Chapter X: Act I

_A Village Inn. Evening._ MICHIEL _asleep in a chair_.

_Maria_ (_the maid—behind the scenes_). Michiel, where are you? [_Entering._] He is lazy enough for a member of the Brussels Committee. Michiel, get up!

_Michiel_ (_awaking_). Well, what’s up now?

_Maria._ Wake up, at any rate! Isn’t it perfectly scandalous to lie there, at seven o’clock in the evening, snoring like an ox?

_Michiel._ Does that hurt any one?

_Maria._ Is there no work to do then?

_Michiel._ That won’t amount to much. Travellers won’t give us any trouble, it’s not worth their while to cross the frontier just now; and the farmers have their money under lock and key, and not a cent about them to take a dram with.

_Maria._ Is there nothing else for you to do? Couldn’t you take your rifle, in your spare time, and drill a little? Everybody is drilling just now; there isn’t a child but can load at twelve different rates. And you, of all others, ought to be ready to give an account of yourself when the rebels come to pay us a visit. People on the frontier, if no others, ought to be always in readiness.

(_Sings_) “Only with vigilance, powder, and ball,
In time of need, one can live at all
Upon the Belgian border.”

_Michiel._ Well! you’ve got hold of that sentiment by the wrong end. Let me tell you the right way of it.

“He who would live in a border place
Must always exhibit a double face.
Let the Dutch army come—we’ll fly
Old Holland’s colours right merrily;
Let the Brabanters march this way,
And the Belgian flag goes up to-day,
And so in varying order.
Not by courage or powder and ball,
By cunning alone we can live at all
Upon the Belgian border!”

_Maria._ Do you know that you deserve to be hanged, with such infamous principles as that?

_Michiel._ Why, it’s just to escape hanging that I want to put them into practice, as our schoolmaster says.

_Maria._ Our schoolmaster used to say you were an ignorant ass; but I see that at any rate you have remembered something.

_Michiel._ He shall be sorry, one of these days, for having spoken of me in that way. But, never mind that, I have a good idea.

_Maria._ A fine one, I expect!

_Michiel._ Just listen. We cannot help it if one party or the other wants to annex us; so we must try and keep friends with both, and make each of them believe we are on their side. Now, I’ve asked the house-painter for a couple of pots of paint: there they are. You say I never carry anything out; now you shall just see.

_Maria._ Well—and then?

_Michiel._ Why, you see, the Orange flag is still on the church tower?

_Maria._ Yes; and if you dare to touch it, I’ll scratch your eyes out!

_Michiel._ My idea was to paint it with the Brabant colours on the side towards Brabant. If the Dutch come from the north—very good! they see the Orange flag. If the Brabanters come from the south—very good too! they’ll see their own colours.

_Maria._ Well, that’s a nice invention!

_Michiel._ Isn’t it? I think they ought to give me a prize out of the village treasury; for in this way I am saving every one from embarrassment.

_Maria._ But you’ve forgotten one thing!

_Michiel._ Forgotten! What’s that?

_Maria._ When the wind changes, the Brabanters will see Orange, and the Dutch the Brabant colours; and then, perhaps, both of them will bombard the village, and you in it—which would not be the worst loss of all.

_Michiel._ That’s true; I never thought of that. But, after all, is there no contrivance to prevent that? With a rope, for instance?

_Maria._ You’re a nice politician! It doesn’t do to forget that the wind may change. So leave politics alone for the future, or I’ll tell the master what sort of fellow you are.

_Michiel._ Would you go and tell tales, just because I have a little more sense than the master? He will get us all into trouble before he’s done, because he can’t give and take.

_Maria._ Then both of you taken together ought to make a man after your own heart. If you ask any of the poor people hereabouts, they will tell you whether or not he knows how to give; and if you were in his place, you would certainly do nothing but take.

_Michiel._ Yes; having is having, but getting’s the trick! Much good has the master done himself, with all his giving away. Then you have the King; what numbers of people he has helped out of his own pocket-money! And what has he gained by it? Nothing! They are breaking his window-panes with his own three-guilder pieces!

