very eyes of the enemy fleet ? Must I teach fire and water to mix ? Scuffle no more or, when the first great action's afoot, you'll be told off to bed, with a sucking bottle apiece !. Officer. He salutes. Another STAFF-OFFICER enters. Several old men come in after him. Good heavens, sir! We rode up to the West Cliff camp. that your Majesty. Napoleon. was. to inspect!. a chain horse tripped on a cable in the river under the water, mooring the prison-barges I got a ducking. Do you see how that fellow holds himself? the MARINE GUARD) I'll bet you he has (Indicating a weal where the shoulder-strap cuts. Undo the strap. My. !. Look,. Officer. Napoleon. as I thought,. it. chafes.. (OFFICER obeys) Your Majesty designed the uniform yourself But not that strap, fool Have the equipment altered. I remember you. I conto old an Ah, Sailor) (Turning Weren't sulted you about rowing, you old conger eel you once in the galleys ? a galley-slave on a sheepskin, chained to an oar. You used to puff your fleas at visitors, !. !. through a like that. !. little. whisk of paper, eh. ?. Hou, hou, hou.

(32) ACT. 24 Old. Sailor. Nan Napoleon. Old Sailor Napoleon. SCENE. I.. III. {Falling on his knees) But I'm a cooper now, sir. Ay, he's a cooper, highly respected. Ah, but is he a good cooper ; or a contractor ? I do make water-barrels for the transports, sir. I've seen your waterI thought so, a contractor! barrels on the quay they've only wooden hoops they leak!. Old. Sailor. Napoleon. Nan Napoleon. Napoleon. Nan Napoleon. a very little leak, sir the hoops of iron, dear wish to go back to a sheepskin. Only. Mr. Cooper, if you don't and a paper flea-trumpet.. Oh, your Majesty, don't say that Ah, Madame of the house ? NAN curtsies. NAPOLEON offers his snuffbox to NAN, and tries to take some himself^ butfinds it wet, and shuts the box with a snap. Didn't you send me a petition for damages done by an !. English cannon-ball? Yes, your Majesty, this bloody siege is your Majesty's my roof 's ruined. siege, not my siege Let me see the cannon-ball How much damage did !. you claim. Nan. !. Make. ?. Twelve hundred. Twelve hundred, your. francs. ?. gracious Majesty,. what with. the roof and loss of lodgers. Napoleon. Nan Napoleon. (To //&<? STAFF-OFFICER) Pay her eight hundred. Wecan't allow for the loss of lodgers. You have no lodgers left ? Only one.. Only. Where. Nan. is. one? he ?. And. he. doesn't. mind cannon-balls.. Oh a shy bear of a young man, that it'd be sheer cruelty He only likes fishermen and hates politicians. Sensible fellow What 's the name of this paragon ?. to see.. Napoleon. Nan Napoleon. Nan. !. Wickham.. (She pronounces it. '. Ficamp. '.). Vicamp, Vicamp ? A sea cartographer ? Wasn't there a Memorandum on Tides, by some such man ? An awkward and simple young man, your Majesty, all angles and calculations..

(33) ACT. I.. I rather believe in. Napoleon I. was one myself!. SCENE. III. awkward and simple young men black goat may give white milk.. A. If he's a sea cartographer, he's the kind of exact fellow. M.. (?.,. and. we want nowadays. (Turning to the old men) Do you seafaring men know him ? From a child, sir. All Sailor^ (Unanimously) M. Vicamp ?. Pilot. Napoleon. he Let me. his life. review. at. been alongshore here.. 's. see. (Consulting a green note-book). I have a Send M. Vicamp up to my own o'clock, Madame, with two of his old. three.. baraque at five fishermen friends. They understand beaching boats in surf better than these navy fellows.. NAPOLEON again. tries. take. to. snuff and mechanically ; again finds the box. He who snaps passes ELISE, darts at him a killing glance. In going it wet,. NAPOLEON looks fixedly at her before he vanishes there is a breathless pause. After he has gone all the men follow him out up the road. There are cries of ' in the distance. ELISE îvetEmpereur! and NAN look at each other with a look out. of overwhelming. significance.. They sigh. deeply.. Nan ltse. Nan. He. has been here, and he 's sat on that chair in the world is Geoffrey ?. (JDusting the chair carefully) It must never be used I again What a mercy Master Geoffrey wasn't here !. was /ise. !. he might be dragged into this waste of war. greater honour could befall Geoffrey than to be. afraid. What. wasted so father. Nan. No,. is. ?. D'you think. English. my. I. am. likely to betray that his. ?. dear,. you were. in love with. him yourself. once. lisc. !. Where. Fal,. lal, la. !. Never cared. a rap for. him. !.

