ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD ACT

The Countess and Léonie again contrasted ; and a lessori leamt from the enemy (Se. i.)- — In Se. ii. de Grignon finds he is to hâve another chance of being heroic, and this time love and enthusiasm prevail over prudence. Montrichard now appears (Se. iii.) and the Countess tvvits him with his slow progress towards discovery of Henri, and proposes to go away herself for a change (Se. iv.). — She has put de Grignon into livery, and Montrichard at once makes sure this is Henri, and arrests him; the Countess leading him further astray by her well-feigned despair, and de Grignon being by no means at his ease. At this moment Henri appears, and Montrichard in great dation seizes his hand, and saying, "I hâve him" — gives him the bribe he had promised (Se. v.), and goes. Henri, left alone with the Countess, tries to express his gratitude (Se. vi.). — Montrichard then returns with a letter to the General of his division announcing his success (Se. vii.); the Countess charges him with corruption of her servants; accuses Henri of being the traitor; and dismisses him with contempt. Montrichard, falling into the trap, at once engages him and sends him on his own horse with a free pass and his letter to the General, and then (Se. viii.) brings in the prisoner, and, refusing to grant any delaj% sends away the Countess and Léonie. He then (Se. ix.) détails his orders to de Grignon, that he is to be shot "at once, and wilhout any fuss," unless he will make a confession. This de Grignon is on the point of doing wiien the Countess enters (Se. x.) and the sight of her reinspires him. Montrichard consents to leave them alone for a few moments, and in Se. xi. she further encourages him. Montrichard then returns (Se. xii.) to take de Grignon to the Court, the Président of whieh is, as the Countess informs Montricliard, uncle of his prisoner, whercas the true Henri de Flavigneul is by this time aeross the frontier, thanks to the Prefect's good horse. But (Se. xiii.) Léonie cornes in to tell her Aunt that Henri has returned, and at the same time brings a despatch for Montrichard whieh, after reading, he déclares will enable him to make the fugitive surrender whcrever

he may be ; and lie goes out promising to hâve his revenge on the Countess. Henri now (Se. xiv.) reappears having returned rather than allow de Grignon to suffer in his place. In Se. xv. the Countess learns from Léonie, who is in despair, that Henri, though he loves her, is bound by gratitude and honour to some one else. The Countess however is too magnanimous to accept him thus and places Léonie's hand in his at the moment when Montrichard is already on the stairs. They conceal Henri as vvell as they can : Montrichard enters : (Se. xvi.) announces a gênerai amnesty and Henri comes out. Montrichard prétends that his announcement of an amnesty was only a ruse to bring out Henri ; but the Countess is again too much for him: and the Ladies' Battle ends with his confession of defeat, and the Countess' sorrowful reflexion that, "For success, even good play is not enough without good luck."