_Maria._ Would you follow the example of such ungrateful wretches?

_Michiel._ Just now the question is, What pays best? And if we are ever to be man and wife, it will surely be necessary to scrape a little money together first, if we want to live like decent people.

_Maria._ We man and wife! You may make your mind easy on that point!

_Michiel._ It’s not to be? Very good—you’ll change your mind some day, and come asking me on your bare knees to make you my wife,—some day when I’m a great lord, just like the man with the whale,[27] who is now a general among the Brabanters.

_Maria._ If being a fool and a scoundrel is enough to give a man high rank among the rebels, you will have plenty of chances; but I won’t talk to you any more.

_Michiel._ Have you anything more to say? Because, if not, I’ll go to sleep again.

_Maria._ Nothing but this, that for the present, not being a general as yet, you might go to Peter Kluisken’s and fetch the pig that the master has bought.

_Michiel._ A nice little job! To tramp all that way at this time of night, and in the direction of the Belgian sentinels, too. Well, just you look out; if I meet them, I bring them here—upon my word I will.

[_Exit._

_Maria_ (_alone_). The scoundrel! He is quite capable of doing it. And _he_ expects to marry me? Not if I know it.

_Enter_ NICOLAAS, _the landlord, with a newspaper in his hand_.

_Maria._ Well, sir, what’s the news?

_Nicolaas._ Good news, my girl. A division of our brave North Netherlanders is marching this way; perhaps they may even pass through this village.

_Maria._ That would be a pleasure. I wish some of them would stay here, then the brigands, who yesterday were only a few miles from this place, would never dare to show themselves.

_Nicolaas._ I think they will keep pretty quiet for the future.

_Maria._ Are there any more news in the paper, sir?

_Nicolaas._ H’m! h’m! not so fast, child. [_Glances over the paper._] They do not seem to have made up their minds yet at Brussels whom they are going to have at the head of the Government.

_Maria._ I can quite believe that; and I don’t think there are many men very eager to undertake the management of such a confused state of affairs.

_Nicolaas._ They may seek long enough, the ungrateful hounds, before they find another ruler under whom they will be as happy as they were under our good old King.

_Maria._ Any news besides, sir?

_Nicolaas._ Do let me read in peace.... H’m! yes; they are complaining of scarcity in all the Belgian towns.

_Maria._ Of course they are. They may hate the Dutch, but they’ll find they can’t get on without Dutch money. What other news is there?

_Nicolaas._ The Powers have resolved to keep to the non-intervention system.

_Maria._ Non-intervention! what’s that? It must be a fine thing whatever it is; every one is talking about it.

_Nicolaas._ Well, how can I best explain it? It means ... not to meddle with other people’s affairs. For instance, if your neighbour comes and asks you to help him because his house is on fire, and you tell him to put it out himself, for it’s no affair of yours,—that’s non-intervention. But listen ... I hear the sound of horses’ hoofs. Who can it be?

_A voice outside._ Does the burgomaster live here?

_Nicolaas._ Coming!

“JUST COME IN, LIEUTENANT.”
]

Maria (looking out). Lancers! lancers!

_Enter_ EDELING, _with two lancers_.

_Edeling._ I want to speak to the burgomaster. Does he live here?

_Nicolaas._ Just come in, Lieutenant. Come in, gentlemen, I am very glad to see you. What will your honour take? Maria, run to the cellar, there’s a good girl, and bring up a bottle of the best.

[_Exit Maria._

_Edeling._ Not for me, thanks; I don’t want anything. My time is short, and so are my orders.

_Nicolaas._ I won’t listen to a word before the gentlemen have had some refreshment.

_Enter_ MARIA _with wine_; NICOLAAS _opens bottle_.

_Edeling._ I do not care for useless compliments. I am commissioned to buy some cattle here, and bring them at once to headquarters. How many head can you let me have, and at what price, to be paid in cash at once?

