L'Aiglon - BestLightNovel.com
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THE DUKE.
Oh! Superhuman!-- And then, official mourning for six weeks.
THE COUNTESS.
He s.n.a.t.c.hes at the cradle's lace, as if To make a winding sheet--
THE DUKE.
It will be ugly-- I must remember how they christen better In Paris than they bury in Vienna.
General Hartmann!
HARTMANN.
Prince!
THE DUKE.
Yes--while I wait For death, I'll rock my childhood--
[_He hands_ GENERAL HARTMANN _a book from under his pillow._]
Here--
[GENERAL HARTMANN _takes the book. The_ DUKE _falls to rocking the cradle._]
I rock My past--I rock my past--As though The Duke of Reichstadt rocked the King of Rome.
General--I marked a place--
HARTMANN.
I see it.
THE DUKE.
Good. While I'm dying, read aloud--
MARIA LOUISA.
No, no!
You shall not die!
THE DUKE.
You may begin to read.
HARTMANN.
[_Standing at the foot of the bed and reading._]
"Toward seven o'clock the Calvary appear, Forming the head of the procession--"
MARIA LOUISA.
[_Falling on her knees in a paroxysm of sobs._]
Franz!
HARTMANN.
"The people, shaken with great sobs of joy, Utter a shout:--'Long live the King of Rome!'--"
MARIA LOUISA.
Franz!
HARTMANN.
"And the guns salute; the Cardinal Receives their Majesties, and so the pageant Moves up the aisle as ancient rules prescribe.
The Ushers, Kings-at-Arms, their chief, the pages, The various officers of the staff, the--"
[_Noticing that the_ DUKE _has closed his eyes, he stops._]
THE DUKE.
[_Opening his eyes._]
Yes?
HARTMANN.
"The Chamberlains, the Prefects of the palace, Ministers, Masters of the Horse--"
THE DUKE.
[_With failing voice._]
Go on.
HARTMANN.
"Marshals of France, Grand Eagles; and Princess Aldobrandini holds the chrisom-cloth; The Countesses Vilain and de Beauvau Bring in the ewer and the salt-cellar--"
THE DUKE.
[_Still paler and growing rigid._]
Read on, sir. Mother--mother--lift me up.
[MARIA LOUISA, _a.s.sisted by the_ PRELATE _and_ DOCTOR MALFATTI, _raises him on his pillows._]