(34) ACT. 26. SCENE. I.. III. WICKHAM enters. Nannette, let me tell the news. Geoffrey,. !. why. did. ?. Wickham. you go Your friend the General came back and beckoned me, something amiss. He has been suddenly ordered. away begged me to give you his last messages. Gone with not a word to me ? ;. Elise. Wickham. All his devotion. !. No more. than that? Ah, we shall have reams of I am sick to death of explanation by the next courier these orders and counter-orders to marionettes. !. Wickham. (tPitb gentle hesitation) Boulogne Elise, that I. That. Wickham. my. Wickham. KSC. so full of gaieties,. Yet one must. is futile.. London next ?. exist.. Yet. ?. not come to shine on us in Kent ? ' Bid her ' come,' says my mother, when she turns to us, and wants to come/ There's a farm-house a maze of old appleand there 's my mother. trees. Why. Ah, your mother It. is. opens {Musingly) !. Wickham. existence. I suppose you'll be storming. Yet what. is. hardly like to suggest-. !. How easier. I. She. which the book take one in flank. should love to see her face again. women. 's. the page at. like her. who. !. Nothing No, no, I'm a Corsair of the Boulonnais all for romance Is there no romance about a hearth ? Let our appletrees haunt you Hark ye, Elise, you remember Ray ? !. !. Wickham. !. lise. Wickham. That. (Laughing) Ray 's over here.. Then. (Suddenly grave) at the. Wickham Us*. camp. If he. Ray. is. ?. theatre. caught. My. him.. IVickham. I. hope. not.. artist in. was Ray. My I. twin soul. ?. caught sight of. !. will. word. it. crime?. you stand by him. I will. !. ?. ... But they'll never catch.

(35) ACT. SCENE. I.. III. 27. And now. Geoffrey, would you recognize Napoleon ? him despatches once in Italy, in a garden. It gave. I. was a night with a full freight of stars overhead. His elbows were by a guttering candle on a little broken stone table, between high bay hedges, under a great It was a troubled mask, of mixed hardness and pine. More will than desire eyeballs alive with threat. I in the cheekbones. But what big intelligence, thought, All boyish sweetness Well, the man in the dripping cloak, who was elbow but now The fellow with lank hair, and voice so a smile. lisff. !. !. assurance lise. at. your. full. of. ?. Napoleon.. Napoleon. !. Napoleon.. WPickbam lise. Impossible. More!. manded you. Wickham lilise. !. The little man with the dripping cloak has comto his presence at five o'clock this evening.. Commanded me With two of your !. his. own. Why. ?. old seafaring friends. Wtckbtm Iilise. You enrage me. lise. up. at. baraque.. Already ? Asks for me ? c Why do you say already This is quick work. Wickham. to be. '. ?. !. !. And what would / not. It is so.. only will in Europe straight in the eyes cloud-witted squanders his sovran presence on. give to look the. But he. !. my. cousin.. Curious chance stand there, stock-fish, !. And you. one strong man takes you up. Wickham. when. I tell. you the. !. {Lightly, being reluctantfully NAN) And to be taken up. to. confide either in ELISE. by the one strong man, whether Devil or all Nature's dancing-master, is the very passion of the weak-kneed or in. !.

(36) ACT. 28 fce. Wickbam. SCENE. I.. III. Dolt! If I must face him, Til face him.. I've. met. his. betters.. Nan J^lise. Take two men with you who understand the beach. You despise Napoleon because he wishes to Oh you wild shy naturalists, watchers make use of you I see.. !. Wickham lise. Wickham. of the eternal order, as from another planet Don't be too hard on the handful of us, Elise What care (With intensity) Chill tribe of idealists you for our terrible plight, in the here and now ? How do you know that I hadn't already settled to !. !. my. soul to the devil for this interview ? I meant with him, Elise, even before he invited me. You meant I meant to sup with him. At what hour did you say was the appointment ?. pitch. to sup. Elise. fPickham. !. Five.. Wickham Slue ITickham Zlise. Wickham glise. Wickham. Au. revoir, ladies.. What will you do between this and in grace ? I shall,. may. be,. five. ?. Pray. ?. Grow. put up a prayer or two.. To whom ? No one. The spirit in the midst. And what shall you ask for ? Power.. Nan. And what. Wickham. Take. are. you going. to. do now,. my. son. ?. a stroll along the beach. The weather wants watching, and there's a boat in the offing that has her work cut out for her.. fie goes. out.. END OF. ACT L. Twenty-four hours elapse between Act. Act IL. I and.

(37) ACT. II.

(38)

(39) ACT. II.. SCENE. I. Napoleon's Bedroom in his Baraque.. The Baraque stands high, near the Signals on the east cliff at The room is bare and simply furnished. Boulogne. There is an iron bedstead with large curtains over it, ceiling by a copper gilt bed are two matft esses of horse-hair,. hung from a point in the. On. hook.. the. two very hard bolsters (one at each end), no pillows, two blankets, om of white cotton, and one wadded. and quilted of plain green Florence. silk.. The wall-. paper' is pink) with a pattern in lace and an Etruscan The washing-jug and basin ware is of porceborder. lain,. On. with a golden fillet and an. 'N. t. >. patterned on. it.. the dressing-table, rich toilet articles.. NAPOLEON. is. discovered dressing.. RUSTAM MAMELOUK,. Eastern garb, brings in his Egyptian clothes from a room opposite across a passage ; and valet, in. his. lays. down a. spare cocked hat, black, frayed and worn.. Napoleon. (To RUSTAM MAMELOUK) Send Meneval, with the correspondence. RUSTAM goes out.. Napoleon. Are they gone ? No, they're in the corridor. your Majesty is yet returned.. MENEVAL Meneval Napoleon. Meneval Napoleon. Meneval. my. secretary,. M.. enters, carrying a portfolio.. They. don't. know. that. Some naval. complaint, I suppose ? urgent memorandum, with suggestions signed by three Admirals. If it 's written, why need they wait ?. An. In case your Majesty needs explanation on any techThey seemed mystified. I soothed them.. nical point..