_Nicolaas._ We will see. (_To Maria._) Is Michiel back yet?

_Maria._ He is only just gone out.

_Nicolaas._ Then you will have to do the errand. Run at once to Peter Slof and Cornelis de Ruyter, and ask them to come here at once. I want to see them about a cattle contract. Well, what are you dawdling for?

_Maria._ Because—because——[_Looks at the lancers._] I’m so glad! [_Runs out._]

_Nicolaas_ (_offering wine_). Come, just one glass!

_Edeling._ If you insist. (_Suspiciously._) Are you not going to drink too, Burgomaster? (_Drinks._) What’s to pay?

_Nicolaas._ Who’s talking about payment? Haven’t I even a glass of wine to spare for our brave defenders?

_Edeling._ Well, but you’re an innkeeper. Take these two guilders and put them in your pocket, for it’s against orders for us to get anything on credit.

_Nicolaas._ And I say I won’t have the money. I can be obstinate enough, too, when I once begin. Take it, and give it to the Government as a voluntary subscription on my part. You don’t trust me, Lieutenant, and that grieves me to the heart. I see I shall have to put on my Sunday coat; perhaps that will give you more confidence. [_Fetches a coat, with a medal on it, and puts it on. The lancers salute._] Now, do I look like a man who would betray you? I won that at Waterloo.

_Edeling._ Forgive me for suspecting you; but so many of your class, especially on the frontier, have turned out traitors, that suspicion has become a disagreeable duty. What is the general feeling in this village?

_Nicolaas._ Not what it ought to be. I fear that, if the rebels were to arrive, there are those, here and there, who would join them. It seems as though people were struck with blindness; they want change at any price. They have let themselves be persuaded that they will have no taxes to pay under the Brabant Government. That’s the worst of the people here; they are stupid, they don’t reason.

_Edeling._ They don’t know any better, I suppose. Do you think your friends will be here soon?

_Nicolaas._ Presently, I hope. Your honour seems to be in a hurry. Is it far to headquarters?

_Edeling._ A couple of hours. We are to march again at daybreak to-morrow. I am sorry we are not going farther, for I fear we shall not meet any of the enemy. I would willingly have paid them a visit.

_Nicolaas._ You are very eager for fighting.

_Edeling._ Particularly so; for, besides my wish to do my duty by my king and country, I have a private account to settle with the gentlemen from the south. They are keeping my bride a prisoner.

_Nicolaas._ Your bride! I thought women, at least, would have been respected.

_Edeling._ Her father is a well-known soldier; when the first disturbances broke out in the place where he was in command, he gave orders to fire on the rebels. They never forgave him, and when he had the misfortune to fall into their hands they kept him in prison—his daughter refusing to leave him.

_Enter_ MARIA.

_Maria._ Here come Peter Slof and Cornelis de Ruyter.

_Nicolaas._ Very good! Shall we go to meet them, and look at their beasts together?

_Edeling._ Willingly. Thank you for doing the errand (_to Maria_.), and here is something to remember the Lieutenant by. [_Gives her money, and exit with Nicolaas._]

_Maria_ (_alone_). A guilder! Well, I’ll keep that as a remembrance. A nice man that lieutenant! One can see he comes from Holland. But who are these strangers coming in so timidly?

_Enter_ VAN WERVE _and_ CLARA.

_Van Werve._ Can we get a night’s lodging here?

_Maria._ Please don’t take it ill of me, I must ask first where your honour comes from? We can’t take any one in for the night without first knowing who it is we are sheltering.

_Van Werve._ I will answer your question to the Burgomaster. Where does he live? and can I speak to him?

_Maria._ He lives here. The Burgomaster and the landlord are the same person. The master will be home directly.

_Clara._ Will you please tell us what province we are in?

_Maria._ In North Brabant, Mejuffrouw.

_Clara._ Thank Heaven! then you are safe, father!

_Maria._ Safe! Then you are refugees?

_Van Werve._ Clara!

