Under the Red Robe Page #5

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For which this shall be his warrant.

Richelieu. '

I thought you were an honest man

on the wrong side.

I see you're a scoundrel on the right side.

What are your orders?

When do we leave?

Tomorrow morning.

I shall be at your disposal.

Nevermind, master.

We've done our work.

Yes.

We've done our work.

I'd like to see the cardinal's face

when he hears the news.

You shall.

Saddle up your horse.

But, master...

- You said that -

- Saddle up your horse!

Yes, master.

And room for His Eminence!

- No word from the king?

- None.

- No news from Berault?

- No.

The last straw left to cling to.

The one card that might yet win the game.

The capture of de Foix.

No news.

No news!

Marius!

Marius!

Your Eminence.

Well?

Oh, quite well, thank you, Your Eminence.

Fool!

The duke? Have you got him?

I have.

- Where?

- The rest.

- Where?

- On his way to the Bastille.

- And Mr. de Berault?

- At my instruction to take him there.

You mean he sent you ahead with the news?

Well, you can put it that way.

I wish to speak to the Lady Marguerite.

No.

Sorry, Edmond. But I want to listen

to what he has to say.

You told me not so long ago...

...you would not judge me hastily again.

I am not interested

in anything you might say.

But you might be interested

in what I am going to say.

I want to buy my brother's life.

I can pay better than the cardinal.

These diamonds are worth a fortune.

Take them.

You misjudge me.

I'd never turn traitor to the hand that

employs me, nor so with my own side.

Take them!

For my brother's freedom!

Then...

I can't! I can't do it!

Will you listen to me for a second?

No, it's not the truth!

Listen to me!

I came from under the gallows.

To arrest an outlaw.

If I had not arrested him...

...the soldiers would have done it.

Do you expect me to be grateful?

No.

I expect nothing.

But there's one course still open to me.

The road there leads to Bordeaux.

Where you have friends and where

you can find a ship.

That road is yours.

And your brother's.

He's free to go wherever he pleases.

But you!

My road is straight ahead.

To Paris.

Back to the man who sent me.

That will be your death!

I pay the penalty.

And I'll redeem my honor.

Gil!

Goodbye.

Gil! No, Gil!

What have you been saying to her, man?

That you are free.

No!

They're all alike.

Every one of them!

Not even faithful to the hand

that pays them!

I can't understand.

- To accomplish the impossible -

- And then to set him free!

Why?

He must've had a reason.

A lady begs most urgently for an

audience with His Eminence.

No.

Who is it?

Lady Marguerite.

Sister of the Duke of Foix.

He had a reason.

You have courage, madame.

I am at Your Eminence's mercy.

And so you presume on it.

No, I beg for it.

Oh, not for myself.

For whom?

For Monsieur de Berault.

Gil de Berault is a traitor

to the hand that paid him.

The same hand that signed his death warrant.

And snatched him from the gallows.

To send him to betray our cause.

To save France.

From what?

Do we Protestants love France less than you?

Because we have a different faith?

Because we are buried in this dictatorship

where no one is free of mind?

Honest women do, apparently.

I thought you came here to beg.

Oh, Your Eminence, forgive me!

For your honesty? Willingly.

Then forgive Gil.

Why? There's no honesty there.

His orders were to arrest a rebel.

He did.

And to bring him to me.

He betrayed my trust.

But if he hadn't,

he would have betrayed mine.

No doubt.

But am I to forgive him

because he fell in love with you?

No.

But because he did your work.

And he did better.

Better?

Yes.

Without bloodshed,

there will be no rebellion.

Edmond is on his way to Bordeaux.

The Duke of Foix is onboard

ship for England.

Oh, Your Eminence knows everything.

Except one buried reason why Gil de Berault

should escape a hanging.

- But you -

- Enough!

I've already been too patient.

Not content with stirring up rebellion

among your people...

...you admit having seduced my trusted

agent from his duties.

You came here today at your own risk.

Josep...

Call the captain of the guards.

In the interest you were

here last, certainly...

In what way?

Haven't you heard?

The cardinal's down.

Down?

Finished.

The king won't even see him.

Now he'll hang no more poor devil's.

One more, I fancy.

Master!

I guessed I should find you here.

Where's our man?

I don't know.

You don't know?

He hasn't escaped!

I set him free.

You set him free?

But, what for?

You wouldn't understand.

It touched my honor.

Your honor?

What about my neck?

You're in no danger.

That's why I sent you ahead.

To get the credit for the capture.

And escape the penalty for the rest.

...the king wouldn't see him!

But there won't be any penalty!

The cardinal is disgraced. All you have to

do is wait two or three days and...

...until he be banished or his enemies

finish him. Don't you see?

Yes, yes, I see.

But I gave my word.

- The cardinal holds the -

- Nobody will be there!

I shall.

Your man! He hasn't filed the reward!

He can still hang you!

Don't do it, master, don't do it.

Two months ago I wouldn't have given

a rat, but now...

Don't do it.

Thank you, Marius.

- But this is -

- I know. That cursed honor!

The more I see of it, the more I thank

God I'm not a gentleman!

Master!

Master, listen!

Listen, there's still time.

I know where you can lie safe.

As safe as a rat in a rig.

Yes, as a rat.

On the King's service!

On the King's service.

I knew it.

I knew it!

That means he's in power again!

Now you will hang!

'His Majesty desires me to express

with great satisfaction...

...the news that the Duke

of Foix is in flight.

And that his followers are without a leader.

To mark His Majesty's appreciation

of Your Eminence's cleverness...

...he is suppressing the revolution,

without bloodshed.

His Majesty is on his way here to express

his gratitude in person.

Look at them.

All coming back to lick his hands!

Master, master!

For the last time!

I wish to see His Eminence.

Gambler!

Duelist! Bully!

And now a traitor!

You gave me your word of honor!

You don't know the meaning of honor!

If I didn't, why am I here?

Yes! Why are you here?

To pay the penalty.

Nonsense!

You're here because you heard

that my power is gone.

Yes. Your power to reward me.

But not to hang me.

I promised you nothing

so quick as a hanging.

Your punishment shall be such...

...that before death frees you...

...you will have time to realize...

...what it costs to play false with me.

Josep!

Fetch the woman!

Gil!

Gil!

There.

Room! Room for His Eminence!

'The King's pleasure is that...

...that Lady Marguerite...

...and Monsieur Gil de Berault...

...retire to the Castle of Foix...

...and remain there...

...until the King's pleasure

be further known. '

Room! Room for His Majesty the King!

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