(40) ACT Napoleon. SCENE. II.. I. Am I here to explain my view mystified. of sea-lubbers ? By the way, Meneval, who is the sorry fowl on the ceiling of the next responsible for Keep 'em. to a set. room ? Meneval. This. a plain soldier's hut. Sorry fowl, sir? It was is. the architect's (Shocked) It 's idea of an eagle. He's very proud of it. hovering, with a sheaf of lightnings in its talons and its beak. towards. towards. England. your. Majesty's. star. of. destiny.. Napoleon. More. But all that gilding on the like an ostrich how much did it cost ? masses of gilt (Producing the bill) Here s the bill for the building of the Hut eagle and gilding of clouds included h'm, Architect pressing to h'm, yes, fifty thousand francs. be paid. !. clouds. Meneval. Napoleon. Ah, I thought so have maintained two the. Meneval. with that gilding I could I won't Saxony. pay for shan't be paid for until it can be. Why,. !. Hut. at all. !. or. spies in. it. paid for out of the enemy's exchequer. c To be paid for only out of enemy's (Making a note) Which enemy's exchequer did you say, exchequer '. .. .. .. sir?. Napoleon. (Suspiciously). Which enemy's exchequer,. whichever enemy. I. conquer next,. sir ?. Why,. sir.. (Rapidly tossing over the correspondence) This, this, this, throw away. This ... let me see ... the twenty-one day basket. This report from Villeneuve can wait I'll sleep on it. He's a whining dog Read the fashionable gossip .. from. M&neval Napoleon. Paris,. .. .. from Madame Thingamy.. h'm, h'm (Reading to himself) H'm Don't miss out anything I pay artists to be pleasant about me ; I pay her to be unpleasant .. .. .. !. !. Meneval. *. leading an open-air life in but the hostesses refuse to appear in the ; leading and turn a 'public eye only smiling profile towards. (Reading. *. the letter). Paris. is. town. *. your Majesty's State. Balls.. Their weapons. are, absence,.

(41) ACT. II.. SCENE. I. 33. *. nonchalance, and an exquisite sense of folly. The Faubourg de St. Germain toys with its brief two months ' of guarded gaieties ; but they are hidden from strangers, ' and from the Imperial Court. The great Mogul Ball ' given by the Duchesse de Grammont ; the Ruff and Stomacher Ball given by the Comtesse de Chabrillan ; the Watteau Pastoral Concert for charity, given by the Comtesse Rene de Beam, allow themselves to be glimpsed at and desired from outside ; but the Imperial Chancellor and his class The Imperial Chancellor and his class * are not invited. The tragedies of Corneille, ordered by your Majesty, are not attended ; and the heart of * the Faubourg de St. Germain is as usual, a fortress '. 4. '. '. '. '. '. Napoleon. Meneval. !. '. Napoleon. closed against the Empress/ They'll keep Stop! ha, ha, ha! The Faubourg de St. will they ?. away from me, Germain The !. (Stamps with rage. Pause) Faubourg de St. Germain How long do insects take to change from ignoring to adoring ? In six months the gauzy ladies, with their exquisite sense of proportion, will be crawling like toads to the Empress's footstool! On with the correspondence Here is the matter of the Boulogne College students !. !. Meneval. keen Napoleon. Meneval Napoleon. Mtneval Napoleon. patriotic boys.. Couldn't we draft an order forming a regiment of all the students of the district ? I'll tell Berthier, as Chief of Staff, to draft an order. By the way, old Berthier positively looks tired He let drop an odd remark the other day. !. What!. Meneval. Regretting the Empire. Napoleon. when he and you were gay Gay? /, gay?. Meneval. '. Oh. Pining for the old free days, subalterns together.. for those old charges over. said.. Napoleon. !. Lodi, eh. ?. broken bridges. ' !. he.

(42) ACT. 34 Meneval Napoleon. II.. SCENE. I. For him, the bugle sounding in advance always called the name of one battle. One battle ? I know Arcola^ where we won byArcola^ Arcola^ sounding them behind the Austrians. We must Arcola ! Diable, I'll make it the bugle-call his raise old cheer Berthier, salt-money, marry him off is but our him tell well beginning glory Yes.. !. !. Meneval. He. cares not a fig for glory. Too. late for all that. '. Berthier loves your Majesty. he says fool The worst I was only I know. jesting, you of Berthier is he has no ambition. And the worst of One can't myself, well, I was born to make enemies. .. Napoleon. '. .. .. !. lay out Europe in fresh flower-beds for nothing. There 's the canal, for the better water-supply of '. Meneval. Paris. Ntpolton. Meneval. Chaptal's idea. Tell Chaptal to get five hundred men, Excellent. and begin work on the following day. Then there's the Seine's overflow, the usual tendency to flood Paris.. We. Napoleon. Let. Meneval. Then the map-boxes. What map-boxes ?. Napoleon. Meneval. Napoleon. Meneval. it. wait.. drink oftener than. we drown.. Those that your Majesty ordered, to be made of acajou to be put on trestles wood, in three compartments, for the travelling library. We're in a great quandary about the map-boxes. Good heavens, why ? One of the boxes was to be reserved for English and Irish maps ; but the Austrian and Saxon maps nearly fill all three.. D'Albe, the cartographer, asks shall he get made ? I woke the fat little D'Albe at two. a fourth box. morning to give him your instructions. made one meek complaint. That fellow 's getting too independent. in the. Napoleon. Meneval. The. He. only. English coast-maps, besides being few and scanty, The Saxon and Austrian ones by Petri are. are obsolete..