_Clara._ I was imprudent, father—forgive me. But I could not control my joy at finding myself once more in our own country, after all that we have gone through.

_Van Werve._ I am not yet sure that we are safe here.

_Clara._ If we had anything to fear here, I feel sure, from this girl’s honest face, that she would not betray us.

_Maria._ I betray you! I’d sooner die a thousand times over. But come and sit down—you seem tired.

_Clara._ It is true, we have been walking for a long time, and I begin to feel it.

_Van Werve._ My dear child, what a difficult and anxious journey you have exposed yourself to, to save your father. (_To Maria._) Yes, my good girl, I have been in prison,—my daughter has succeeded in saving me, and it is to her courage and devotion I owe it that we have been able to pass the enemy’s outposts and reach this village.

_Maria._ It’s lucky you just happened to come to-day. A few Dutch soldiers arrived not long ago, who will be quite ready to escort you to a safe place, if you prefer not to stay here any longer.

_Van Werve._ My comrades! Oh, where are they? Take me to them.

_Maria._ I will call them,—or—wait—I think I hear them coming.

_Enter_ EDELING.

_Maria._ What, alone, Lieutenant? Where are the rest?

_Edeling._ They have gone on with the oxen. I found I had left my cloak here. But whom do I see?

_Van Werve._ The voice seems familiar.

_Clara_ (_hastens to him_). Edeling!

_Edeling._ Clara!—Mijnheer van Werve!...

_Van Werve._ So you’ve enlisted, Edeling? Well done, my boy! That is what I should have expected of a true-born Dutchman like yourself!

_Edeling._ Your words remind me that I am no longer my own master. I am expected every minute at the camp.

_Clara._ Cannot we go with you?

_Edeling._ I have only my horse; but perhaps there is a conveyance of some sort to be had in the village.

_Maria._ Oh! three if you like. I will go at once to order one.

_Van Werve._ Stop a moment, girl. I—alas!—I have no money to pay for a conveyance.

_Edeling._ Here is my purse—but I really must go.

_Van Werve_ (_putting back the purse_). I must not accept it. I can never return it. I possess nothing now.

_Edeling._ Nothing?

_Van Werve._ Not a cent. The little ready money we had with us we have been obliged to spend on the road; and this morning I had the misfortune, to leave behind——

_Edeling._ Well?

_Van Werve._ My portmanteau, with my whole fortune in it, at the village where we stopped for the night.

_Maria._ Well, portmanteau or no portmanteau, you will have to drive, and I’m going to fetch the carriage.

[_Exit._

_Van Werve._ It was no carelessness on our part; the pursuers were at our heels—we had no time to save anything but ourselves.

_Edeling._ And isn’t it enough for me to see you safe, sir, you and my Clara? Is not everything I have yours? Take my purse. As soon as you can get a vehicle, follow me as quickly as you can, for I must not delay one moment longer.

_Enter_ MARIA, _hastily_.

_Maria._ Save yourselves, for Heaven’s sake! save yourselves! they’re coming!

_Omnes._ Who? What? [_A noise outside._]

_Maria._ The brigands! Don’t you hear them? They’re shouting, “_Vive de liberteyt!_”

_Edeling_ (_draws his pistols_). The first who dares——

_Maria_ (_seizes him by the arm_). Are you mad? What is the good of your pistols against a whole band? Quick! out at the back door. (_To Van Werve and Clara._) And you—into this room! I’ll come back to you in a minute.

_Edeling._ But if——

_Maria_ (_pushes him out at a side door_). No buts! make haste!

[_Exit Edeling._

_Van Werve._ Can’t we follow him?

_Maria._ Certainly not. He is a young fellow, and can take care of himself. Three of you would arouse suspicion, and perhaps lead to mischief if he tried to defend you. Just come in here. [_Opens the door of a room on one side._]

_Clara._ We leave our fate in your hands.

