Part 14 (1/2)

Madame!

THE QUEEN

Tell my Lord Chandos to hold himself in the next room, with six men of my ordinance, in readiness to appear And the woman also, let her be ready to appear Go

[_Sihtful!

[_The Queen alone A side door opens; Simon Renard and Gilbert enter_

SCENE III

The Queen, Gilbert, Simon Renard

GILBERT

Before whom do I stand?

SIMON RENARD

Before the Queen

GILBERT

The Queen!

THE QUEEN

Yes, the Queen I am the Queen There is no time for astonishraver You live somewhere beyond the borders of the river, with a woman named Jane, who is your betrothed, and who deceives you, whose lover is a e, so do I In order to get it, I must be able to make any disposition I please of your life It is necessary that you should say what I command you to say, no er either false or true, good or bad, justice or injustice--nothing but eance and my will I shall require you to let me act, and to let yourself be acted upon Do you consent?

GILBERT

Madae; but I warn you, it will cost you your life--that is all Make your conditions If you have an old old, speak, I will do it Sell me your life as dear as you please

GILBERT

I a to die, madame

THE QUEEN

What!

GILBERT

I have been thinking about it all night Nothing is proved yet I saw a man who boasted that he was Jane's lover How do I know that he did not lie? I saw a key! How do I know that he did not steal it? I saw a letter! How do I know that she was not forced to write it? I don't even knohether it was her writing; it was dark, I was excited, I could not see I can't give up my life, which is her life, like that