(43) ACT. SCENE. II.. I. 35. Was good, though forty years old. box for the English maps ? And what did you say to D'Albe ?. worth making. it. a fresh. Napoleon. That. Meneval. possibly your Majesty would need the English coast-maps less than the Austrian ones.. Napoheon. That my Majesty would need (/tfter a pause) Ah those of the Kentish coast, for the flotilla and Channel, !. less. than those for an Austrian invasion. is silent.. MENEVAL, alarmed^ Napoleon. ?. How discouraging you are, dear Meneval. Of course, with men of your piercing wits about us, we and our inmost intentions are bare ; we 're naked as in the day of judgement! God's eyes! Naked as a needle! Still, spare us, humour us Indulge the official ostrich with a little, little play, in a little, little sand I do most humbly protest, your Majesty, I hadn't the of a ... ghost Perhaps my Majesty will need the English maps less ? I thought we had here over ninety-three thousand men, along twenty miles of coast, ready to be launched from newndug harbours against England ? How long did our second rehearsal, of embarking the entire expedition, take !. !. Meneval Napoleon. to finish yesterday. Meneval Napoleon. Meneval Napoleon. During Ah, not No, six. Ah want. Napoleon. six. seconds, just a. wave of my hand,. like that. ?. tides.. Out with it You I'm going to strike, Britain or. then, I totter back to sanity. know which. to. Austria. Meneval. ?. six tides, sir.. !. !. ?. was absolutely Your eye ranges east and west, natural I should have to settle the fate of Europe. impatient ? Is this consulted you England's crossing practicable I declare I. But. .. how. .. .. !. !. a heavy thought riper,. more. !. The. accessible.. richer. And. prey. ;. Austria,. while Austria's like. you,. is.

(44) ACT. SCENE. II.. I. England is impatient to know how much will have to squander, keeping armies afoot. they gold ' Sire (Shrugging his shoulders helplessly^ Well, my dear Meneval, you're perfectly right, things. impatient. Meneval Napoleon. .. .. .. are in the balance. would tilt. A. !. fly alighting, a hair, a feather, t'other. (Pause) One way or. one way or. it. I t'other the eagle will come down from the ceiling. of the three of fear I can't quite satisfy any Still, you. can give to Austria, and to England, invaluable. you. Oh, take, each of them, a daisy do Pluck it, each of them, with the trembling hand of a Marguerite in anguish, petal by He loves me, he loves me not yes, no, yes, no petal most anxious flutter, eh ? Just so, last the to petal's up dear Meneval, Austria and England will arrive at an idea (though I'm afraid only an approximate idea) as to which empire I am going to invade (Pause) And ? You'll a eh able to pay for my what be comfort, then, advice!. Let 'em. a paper daisy will. !. !. gilt. Meneval Napoleon. Meneval. clouds. .. .. .'. Believe me, your Majesty, I am heart-broken dear ass On with the correspondence.. My. .. .. .. !. (Shakily) Then there's the matter of the Boulogne (Sobs). College students. Napoleon. Nonsense. Meneval. The Boulogne College students (Gulps). !. College students keen, patriotic. Napoleon. .. They're. (Pulling himself together) .. .. The Boulogne. .. (stops) we've dealt. with all that. By the way, No, you you won't have long to wait the eagle will be down from the ceiling in a week. (Kindly). this 111 tell. :. :. Meneval. A. Napoleon Meneval. week. Well, your Majesty's war-dogs are always in good. week Within. !. a. fettle.. Napoleon. Would to God they were Why, look at Caulaincourt and Madame de Canisy Even the faithful Duroc has !. !.

(45) ACT. SCENE. II.. I. 37. an idiot an affair with La Bigottini; Berthier's making of himself over Mademoiselle Visconti; ChaptaT, my gunpowder and beetroot-sugar man, instead of attending to canals, is neglecting them for an opera-dancer. Finally, when I moved Dubois from Dijon I find him here without It's no good, they want to live orders, on the same tack. soft. Nothing will cure them but the bivouac. My men I'll were born round the bivouac^ 'Sdeath keep 'em !. there. till. they die. !. Enter RUSTAM the Valet. Meneval Valet. ( To MENEVAL) the Emperor.. valet.. If you please, Monsieur, a lady to see. Her name ? She will not give her name.. She. is. well-bred, well-. dressed.. Meneval. But she has no appointment. How old is she ? {Aside} ? it possibly be Mademoiselle George of the Opera NAPOLEON wheels round indignantly and. Can. ',. MENEVAL. come unless she wouldn't No, glares at. Meneval. her, Sire. Napoleon. Valet Napoleon. Will you see. sent for.. ?. Who. let Does she bring her yellow ticket with her ? the cursed baggage past ? The naval officers in the passage gave her their turn.. Ah effect. Didn't I say so. !. on me. grinning. !. Show. fools a lesson. ?. the !. to. watch her. I'll. teach the. They're trying. woman. in. !.

