National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-02

tain death, but the Cardinals scaffold is
equally certain, and by this means he can, at
least, die with honor. Dumont goes off to
execute his command. The Marquis then
opens the letter and finds IL of an import
vastly different from what he supposed. IL
l'reads thus; Among the papers of the
late Duke de Chevannes were found indis-
putable proofs that he was in treason
able correspondence with the Spanish
general to deliver tho town of Amiens into
his hands. As your good sword, my Lord
Marquis, took this vile traitors lifo, the king
grants you full pardon" Tho Count is
overjoyed, and dances around in great glee,
but suddenly stops and exclaims, Hold on!
Stop this won't do ut all!'' "Why notY' asks
the Marquis. you married my wife on tho
| express condition of getting yourself killed
within an hour" every true" replies the
Marquis; "but in tho meantime / receive my
pardon. I can't help that, can II"
Pooh, pooh NonsenseW says the Count
you became her husband in order that she
might become my wife; consequently, con-
sider her my WIFE"
Hush she comes! Leave us I"
What leave you alone with my wifc |?
| No. sirr ...
Tho Marquis, however, prevails upon him
to step out on the balcony, and Desiree
| Pomaret, aud Mario enter. Desired takes
him to task about bis neglect of her. and he
is Mt q loss what explanation to make. when
q clap of thunder announces that storm is
| coming up, whereupon Pomaret closes aud
fastens the shutters, locking the Count out on
the balcony, and goes away with; Marie
| There follows pioco of concerted music,
| which is perhaps tho most pretentious
number OF the opera. lt begins with
recitativo between Desiree and the
Marquis, in which sho demands an oxplana-
tion, and he endeavors to evado IL, The
storm outside gradually increases. the
orchestra initiating tho sound of thunder and
the patter Of tho rain. The Count outside,
not Telishing a wetting begins to knock for
admission. Pomaret and Marie put their
heads in Mt opposite doors and listen, unseon
by Desiroo and the Marquis. They sing:
All, now III see what reason he will give for his
neglect,
1t seems TO me scolding he has reason to ex-
poet.
The Count, outside in the rain, sings.
1t don't appear why I'm left here to sufTcr such
Does he forget I'm getting wet to which 1 must
object.
The Marquis and Desiree sing an entirely
| different melody vt the same time, forming u
quintotte, at the end of which Marie and
Pomarot disappear from view. The Count
outside gets more. impatient, and knocks
violently. There is sharp clap of thunder.
| Desiree throws herself into the arms Of the
Marquis The window is broken open with
q crash the lights 20 out, and the Count
|
separated from her husband, and the three
grope around in the darkness, singing q
| trio--a peculiar melody, but one admirably
fitted to tho situation. Tho Count and
the Marquis each grasp one of De-
sireo's hands at tho same time,
screams for help. and her cry brings in
Pomaret, Marie, l. auric, chorus, and servants,
with lights. A grand chorus here occurs, at
the ending Of which Desiree, Marie, and
Laurie move off followed by Pomaret and
guests, who cast scornful looks at the Marquis
and the Cou MT believing that the former was
| a party to The insult offered Desiree by the
latter. The Marquis then takes the Count
to task for his conduct, and when the latter
| suggests divocre as the best way out of the
difficulty he tells him that he has
really fallen in love with Desircc, at which
| the Count shows signs of returning violence,
| and the Marquis takes him Off with view of
writing letter to Desiree explaining all.
This leaves the stage clear for PomarJt, who,
after cautiously putting his head in the door,
| enters and soliloquizes on the unfortunate
| fact that he is about to lose rank-by approx
imation-in the nobility, because Desiree in
sists that he shall go to tho Cardinal and
] beseech his eminence to annul the mar
riage, This leads to song, the first verso
of which goes: r.
You will be convinced that am OF q noble face
Note this refined position -
This air, this style, =
Peculiarly patrician
Thislook, this smilel -
My family of old,
| . Were nayigators bold,
And owned the only boat there was at Ararat;
| And this my pedigree,
| Is quite antique, you see,
| 1fyou're collecting Information, treasure thati
Each verse ends with the line, "If you're
collecting" &c. The music OF this, especially
of tho refrain, is pleasing and catchy. Laurie
now enters and very funny scene ensues,
in which she makes love to him, and he
finally succumbs to her wooing. 2
Pomaret asks her if she has not made some
previous errors as to the identity Of the man
whom she has always loved; and she replies:
Perhaps SO, but they were only episodes in
the history of a faithful heart"
They sing very pretty duet, entitled
Glove May Wander" winding up with a
lively refrain and dance, after which they
dance off, and the Marquis and Count enter,
followed by Dumont. Dumont reports that
he has carried the defiance of the Marquis
to the Spanish camp and delivered
1t to the general himself, who sent
back the message that If the proposition was
not executed within the appointed time he
should consider it not the chivalrous chal.
leuge of soldier, but the insolent bravado
of a coward This spurs the Marquis to
instant action, and he orders his horse imme.
distely. The Count protests, but the Mar,
quis is firm in his determination to die
Notwithstanding he has been pardoned,
as he breads dlshonor more
than death. He gives the Count letter fol
Desiree, with instructions to deliver 1t when
he is dead A song for the Count follows
"The Sword and the Musket and the Lance
This is o fine descriptive song. 1t starts in q
martial strain, in which the Count sings abou,
one son of France sallying forth to fght
thirty thousand. From this IL passes into
bolero, in imitation of tho Spanish Btyl,
of music, which the Count sings II
dersion of the Spanish soldier, accompany
ing himself on an imaginary guitar. He tell
how the son OF France sings his "Chausor
militaire," and winds up with a martial ali
full of fire and spirit. This is an origina
and very effective song. Desiree enters
and tho Marquis sends tho Count off, A very
pretty scene occurs between Desiree and tn,
Marquis, which is rather of n sontimenta
character and ends by mutual declarations o
love and o reconciliation. A Abeautiful love due
follows. The Marquis seems to forget To-
the moment his impending doom, but l
! brou ght harshly to a realization of IL by tn
, entrance Of Dumont, who reports that, all |
ready. The Marquis, with forced calrhness
takes an aiiectionate farewell Of his wife, am
, hurries out, followed by Dumont. Desire
, runs to the balcony and waves her handker
chief. totally ignorant Of the desperate char
acter of his mission. Mario runs In and toll
: Desiree that the Count is tearing about tn
! corridors, tearing his hair and raving abou
. killing 900 Spaniards and marrying thei
!, WIDOWS, and that he had just asked her :
, marry him, telling her that sho woul
Gaua hn Harnuia anI tho xuhnI