Under the Red Robe

---

Room!

Room for His Eminence!

What's happened?

- He doesn't want us!

- He never spoke to a soul!

Isn't he going to give an audience?

Hey!

Are you going in like that?

No. I'm going in like this.

Who is he?

He's called 'The Black Death'.

Why?

Because that's who he is.

He's here! The Black Death.

I hope the cardinal will have him hanged!

Madame...

Are you sure you woudn't miss me?

Quite.

Here to behold, the famous duelist.

A good swordsman?

Deadly.

Well?

Open that, will you?

Where did you find your Englishman?

I overtook him fifty miles from Cologne.

What did he say?

Nothing, Your Eminence.

Typically English.

What did he do?

Fought, Your Eminence.

Typically English. And then?

We had an excellent fight, Your Eminence.

Did you leave him dead?

Not very. He was cursing heartily.

Cursing? A futile exercise, my friend.

Wildy practiced, but entirely ineffectual.

Even if one happens to be a churchman?

And does it for pleasure?

With that tongue, you might've

made a churchman yourself.

My life has been full

of narrow escapes, sir.

There's your money.

I suppose you'll rush to the tables

and lose it all.

Oh, no, Your Eminence. I'll rush

to the tables and double it.

Berault!

You heard I had issued

an edict against dueling.

No, Your Eminence. I was away.

Fighting was by Your Eminence's orders.

That was in the service of France.

Four thousand noblemen

were killed in duels last year.

My own brother among them.

I am determined to put an end to it.

I mean this, Berault.

If I fight from sheer force of habit?

I'll have you hanged.

Trying to get English money

for a general riot.

Find Rivarolle!

Rivarolle...

I saw them with Simourelle in my anteroom.

Yes, Your Reverence.

The Count of Montgomery is here, too.

- Arrest him.

- Yes, Your Reverence.

Yes, Josef. They will hang.

Tell me I am ruthless.

You are ruthless.

Tell me I am cruel.

- You are.

- And rightly!

These men are traitors!

Followers of that arch-traitor,

the Duke of Foix!

Plotting the ruin of all of

our soil for over ten years!

The build-up!

At this very moment,

he is across the Spanish border.

Enlisting troops for a general rising.

And his friends are trying to raise money

in England to support him.

If I am not cruel, we shall have

the south in flames again.

And civil war in France.

Count of Montgomery, by order of His

Eminence, the Cardinal, I arrest you.

There stands a tale up in the town

with a fa-la-la and a fa-di-riddle

Where lives a priest

of high renown

With a fa-la-la and a fa-di-riddle!

He keeps the orchard fair to see

Where dead men hang from every tree

And fairly sure he did decree

- With a fa-la-la

- and a fa-di-riddle!

With a fa-la-di!

Marked cards!

Marked cards!

Marked cards?

Show me the marks.

I've lost everything!

They must be marked!

Show me the marks.

You calling me a cheat?

Don't! Dueling is forbidden!

Remember the cardinal's edict?

Stop, or I'll flog you to the tree.

Fight!

It's suicide!

Leave me alone!

- He didn't want to fight.

- Never even had a chance.

- You butcher!

- You can't count!

A murderer, that's what you are!

Yes, yes, yes! That's you!

The cardinal's guard.

Your sword, please.

You know the penalty for dueling.

Your Eminence...

What is it?

A letter from Gil de Berault

with all speed.

Read it.

'Would you hang the dog

that kills the rat?'

He presumes on, quite severely.

There have been many, Your Eminence.

I know.

That is why I warned him.

Gil de Berault!

Your time has come.

Was my letter dispatched?

Yes.

No answer?

Yes.

Well?

'Hang him. '

Two sixes!

My lucky day!

Think so?

You saw my last roll.

Yes, but it was your last roll.

Well, it's alright.

Hell's going to be a dark place.

Marquis du Mareil!

Count du Montgomery!

From the city marshal of Foix.

'The City Marshal of Foix reports that he

is informed by a reliable agent that... '

Go on.

'The City Marshal of Foix reports...

...that he is informed by a reliable

agent that the Duke de Foix...

- ... visited the castle. '

- And?

- 'And left again for the Spanish border. '

- What?

Those damned idiots!

I've got troops posted all along

the border and they've let him slip again!

Once they lay hands on de Foix,

then France is saved.

He's the head in front

of the whole movement.

And without him, all the rest alike.

Sheep without a shepherd!

But he comes and goes as he likes.

He propels his rising at his own leisure.

And every day, my position weakens,

my influence wanes.

Couldn't you occupy his castle?

Arrest his womenfolk?

Yes, and set the whole countryside in

a blaze and lose my one chance...

...to lay this scoundrel by the heels?

His wife and sisters...

Where a whole regiment would have failed,

one man might succeed.

He would have to be a clever man.

There may be time!

Call Rivarolle!

Hurry!

Riva!

Gil de Berault!

Gil de Berault!

Gil de Berault!

Come down.

By order of the cardinal.

To His Eminence Berault.

Captain, please tell your men to conduct

me to my friend, the cardinal.

Prefect...

Show this gentleman

the way to the cardinal.

I'm afraid your sentence is suspended.

Better my sentence than myself,

Your Eminence.

I'm not so sure of that.

But I am going to give you

a chance to prove it.

By serving France as you

have never served her before.

Not another duel, Your Eminence?

Yes. Of wits.

I'm asking you to succeed

where an army has failed.

You mentioned this.

You know the duke's castle in Foix?

No.

All the better. The duke's wife and sister

live in the castle.

He visits them from time to time.

You will gain access to this castle

and you will win their confidence.

I don't care how.

You will arrest the duke

and bring him to Paris.

Will you try it?

Try? The Eminence may consider it done.

Don't be too certain.

Should they find you out, you'll be lucky

if they give you a quick death.

If you fail me...

I can promise you a slow one.

Bring this man to me

and your sentence shall be cancelled.

Father Josef will give you

all the money you require.

You will need someone with you.

Marius?

Your Eminence?

Your Honor...

He doesn't please you.

I prefer to work alone.

If I know Marius,

he'll follow you like a dog.

If I know him Your Eminence,

he'll trail me like a hound.

Both, I hope. Josef,

give him the money.

Now go.

And bring the Duke of Foix to me.

One moment, sir.

You know the army, I suppose?

Can you ride?

Yes, sir!

Can you use your hands?

You'd be surprised.

The sooner we start, the better.

What time is it?

It's ten o'clock.

Hey, hey, hey, that's my watch!

- Yes, sir.

- Where did you find it?

In your pocket.

- When?

- When you asked if I could use my hands.

The devil you did!

Give it to me.

From where?

Where is it then?

In your pocket.

In my pocket?

I told you you'd be surprised.

Shall I keep the money or will you?

Keep it. It'll save time.

Open the door!

- We have no room.

- See to the horses.

- We have no room!

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