(46) ACT. SCENE. II.. II. 4 Corridor in the Baraque. It is the âll of the Corridor outside NAPOLEON'S bedroom. The corridor leads on the right into the unseen Council. Chamber.. The ADMIRALS can. see through the door into the Council. Chamber.. There's the valet crossing She's gone on ahead of us. the passage with his master's clothes. The mere Admiral How the master chills me to the marrow. Admiral. \st. ind. !. wash of his bows pushes one off, like that. Think of the way he's got to keep on Admiral ^rd and fire. ind Admiral Give him sea-room then. Pay out rope !. A. ird Admiral -ind. coil o'. is. rope. it'll. come. to his vanity.. to.. Be just. Hasn't he earned a right to vanity ? the coquetry of riding in the mass of a brilliant staff, in his shabby coat without a star, and a battered old green hat the hell can't he wear a clean uniform with braid, like the rest of us, and have done with it ? No, he must shine by not shining. Vanity. Admiral Look. ?. at. Why. !. ist. what. through ice. Admiral. Yes, and look here, notes to me, 2, a.m. or. how he 1.^.5*. takes care to date all his. a.m.. He. !. must impress one. with. ^rd Admiral. his night-industry, eh ? Yes, but I know as a fact,. at x.4â.m.. stand. He. he was up in the saddle must be made of cast-iron merely to. it.. Admiral ind Admiral i. st. Appearances, appearances, appearances, my dear fellow I wonder where the devil he's putting in an appearance now. Popping up here, there, and everywhere, just to create an impression !. !. ird Admiral. Never mind,. in. one thing, we're. to the. windward of.

(47) ACT. SCENE. II.. Think of. him.. II. his pitiful life. 39 among your. lawyers,. with a bomb under his carriage police, and politicians to the Opera After all, we have free salt water, and the finest of company. !. The ist. Admiral. I. dWaND. IST. can understand a. ADMIRALS laugh and. man wholly. nod.. a soldier. wholly wholly an artist or wholly a thief. But this prismatic polygon of a fellow wants to sparkle all The gunner claims to be a lawyer takes credit round. for the Code Napoleon, which was really got ready by a bourgeois. the Directorate. I ra. Admiral. Damn. it all,. cussions. official. He. gentlemen, he did butt into the legal disfound the Code cut and dried, sleeping on *. shelves.. Lazarus,. Admiral. '. forth. Let him brand his. issued the Code.. ist. come. *. N. '. !. on. he. said,. and. it if he likes.. No, no. When the last sign-post comes, where the roads fork, and he leaves his own sacred path to follow But until the path of France, then I'll believe in him !. then, observe what he calls his passion for organization 3 rd Admiral. What 's. that. !. ?. znd Admiral. Shifting an opponent he fears, from a post in which he's a life-long expert, to another post in which he's an That's how infant, and has to begin again at ABC. '. N. '. on that Brand his he paralyses too on him. the elect of France hard He's Admiral You're ird ? after should we what he's know No, but in one why His I'm with fellows. you ignorance of the sea thing is terrible. Did you see his order about rounding the !. !. !. Admiral ^rd Admiral ist. Fort de Croy ? And his notion of manoeuvres in a tideway Since poor Bruix died, That's why I'm here to-day. He comes to us to stand to no one him. there's up who've been cradled in service on these waters, and tells !. us. Admiral Why, there door.. is. Napoleon, look. !. through the glass.

(48) ACT. 4o 5. SCENE. II.. II. That 's the Council Chamber. He 's receiving the lady. rd Admiral. \nd Admiral. She's opened. ^rd Admiral 2 nd Admiral ist Admiral yd Admiral ind Admiral ist Admiral. No. use. What. all. her. !. batteries.. !. she saying ? She's trying another tack She's making no headway. look at that Yes, she is Watch him! know I don't is. !. !. acting. Watch him!. Play-. !. ^rd Admiral. I. ind Admiral. Here comes the private secretary. think she's carried. it. !. Enter MENEVAL. you three gentlemen have been kept waiting gave your memorandum in some time ago. it's Admiral Oh nothing a few remarks we scribbled down. No hurry. I dare say he's read it, and half a dozen. Mtneval. Is. it. possible that I. ?. ist. others. by. this.. You have some. Meneval. make on. criticisms to. the flotilla. and. ?. crossing. We. ird Admiral. Mere. M&neval ist Admiral. Could you give me the gist His Majesty once had the. suggestion.. don't. press. ot. it. if he's busy.. it ?. flotilla. against poor Bruix's orders, you blowing up for wildish weather.. out manoeuvring. remember?. It. was. Well?. Menrual. Admiral. D'you remember the beach next morning? Strewn with poor fellows' corpses If we're to The gist of it is, weather 's everything 3 rd Admiral two or three thousand boats together, we and no keep soldier, must choose the day. Then tell him so. Plain speaking's his staff of life. Meneval \st. .. .. .. !. ist. Admiral. Is it?. ^rd Admiral. Remember Bruix. Mtneval. He forgives the opposer, e ven when the expert utterly. wrong!. never forgiven. 's. proved.

