The Dynasts : Parts First And Second

ACT THIRD SCENE I
BOULOGNE. THE CHATEAU AT PONT-DE-BRIQUES
A room in the Chateau, which is used as the Imperial quarters. The EMPEROR NAPOLEON, and M. GASPARD MONGE, the mathematician and philosopher, are seated at breakfast.
Enter the officer in attendance.
OFFICER
Monsieur the Admiral Decres awaits A moment's audience with your Majesty, Or now, or later.
NAPOLEON
Bid him in at once— At last Villeneuve has raised the Brest blockade!
Enter DECR&S.
What of the squadrons' movements, good Decres ? Brest opened, and all sailing Channelwards, Like swans into a creek at feeding-time ?
DECR&S
Such news was what I'd hoped, your Majesty, To send across this daybreak. But events Have proved intractable, it seems, of late ; And hence I haste in person to report
The featless facts that just have dashed my------
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