[_Exeunt Van Werve and Clara._

_Enter_ MICHIEL, _bringing with him a number of Belgian volunteers,
among whom Captain D’Eglantiers, Lieutenant Taelinck, Sergeant
Pluckx, Corporal Nestiers, and Private Passereau. They speak the
broad Flemish or South Netherlands dialect, largely interspersed
with French words. On entering, all of them, including Michiel,
sing, to the air of “La Dame Blanche”_—

Victory! Victory!
The enemy’s away!
Who conquers through sheer bravery
But Old Brabant and liberty?
Victory! Victory!
Glory and loot to-day!

_Maria._ Well, they do look like lunatics; and there’s that villain of a Michiel with them.

_D’Eglantiers_ (_wiping his sword_). The victory is ours, comrades! Our courage has repulsed the enemy, and maintained the glory of our name. Lieutenant Taelinck, see that none of the Hollanders escape who are hidden away here, do you hear?

_Taelinck._ I have seen to that, Captain. All the exits are well guarded.

_Maria_ (_aside_). The poor quarter-master! how will he escape?

_Michiel._ What will the gentlemen please to take? Everything in the house is at your service.

_Maria._ Just listen to the contemptible rascal?

_D’Eglantiers_ (_to Michiel_). You’re a fine fellow! Just let the lass fetch a litre of wine from the cellar.

_Michiel._ Do you hear? Fetch wine for the gentlemen.

_Maria_ (_treading on his toes as she goes out_). You villainous traitor!

_D’Eglantiers_ (_to Michiel_). Do you live in the house?

_Michiel._ I live here, Captain. (_Aside._) I need not tell him in what capacity.

_D’Eglantiers._ You are a brave _citoyen_! Without you, we should never have found the way to this village so soon. I think I might make you Burgomaster.

_Michiel._ Indeed you couldn’t do better, Captain. I will at once give orders to have the Brabant flag hoisted.

[_He is about to leave the room._]

_D’Eglantiers._ There’s no need of that. It’s _obscur_ out of doors, and one can’t very well distinguish the colours. But I’ll tell you what to do. Go at once and fetch the notables of the village, and tell them to come here to-morrow with the first _lumière_ to hold a meeting of the council. Corporal Nestiers, go along with the Burgomaster, and whoever does not come with you at once, _de bonne volonté_, you must bring him by force; for liberty must triumph.

_Michiel_ (_aside_). Michiel, Burgomaster!

_D’Eglantiers_ (_sits down_). I shall make my headquarters here provisionally. Let’s see—what has to be done now?...

_Enter_ MARIA, _bringing wine_. _All sit down and drink._

_D’Eglantiers._ Ahem!—reports ... but who is to write them? Lieutenant Taelinck, can you write?

_Taelinck._ No, Captain.

_D’Eglantiers._ Why are you a lieutenant then?

_Taelinck._ But you can’t do it either, Captain—or read, for that matter.

_D’Eglantiers._ Silence! I’m a captain to give orders, not to write. Sergeant Pluckx, can you write?

_Pluckx._ Not I—but there’s Private Passereau, he knows how.

_Passereau._ Plaît-il?

_D’Eglantiers._ I’m asking if you can write.

_Passereau._ _Verdikke!_[28] eh?

_D’Eglantiers._ If you can write—don’t you understand?

_Passereau._ _Je n’entends pas—verdikke!_

_Pluckx._ _Verdikke_ is the only word of Flemish that Passereau knows.

_D’Eglantiers._ So he can’t write Flemish. (_To Maria._) Can you write, my girl?

_Maria._ At your service, Captain.

_D’Eglantiers._ That’s curious! Sit down here, then, and write as I dictate.

_Maria_ (_sits down at the table—aside_). What an idea!... Yes, I think it will do!

_D’Eglantiers._ Write: Report....

_Enter_ NICOLAAS, NESTIERS, _and two others_.

_Nestiers._ Captain, here is a fellow who has been rebelling against us.

_D’Eglantiers._ Well—what has he been doing?

_Nestiers._ He forcibly resisted our entrance into an _écurie_ in which there was a lancer’s horse standing.