(49) ACT. II.. SCENE. II. Admiral. But does he forgive, when the expert 's proved right ? His comhe's the very image of docility! plaint to me is that he has to do his own criticism. 4 Tear to pieces for me this padded, official lingo he I'll go and see if he 's ready. (Going.} says. ind Admiral (Laughing) Five minutes, and I see the image of docility chasing us round the table i st. Mtneval. Why,. J. !. !.

(50) ACT. SCENE. II.. III. The Council Chamber in NAPOLEON'S Baraque.. The Council Chamber at the end of NAPOLEON'S Baraque The room is semicircular ; a half faces the sea. The circle of windows looking over the Channel. scene is beheld from the bay of these windows. The walls are papered in light grey silvery paper. There is a large map of the Channel on the back wall; on the ceiling are gilt clouds and an eagle holding a sheaf of lightnings a star. A big. the. and guided towards England by. Emperor s. star of destiny. curve of the. telescope stands in a. bow windows,. facing the Channel and the spectators. There are three doors in the hinder wall : one small one to the left leading into NAPOLEON'S bedroom ; in the middle, folding doors, lofty, wide and open looking down the passage when? the Admirals have been The third door, to the waiting and can still be seen. right, matches the first, and leads into the Emperor's clothes-room.. On. a large oval table covered with green fringed cloth, and strewn with goose-quill pens of all sizesy are a sandbox and six silver candlesticks.. NAPOLEON. is sitting at the end of the table, in a green morocco arm-chair the is reading only chair. the 'Moniteur' in a manner that he such newspaper. He. can be watched through the glass doors by the NAVAL OFFICERS down the passage. ELISE enters through the wide central doors. She makes a quick step or two forward towards NAPOLEON ;. and looking who has shown her. stops with dismay, seeing him reading ; round,, perceives. that an USHER,.

(51) ACT. and exposed. She had hopedfor more makes a bold plunge and advances to She privacy. the end of the table, facing NAPOLEON. (Curtsying deeply) I push past the archangels, and. make straight for omnipotence (Not looking up) Your name, Mademoiselle .. lise. I was that poor player. Goddess Bononia,. Napoleon Elise. 43. visible. is. Napoleon. III. next, sees all the sweep of lighted next, the Officers down the passage, jill. windows ;. lise. SCENE. II.. Ah. !. And to me. in the tavern. .. ?. who. last night, at. (Still reads?) before that I met. .. addressed you, as the the camp-theatre .. .. .. O what it meant. and heard you. !. NAPOLEON still reads. Throughout the interview NAPOLEON, intending that the Admirals shall watch him, meets the appeals o/'EnsE, first on one side of the table, and then on the other,. by. shifting. and. his attitude. his. newspaper. I have an introduction to you from an ambassador For as you went out through but I haven't brought it that it tavern-door .... seemed the well, what can .. one say Napoleon lise. .. .. ?. Proceed.. Napoleon does not look up) might regard your Majesty as a ... friend. You have thrown an idle compliment to the actress. You Well .. were not wholly displeased with the woman I am here NAPOLEON shifts his paper to one side. ELISE (Goes. That. to. the side of the table.. I. .. .. .. .. !. retires to thefoot. Napoleon Iilise. Anything. else. of the. table.. ?. have two cousins here. To the elder your Majesty granted an interview yesterday. The man 's he'll say nothing of himself he 's like a deepunusual no of him end sea sounding-line, hanging out of sight.. One word.. I.

(52) ACT. 44. SCENE. II.. Don't be put off by that. the Channel. to. mapping. III. He has devoted twelve years To France his maps would. be invaluable. I. Napoleon. else lise. am. ma'am. obliged for your suggestion,. You have dismissed my friend, General Dubois, God but it was your knows whither ruined probably it. hand that did Go on We know that you are inwardly humane. They your ambitions, and you are deaf to say, 'Cross .. Napoleon tise. Anything. ?. .. .. !. '. mercy!. .. .. .. Deaf as the tomb Deaf as the tomb! !. Napoleon Elise. was. I. who. marriage.. Ah!. forced Dubois to. He. I. know. It. better, Sire!. me of his The fault man Dubois may retrieve. come. here, to tell does not cross your ambitions.. was mine. Tell me how this himself, and win your favour. Napoleon. What ?. J^lise. Take me, and pardon him. !. Forgive. my boldness. !. was your glance that set me on and inspirited me. Let me save this man's career for France ; let me save His ruin can't be clenched past retrieval. it for you I shall sink back I have but a minute to speak in It. !. nameless and defenceagain into the crowd, never fear for who can suddenly protect any generous woman less But you yourself are the man I have against herself?. Take me, and use me as you will, so that the service be dangerous Are these the only impulses you (After a pause) have, in coming to see me, ma'am ?. worshipped. !. !. Napoleon lise. have a parliament of impulses, that my life I have been up as a sword and Has a woman's mind no edge ?. Impulses. !. Lord,. I. can't hear themselves speak All Take me seeking the heroic !. use. Napoleon. me. !. Is this. your business. ?.

