No More Learning

It was the Huguenots
Yesterday that he wanted to behead,
And now it is the duellists. Blood! Blood!
He cannot live unless he lives in blood.

[L'ANGELY _makes a sign. _ MARION DE LORME _and the_
MARQUIS DE NANGIS _enter. _

MARION: Pardon!

THE KING: For whom?

MARION: Didier.

NANGIS: And the Marquis of Saverny.
They are two boys of twenty years of age--
Two children--they were quarrelling, when some spies
Posted by Richelieu . . .

MARION: Pardon them, my king!
You will have pity on them.
Two young boys,
Caught in a boyish quarrel! No blood shed.
You will not kill my Didier for that!
You will not! Oh, you will not!

THE KING (_wiping the tears from his eyes_): Richelieu
Has ordered that all duellists be hanged.
You make my head ache. Go. Leave me!
It must be so, for he has ordered it.

[L'ANGELY _signs to_ MARION _to hide herself in the dark
hall. She does so. _ NANGIS _goes out. _

THE KING (_yawning_): I wish they would not come and worry me.
Amuse me, L'Angely, for I am sad.
Can you not talk to me of death again?