_D’Eglantiers._ And where was the lancer who sat on the horse?

_Nestiers._ He is nowhere to be found.

_D’Eglantiers._ Well—just look through the whole village till you find him.

[_Exeunt Nestiers and others._

_D’Eglantiers_ (_to Nicolaas_). Who are you?

_Nicolaas._ I am the Burgomaster.

_D’Eglantiers._ The ex-burgomaster! I have put another burgomaster in your place—do you understand? But if you will make your _soumission_ to the Committee, then, perhaps....

_Nicolaas._ Never!

_D’Eglantiers._ What!—do you know that I can have you _fusillé_?

_Nicolaas._ So you may, if you like!

_D’Eglantiers._ What do you say? Stop where you are—I shall have a word to speak with you presently—do you understand? (_To Maria._) Write!

_Nicolaas._ What! Maria, are you giving this scoundrel any help?

_Maria._ Why not? The gentleman was in such trouble because he could not find any one able to write.

_D’Eglantiers._ Where did I leave off dictating?
(_Sings_) Write with care—or you’ll regret!

_Maria._ Captain, not a word I’ve written—
You have told me nothing yet!

_D’Eglantiers._ Write: Our army, fear-compelling,
Took six hamlets in a day.

_Nicolaas._ Since they saw no en’my—surely
No great wonder anyway.

_D’Eglantiers._ Of the foe full seven hundred
Fell before our conquering force!

_Nicolaas._ Numbers which, if rightly sifted,
Come to just one lancer’s horse!

_D’Eglantiers._ Out of all my valiant heroes
Only one has fall’n—the which—

_Nicolaas._ As I’ve just had information,
Fell dead drunk into a ditch.

_D’Eglantiers._ Good!—you now may cease your labours!
So!—a neat despatch you see,
Accurate and interesting,
As they always ought to be.

_Nicolaas._ Such as all despatches be!

_D’Eglantiers._ Well—now let us just look at it. H’m that’s written very cleverly. Now for the proclamation. Another sheet of paper! Write: Proclamation! Have you written that sentence?

_Maria._ Yes—what next?

_D’Eglantiers._ We, Captain d’Eglantiers and Lieutenant Taelinck,—to all who are about to read these presents—salutation!

_Maria_ (_writing_). To all who are _able_ to read these presents....

_D’Eglantiers._ _About_ to read, I said! Fellow-citizens! we are bringing you _la liberté_. We have risked our life-blood to procure it for you: we also hope that you will show yourselves _reconnaissants._... Hey! now what do you say to such a sentence as that? That’s what I call eloquence!

_Maria._ Undoubtedly! That is very neatly said, Captain.

_D’Eglantiers._ I see you’re a girl of taste and intelligence. Go on—and that you are to give us ... give us ... everything that is necessary. Well, that’s short and to the point, isn’t it?

_Maria._ A very fine style, and any one can understand what is meant at the very first reading.

_D’Eglantiers_ (_gratified_). Can’t they just?

_Maria._ Now you’re going to sign both papers, aren’t you, Captain?

_D’Eglantiers._ Yes; I’ll put a little cross to them—that’s my mark. Lieutenant Taelinck, are you going to sign them too?

_Taelinck_ (_half asleep_). Yes, yes. [_They sign._]

_D’Eglantiers._ Now the report must be enclosed in an envelope, and sent to the General, and the proclamation will be posted up to-morrow.

[_Maria hastily hides the signed paper in her dress, and folds
another, which she hands to D’Eglantiers._]

_Maria._ Here you are, Captain. (_Aside._) I have it all right.

_D’Eglantiers_ (_hands the paper to Private Passereau_). Get on your horse at once, and take this paper to the General.

_Passereau._ _Verdikke! Dans la nuit_——

_D’Eglantiers._ Go at once! [_Exit Passereau._] Well, that’s finished. Now I’ll go and get an hour or two’s sleep. You’ll call me, my good girl, when the council is assembled, won’t you?