(53) ACT. SCENE. II.. (Changing her position. No, Napoleon lise. no,. much. else. to. ..... III. 45. the other side of the table) my presence irks your. But if. Majesty (She smiles inquiringly) Dubois has been disgraced for a fault.. Who. is. not faulty. ?. We. recognize. men. as real. by. their faults.. Napoleon Iilise. The. relevancy of your remarks escapes me, ma'am. Why did you look at me so poignantly then ; and refuse to look at me now? Why do you direct the conversation like a manoeuvre ? No matter what warmth of heart we fling at your feet Are we just the cold statistics out of which you build your plans ? If in war-time people were more than statistics to me, ma'am, the solidest brain could not stand it. I cannot have my hours invaded by interesting affairs of the heart. O my heart poor heart can take care of itself! !. Napoleon. lisc. Napoleon jSlise. Napoleon lise. Are you married, Madame 's. Who. has been provided with one of the heiresses. with a kind of top-dressing for light soil. Perhaps, perhaps! He'll not marry till peace is signed.. of France, Napoleon. ?. a stage we poor women have to go through. I should advise you to renew your friendship with General Dubois. It. as. Meantime !isc. I've been. my Napoleon fisf. hungry. for heroism.. Well, I must swallow. hunger anything else ? Yes, one thing important !. Is there. My. to you. (She hesitates) other cousin ... a younger brother of the first . whom I've known since we climbed apple-trees together . . .. .. .. Napoleon. Well. lilise. I. ?. hardly like to trouble you with. it. but the boy has. got into a scrape. Napoleon lilise. What. for. ? '. Folly talking of the writing on a wall against the tyrant ', or prattle of that kind..

(54) ACT. 46 Napoleon lise. No. more. SCENE. II.. III. ?. Well, if he had drunk more wine no doubt he would have said more. The * writing on a wall against the tyrant comes in by every courier. Oblige me by communicating the matter to the General commanding the Fourth Army His head-quarters are outside. General Soult. '. Napoleon. Corps,. lise. Napoleon lise. How well I know those head-quarters Unhappily I have reason to suspect the boy 's been employed by a member of your own Head-quarter Staff! !. Pish. Ah. !. !. You. accept no service even from the humblest. of your admirers. Napoleon lise. Napoleon lise. Napoleon /ise. Napoleon. But with all admiration I can dispense. You choose to remain in ignorance ? In some dangerous places there are few things more valuable than ignorance, ma'am. I see. I am a thing, wicked, stupid and vain, as the swans you play with outside ? I distrust superior. Napoleon lise. women, Madame.. What do you know of me ? Nothing. What are you Nothing. willing to know ? I like women to confine themselves to the purposes for. lise. ?. Yes, service through the ordinary official channels.. which they were. created. !. The milky purposes ? But I am a What woman who has nursed your wounded, and sat all night on the battle-field beside your dying when the (Rising). .'. roundshot came whooping overhead. Indeed Do I come to pay court to Caesar ? Why, I've seen One of those shot fell writing on the wall myself! on the convent we had turned into a hospital. When I got back to my hospital from the field, I found it !. all the wounded, helpless and legless, had risen from their beds and fled. Not a sign of them But. empty. !.

(55) ACT. II.. SCENE. III. low down, low down, near the. 47. floor, all. walls of the corridor, there were where the crawlers had dragged. down. the white. red. finger-marks, themselves away. That was writing on the wall some could understand But what are the wounded of the world to you !. !. NAPOLEON smiles. Madame, that my time patience human. (With sconifulness) Human, no a favour on behalf of a boy Adieu,. Napoleon. I regret,. !. is. limited, I. Sire. and. my. came here to ask !. You who. are. deaf as the tomb, and, may be, as barren ; who never will look into the eyes of love Good-bye! (She curtsies profoundly) There are some wounds which are ineffaceable, and yet are to be prized, infinitely prized. This interview with your Majesty will always, for me, be one of them She sweeps out. As ELISE goes out, she is heard to mutter .. .. .. !. something.. (To an USHER). Napoleon. she. Usher Napoleon. went out '. She. said,. What. did the alluring lady say as. ?. He. never shall. into those hands. ' !. (Taring up and down) Take her address. So much temperament to deploy might be damned useful.. MENEVAL. and admits. enters^. The USHER goes Napoleon. fall. the ADMIRALS.. out.. Sorry to have kept you waiting, gentlemen. Inside that door (indicating the door to the right) is the man. whose paper on Channel. tides. you recommended. to. me. Personally I hate making changes, being bred in the artillery where they're too expensive, but a coastlast year.. we must. survey ^.nd. Admiral. Yes.. fall. Napoleon. A. of cliff, and. He. tells. have.. meridian kept in every town, and every. me. loss. that,. of shore, registered. thanks to wind and sea and the.

