No More Learning

DON SALLUST: No matter. My revenge is good enough.
What do you think of it? Madrid will laugh!
You exiled me, my lady; brought me down
Into the dust. I'll drag you from the throne
And hold you up--the laughing-stock of Spain!

[_While he is speaking_ RUY BLAS _silently bolts the door;
then, creeping behind_ DON SALLUST, _he snatches his
sword from the scabbard. _

RUY BLAS: Insult the queen again, you wretch, and I
Will kill you where you stand. You foul, black snake,
Crawl in the further room and say your prayers.

[DON SALLUST _rushes towards the outer door;_ RUY
BLAS _pushes him back at the sword's point. _

THE QUEEN: You are not going to slay him?

RUY BLAS: This affair
Must be now settled once for all. Go in!

[_This to_ DON SALLUST, _whom he has now almost
driven into the further room. _

DON SALLUST: Give me a sword, and let us fight it out.
RUY BLAS: Surely a nobleman would never stoop
To fight a duel with his serving-man?
No! I am going to kill you like a dog!

THE QUEEN: Spare him!

DON SALLUST: Help! Murder! Help!

RUY BLAS: Have you done?

[DON SALLUST _leaps at_ RUY BLAS, _and the two men reel
into the further room, and the door closes behind
them. _ THE QUEEN _covers her face. _

THE QUEEN: Oh, God!

[_There is a silence. _ RUY BLAS _returns without the
sword. _

RUY BLAS (_falling on his knees_): Pardon me, madam, pardon me!
I am less guilty than I seem. At heart,
I am an honest man.