Swiss Guards. What do you want, little brat?
Julie. Are you the prisoners?
Swiss Guards [laughing]. Prisoners? No, we guard the prisoners.
Hoche. You are not so very much mistaken. They, too, are prisoners, and more to be pitied than the others. They have lost even the desire for liberty.
De Launey. Who is this child?
Hoche. Our good genius. She begged me to take her with me. I carried her on my back.
Vintimille. Are you out of your head to expose the child to such danger?
Hoche. Why should she not share our risks? She is sure to die if we die. Don't pretend to pity her; your cannon have no such scruples.
Vintimille [with his accustomed coldness and irony]. A soldier! A petty officer who has deserted! So this is the envoy they send us? Capital! Well, shoot him. That will end his mission.
De Launey. One moment. It might be well to find out what they want.
Vintimille. They have nothing to ask for.
De Flue. You don't parley with insurrectionists.
De Launey. Well, let us see: it costs nothing.
Vintimille. Ridiculous. If we allowed them to discuss matters we might seem to be accepting them as equals.
De Launey. What shameless aberration led you to accept this mission?
Hoche. The idea of serving both my friends and you.
