ACTE III

ARGUMENT

The scène is now transiiorted into Madrid, in the royal retreat called Bueii retira, wliere the Duke of Anjou, become Kiug of Spaiu, seeks, under the name of Count of Mauléon, to escape Spanish court étiquette : the Duke d'Harcourt, Frencli Amhassador, asks the king's leave to iutroduce to him, at a bail to be given ou the sanié eveuing, two French ladies whose uames are uot to be mentioued for the i^resent. St. Hérem, wlio has become the king's Chamberlain, is ail the more readily authorised to graut the desired permission since the king has already noticed the two ladies at the théâtre. St. Hérem, tired of his inaetivity, solicits a mission abroad from the king, who gives him an evasive answer. Dubouloy, disgusted with the commonplace existence he leads in Spain, coufesses to St. Hérem that he almost regrets his wife, and Roger déplores that the persécution of which he believes hiniself the object on the part of his own wife, preveuts him from seeking a reconciliation with lier ; they are both auxious to know the two French ladies mysteriously introduced by the French ambassador, who reveals to them the secret that the ladies are sent by the French Government to win the young king's heart, and counteract the influence of the Princess des Ursins, his favourite. Thereupon the king appears, endiiig a conversation with the two ladies, both masked, and leaves them to joiu the bail with Roger and Dubouloy, whilst he charges the Duke d'Harcourt to obtain the ladies' address and their permission to call upon them. St. Hérem and Dubouloy soon havinghad to relinquish the two ladies to the king, are exchanging admiring remarks upon them when the ladies returu ; and according to their pronùse, after an interesting conversation with them, disclose to Roger and Dubouloy that the ladies by whom they are so niuch fascinated are none others thau their resjîective wives. Tlie two friends conceal their surprise when the king informs them that he has obtained the ladies' address, and is in love with them I