University of Virginia Library

THE DOMICILIARY VISIT.

(A Scene in the Faubourg St. Antoine, Paris.)

Dramatis Personæ—An officer of the Gendarmerie and a Citizen.
Off.
De par le Roi. You are Pierre Coulisse!

Cit.
I am.

Off.
I thought so. Scan date,
Address, and signature of this!

(Gives him a paper.)
Cit.
(reads)
“Arrest—by Royal mandate . . .”
Why, what's my crime? J'ignore—

Off.
Poh! Poh!
Of course, young man, you ignore it—
Your name is in the Black Book, though,
With two red marks before it!
Whence came you by those four cane-swords?

Cit.
Cane-swords? Which?

Off.
Yonder sham-rods!

Cit.
They are mere tobacco-pipes.

Off.
No words!— (Writes—

“Two poniards and two ramrods”!)

Cit.
Heavens! You don't mean—

Off.
A Frenchman means
The thing he does. Your press-keys! (Opens a drawer.)

What make you with those tools?

Cit.
Machines.

Off.
Ay, such machines as Fieschi's!
Pray, what's that carbine-like affair
Behind the window-shutter?

Cit.
A walking stick.

(Il en a l'air.)
Off.
Speak up, sir! What d'ye mutter?

Cit.
A stick!

Off.
Don't shout! A lie's no truth
Because 'tis bellowed louder.
A gun you mean. A stick, forsooth!
Why, one can smell the powder! (Takes up a book.)

Ha! “Treatise on the Poles”!

Cit.
The South
And North Poles only.

Off.
Rebel!
How dare you ope your gamin mouth?
Your explanations treble
Your guilt. South Pole and North? To what
Owes Earth its revolutions
If not to these, you leveller-flat
Of thrones and institutions?
Give up that letter! Ha! what's here! (Reads.)

“Dear Claude, I could not borrow
One hour to-day; but never fear,
I'll do the job to-morrow.”
So-ho! The job? Oh, yes!—we hit
The meaning of such letters.
You'll do the King's job—eh? That's it!
Come, Jean, put on his fetters!