_Maria._ Yes; and in the meantime I will go and post up the proclamation.

_D’Eglantiers_ (_takes it hastily from her, and puts it into his pocket_). No; I must first read it out, or have it read, to the council. Now, where is my bedroom?

[_He is about to go into Van Werve’s room._]

_Maria_ (_quickly_). No, not there. The left-hand door, sir.

[_Points to a door on the opposite side._]

_Nicolaas_ (_aside_). I don’t understand it. Why does she want to put that fellow into my bedroom? (_Aloud._) Maria, are you mad! the other room is——

_Maria_ (_interrupting him quickly_). Just suited to a prisoner.

_D’Eglantiers_ (_pointing to Nicolaas_). Then he must be put in there.

_Nicolaas._ But——

_Maria_ (_quickly, aside to Nicolaas_). Leave it to me!

_D’Eglantiers._ Good-night! (_Turning to the Volunteers._) If Nestiers comes with the portmanteau, tell him to bring it into my room. Do you hear?

[_Nicolaas goes into the room in which Van Werve and Clara are
hidden, while Maria takes a candle and shows D’Eglantiers into
the left-hand bedroom._]

_Taelinck_ (_crouching over the fire_). B-rrr! it’s famously cold!

_Pluckx._ I believe you! The Government really ought to provide us with better clothing.

_Taelinck._ That’s just the beauty of liberty, that every one has to look out for himself.

_Pluckx._ And that’s just what I mean to do, so soon as that girl comes back.

_Edeling_ (_appears in the doorway and looks in_). These fellows are everywhere! I am caught in a trap.

_Pluckx._ But just tell us now, Lieutenant, who is supposed to be governing us at the present moment? for every day I hear of a fresh sovereign, who has been recommended to us.

_Taelinck._ Who is governing us? Why, Liberty!

_Pluckx._ I shan’t be sorry to see some change, then; for I haven’t yet seen the colour of Liberty’s money. I think the lass must be very hard up.

_Enter_ MARIA.

_Maria_ (_aside_). Is this rabble going to stay here all right?

_Pluckx._ I say, my girl, look here. Have you got a blanket or rug you could let me have?

_Maria._ What for?

_Pluckx._ You’ll soon see that—_comprenez_?

_Maria._ I have; if you will be sure to give it back.

_Pluckx._ Oh! you shall have it back soon.

_Maria_ (_takes a blanket out of a chest_). Here is one; but you shall not have it, unless you give me your tunic as a pledge that you will return it.

_Pluckx._ Come, none of that chatter!

_Maria._ Gently, gently! You have seen that the Captain lets me write his proclamations for him. Nothing would be easier than for me to put in a word against you, if you don’t behave yourselves.

_Taelinck._ The girl is right, Pluckx.

_Pluckx._ Well, here’s my _sarrau_, then! It’s not a bad exchange. [_He gives his tunic to Maria, and cuts three slits in the blanket._]

_Maria._ What’s that for?

_Pluckx._ A new-fashioned overcoat for the winter. [_Puts his head and arms through the slits. All laugh except Maria._]

_Maria._ Well, as you’ve spoilt my blanket for me, you shall not have your tunic back either.

_Enter_ NESTIERS.

_Nestiers._ Come, men, here are your billets; and here (_laying it on the floor_) is the Captain’s portmanteau.

_Pluckx._ You mean the portmanteau that the Captain looted this morning.

_Maria and Edeling_ (_aside_). Is it possible?

_Taelinck._ Well, be quick and give out your billets. I’m going to stay here. I suppose there’s a second bed in the Captain’s room?

_Maria._ Surely.

_Taelinck._ _Allons donc!_ Right-about march! Place a sentry outside the front door, and see that no one goes in or out without permission from the Captain or me.

[_Goes into D’Eglantiers’ room with the portmanteau. The others
retire. Enter_ EDELING, _to whom Maria hands Passereau’s tunic,
in which he escapes_.]