My feelings toward you as a private man,
They quit me in the vast and untried field
Of action. Though I shall, myself, (as late
In your own hearing I engaged to do)
Preside o'er my Sardinia, yet your help
Is necessary. Think the past forgotten,
And serve me now!

D'O. I did not offer you

My services would I could serve you, Sire!
As for the Spanish matter...

Vic.

But despatch

At least the dead, in my good daughter's phrase,
Before the living! Help to house me safe
Ere you and D'Ormea set the world a-gape!
Here is a paper-will you overlook
What I propose reserving for my needs?
I get as far from you as possible.

There's what I reckon my expenditure.

Cha. [reading.] A miserable fifty thousand crowns! Vic. Oh, quite enough for country gentlemen!

Beside the exchequer happens ... but find out

All that, yourself!

Cha. [still reading.] "Count Tende "—what means this?

Vic. Me: you were but an infant when I burst
Through the defile of Tende upon France.

Had only my allies kept true to me!
No matter. Tende's then, a name I take

Was for my own detailing. [To CHARLES.] That anon!
Cha. [to D'ORMEA.] Explain what you have said, sir!
D'O.

The marriage of the King to her I named,
Profoundly kept a secret these few weeks,
Was not to be one, now he's Count.

Pol. [Aside.]

The minister-with him the mistress!

Cha. [to VICTOR.] ·

I supposed

With us

No

Tell me you have not taken her-that woman

To live with, past recall!

Vic.

And where's the crime...

Pol. [to CHARLES.] True, sir, this is a matter past

recall,

And past your cognizance. A day before,

And

you had been compelled to note this-now

Why note it? The King saved his House from shame: What the Count does, is no concern of yours.

Cha. [after a pause.] The Spanish business, D'Ormea! Vic. Why, my son, I took some ill-advised. . . one's age, in fact, Spoils every thing: though I was overreached, A younger brain, we'll trust, may extricate Sardinia readily. To-morrow, D'Ormea, Inform the King!

D'O. [without regarding VICTOR, and leisurely.] Thus

stands the case with Spain:

When first the Infant Carlos claimed his proper

Succession to the throne of Tuscany . .

Vic. I tell you, that stands over!

There is the policy!

...

Let that rest!

Cha. [to D'ORMEA.] Thus much I know, And more—too much: the remedy?

D'O.

No glimpse of one

Vic.

Of course!

No remedy at all!

It makes the remedy itself-time makes it.

D'O. [to CHARLES.] But if...

Vic. [still more hastily.] In fine, I shall take care of that—

And, with another project that I have ...

D'O. [turning on him.] Oh, since Count Tende means to take again

King Victor's crown!

Pol. [throwing herself at VICTOR's feet.] E'en now retake it, Sire!

Oh, speak! We are your subjects both, once more!
Say it a word effects it! You meant not,
Nor do mean now, to take it—but you must!
"Tis in you—in your nature—and the shame's
Not half the shame 'twould grow to afterward!
Cha. Polyxena!

Pol.

A word recalls the Knights

Say it! What's promising and what's the past?
Say you are still King Victor!

Enter QUEEN POLYXENA and D'ORMEA-A pause.

Pol. And now, sir, what have you to say?
D'O.

Count Tende..

Pol. Affirm not I betrayed you; you resolve
On uttering this strange intelligence

-Nay, post yourself to find me ere I reach
The capital, because you know King Charles
Tarries a day or two at Evian baths

Behind me:-but take warning,-here and thus

[Seating herself in the royal seat.

I listen, if I listen-not your friend.
Explicitly the statement, if you still
Persist to urge it on me, must proceed:
I am not made for aught else.

D'O.

Good! Count Tende...

Pol. I, who mistrust you, shall acquaint King Charles, Who even more mistrusts you.

D'O.

Does he so?

Pol. Why should he not?

D'O.

Ay, why not? Motives, seek

You virtuous people, motives! Say, I serve
God at the devil's bidding—will that do?
I'm proud: our People have been pacified
(Really I know not how)—

Pol.

By truthfulness.

D'O. Exactly; that shows I had nought to do With pacifying them: our foreign perils

Also exceed my means to stay: but here

'Tis otherwise, and my pride's piqued.

Count Tende

Completes a full year's absence: would you, madam,

Have the old monarch back, his mistress back,
His measures back? I pray you, act upon
My counsel, or they will be.

Pol.

D'O.

When?

Let's think.

Home-matters settled-Victor's coming now;

Let foreign matters settle-Victor's here:

Unless I stop him; as I will, this way.

Pol. [reading the papers he presents.] If this should prove a plot 'twixt you and Victor?

You seek annoyances to give him pretext

For what you say you fear!

D'O.

Oh, possibly!

I go for nothing. Only show King Charles
That thus Count Tende purposes return,
And style me his inviter, if you please.

Pol. Half of your tale is true; most like, the Count