(56) ACT. 48. SCENE. II.. III. of France, we've lost a harbour neglect of the house here to match the roads at Dover! Two long capes that are now sand-shoals, or sand-dunes used to run out M6neval, the blowing inland over our fields of clover. Admirals would like to hear M. Vicamp's observations. on. their paper.. Much. Admirals. honoured.. MENEVAL admits WICKHAM, who and steady eyes.. enter's. with. a cheerful gait. Meneval, you can leave. Napoleon. us.. MENEVAL. goes out. represent science. Vicamp, you. Napoleon. enlighten us on the. ;. Admirals' note. I. know nothing want. seriously. Admiral Napoleon. Wickham. (Interrupting). On. the tides,. ?. sir.. Given good weather, are the matter ? I take. Does your Majesty. of Armadas.. a layman's opinion. tides. here so grave a. you must cross orderly, all your eight by division ; each boat of the two squadrons thousand four hundred following its flag-boat ? it. division. Napoleon. Wickham. Yes.. The tide's Well, your main difficulties would be two and the of the current here. unpunctuality strangeness :. ;. Napoleon. Can you explain ?. Wickham. You would have But. to cross. never punctual.. on. a flood- tide. up Channel.. vagary comes sometimes swirling, ragged, kept back for hours by strong winds, or some ground-swell in the Atlantic hanging on its skirts. Sometimes it will make it is. It seems all. chaotic. twice as. fast as. at others.. streams up Channel at. It. three knots an hour eight minutes. Napoleon. passes Dover for five hours then for seven hours sinks back. Channel. Halts eight minutes, you say. ?. halts. down.

(57) ACT Wickham. III. 49. Yes.. Why. Napoleon. not aim at landing in those eight minutes of. slack- water. Jfickham. SCENE. II.. ?. (Smiling) O, there 's never slack- water at Dover For there the streams from North Sea and Channel a witch's meet. They churn you always a wild reel dance Well, and what of the currents here, you spoke of? What's the shape of the flood your boats will have to You will guess it flows fastest mid-stream ? cross on ? The middle water ahead of the water inshore ?. .'. !. Napoleon tfickham. Napoleon. ITickham. Naturally.. Here at Boulogne it is never so. The head of the main Channel-stream becomes concave breaks into takes the shape of the sweep indrafts, eddies, and races, of coast it's gone past.. And. Napoleon. Wickham. of shore has its pilot's rule of thumb, of which I find here (tapping the ADMIRALS' note) no mention. What's the rule of thumb here at Boulogne? That here the flood comes first alongshore, and the For instance, that mid-stream, out at sea, much later.. Every. its. Napoleon. Wickham. the result? strip. secret pilot's. :. sloop (pointingiforijoard', out of the window) far outside the Baas sandbank will swing round with the flood. little. Napoleon. Wickham Admirals. Wickham. in alongthree-quarters of an hour later than the boats would them. one have before as not, shore; expected, And the pilot's local secret ?. Familiar no doubt to. (Glancing at the ADMIRALS). these gentlemen Yes : but pray explain For every Is the rate of change as one goes seaward. mile you sail out to sea, the flood-tide comes five minutes. So your boats must allow for that slowing curve later. of delay ; otherwise they'll be thrown into confusion. isf. Admiral. 2211. (Awkwardly) You. see, Sire. ?.

(58) ACT. 50. SCENE. II.. III. not wind enough to sail a feather ? suppose there's ADMIRALS, sternly) Ay, but what of the pilot's (To secret that you left out? What allowance did you make for the sagging of the current midstream? From that it follows we must change the order of our going,. And. Admit al Napoleon. and. ind Admiral. the fastest boats start second.. let. I agree.. (To AD IRALS) from an outsider ?. Napoleon. .. Then why leave me to discover it And this paper of yours beside a year's maundering, we know all .. .. .. After the mark about the gale of St. Laurence that blows in mid-August ; and that \\ aves are made of water. Don't stand dazed !. Be less swayed by terror at the like fawns, gentlemen of on the embarkation I should water! Criticisms sight !. You deal with the strategy of an have welcomed. I am much invasion by flotilla. can obliged, but furnish all the strategy required.. F. ist. Admiral. We're aware that your Majesty. called us. 'cautious. '. imbeciles. Did Napokon But Admiral yd. .. .. 4. I. say. . '. cautious. we have. if. lay before. you. we. Napoleon. .. its. to. ?. answer. dangers.. can't help. opposition Dislike you because I. for the crossing, if your. And. we must. Majesty hates. it.. you oppose me?. need them to. feel invincible.. I. love. my. My. dislike opposers is lor the feckless and the who me and stagnant support fail me. Hark ye, look through this telescope no, with the naked eye see the glitter on the roofs of Dover! !. One. stride across. the. and the thing. ditch,. 's. done.. We've been stripped of our fishing fleets long enough. And remember where we stand. Under the floor of this hut, and jutting up are old brick bastions.. the. Odre Toxver:. Roman. look. !. into. my. very garden,. What are they? Fragments of the "Tower at the Edge* the. an lighthouse, with a caged lantern at its top Here was the octagonal tower to light the straits..

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