SCENE FIRST.
(Scene the same as in preceding act.)
The Duc de Montsorel and Joseph.
The Duke
Joseph, I am not at home excepting to one person. If he comes, you
will show him up. I refer to Monsieur de Saint-Charles. Find out
whether your mistress will see me. (Exit Joseph.) The awakening of a
maternal instinct, which I thought had been utterly extinguished in
her heart, amazes me beyond measure. The secret struggle in which she
is engaged must at once be put a stop to. So long as Louise was
resigned our life was not intolerable; but disputes like this would
render it extremely disagreeable. I was able to control my wife so
long as we were abroad, but in this country my only power over her
lies in skillful handling, and a display of authority. I shall tell
everything to the king. I shall submit myself to his dictation, and
Madame de Montsorel must be compelled to submit. I must however bide
my time. The detective, whom I am to employ, if he is clever, will
soon find out the cause of this revolt; I shall see whether the
duchess is merely deceived by a resemblance, or whether she has seen
her son. For myself I must confess to having lost sight of him since
my agents reported his disappearance twelve years ago. I was very much
excited last night. I must be more discreet. If I keep quiet she will
be put off her guard and reveal her secrets.
Joseph (re-entering the room)
Her grace the duchess has not yet rung for her maid.
The Duke
Very well.
SCENE SECOND.
The preceding and Felicite.
(To explain his presence in his wife's room, the duke looks over
articles lying on the table, and discovers a letter in a book.)
The Duke (reading)
"To Mademoiselle Inez de Christoval." (aside) Why should my wife have
concealed a letter of such slight importance? She no doubt wrote it
after our quarrel. Is it concerning Raoul? This letter must not go to
the Christoval house.
Felicite (looking for the letter in the book)
Now, where is that letter of madame's? Can she have forgotten it?
The Duke
Aren't you looking for a letter?
Felicite
Yes, your grace.
The Duke
Isn't this it?
Felicite
The very one, your grace.
The Duke
It is astonishing that you should leave the very hour your mistress
must need your services; she is getting up.
Felicite
Her grace the duchess has Therese; and besides I am going out by her
orders.
The Duke
Very good. I did not wish to interfere with you.
SCENE THIRD.
The preceding, and Blondet, alias the Chevalier de Saint-Charles.
(Joseph and Saint-Charles walk together from the centre door, and eye
each other attentively.)
Joseph (aside)
The look of that man is very distasteful to me. (To the duke) The
Chevalier de Saint-Charles.
(The duke signs to Saint-Charles to approach, and examines his
appearance.)
Saint-Charles (giving him a letter, aside)
Does he know my antecedents, or will he simply recognize me as
Saint-Charles?
The Duke
My dear sir--
Saint-Charles
I am to be merely Saint-Charles.
The Duke
You are recommended to me as a man whose ability, if it had fair
scope, would be called genius.
Saint-Charles
If his grace the duke will give me an opportunity, I will prove myself
worthy of that flattering opinion.
The Duke
You shall have one at once.
Saint-Charles
What are your commands?
The Duke
You see that maid. She is going to leave the house. I do not wish to
hinder her doing so; yet she must not cross the threshold, until she
receives a fresh order. (Calls her) Felicite!
Felicite
What is it, your grace?
(The Duke gives her the letter. Exit Felicite.)
Saint-Charles (to Joseph)
I recognize you, I know all about you: See that this maid remains in
the house with the letter, and I will not recognize you, and will know
nothing of you, and will let you stay here so long as you behave
yourself.
Joseph (aside)
This fellow on one side, and Jacques Collin on the other! Well; I must
try to serve them both honestly.
(Exit Joseph in pursuit of Felicite.)
SCENE FOURTH.
The Duke and Saint-Charles.
Saint-Charles
Your grace's commands are obeyed. Do you wish to know the contents of
the letter?
The Duke
Why, my dear sir, the power you seem to exercise is something terrible
and wonderful.
Saint-Charles
You gave me absolute authority in the matter, and I used it well.
The Duke
And what if you had abused it?
Saint-Charles
That would have been impossible, for such a course would ruin me.
The Duke
How is it that men endowed with such faculties are found employing
them in so lowly a sphere?
Saint-Charles
Everything is against our rising above it; we protect our protectors,
we learn too many honorable secrets, and are kept in ignorance of too
many shameful ones to be liked by people, and render such important
services to others that they can only shake off the obligation by
speaking ill of us. People think that things are only words with us;
refinement is thus mere silliness, honor a sham, and acts of treachery
mere diplomacy. We are the confidants of many who yet leave us much to
guess at. Our programme consists in thinking and acting, finding out
the past from the present, ordering and arranging the future in the
pettiest details, as I am about to--and, in short, in doing a hundred
things that might strike dismay to a man of no mean ability. When once
our end is gained, words become things once more, and people begin to
suspect that possibly we are infamous scoundrels.
The Duke
There may be some justice in all this, but I do not suppose you expect
to change the opinion of the world, or even mine?
Saint-Charles
I should be a great fool if I did. I don't care about changing another
man's opinion; what I do want to change is my own position.
The Duke
According to you that would be very easy, wouldn't it?
Saint-Charles
Why not, your grace? Let some one set me to play the spy over
cabinets, instead of raking up the secrets of private families.
Instead of dogging the footsteps of shady characters, let them put me
in charge of the craftiest diplomats. Instead of pandering to the
vilest passions, let me serve the government. I should be delighted to
play a modest part in a great movement. And what a devoted servant
your grace would have in me!
The Duke
I am really sorry to employ such talents as yours in so petty an
affair, my friend, but it will give me an opportunity of testing, and
then we'll see.
Saint-Charles (aside)
Ah--We shall see? That means, all has already been seen.
The Duke
I wish to see my son married--
Saint-Charles
To Mademoiselle Inez de Christoval, Princesse d'Arjos--a good match!
Her father made the mistake of entering Joseph Bonaparte's service,
and was banished by King Ferdinand. He probably took part in the
Mexican revolution.
The Duke
Madame de Christoval and her daughter have made the acquaintance of a
certain adventurer, named--
Saint-Charles
Raoul de Frescas.
The Duke
Is there nothing I can tell you that you do not know?
Saint-Charles
If your grace desires it, I will know nothing.
The Duke
On the contrary, I should like you to speak out, so that I may know
what secrets you will permit us to keep.
Saint-Charles
Let us make one stipulation; whenever my frankness displeases your
grace, call me chevalier, and I will sink once more into my humble
role of paid detective.
The Duke
Go on, my friend. (Aside) These people are very amusing.
Saint-Charles
M. de Frescas will not be an adventurer so long as he lives in the
style of a man who has an income of a hundred thousand francs.
The Duke
Whoever he is you must pierce through the mystery which surrounds him.
Saint-Charles
Your grace requires a very difficult thing. We are obliged to use
circumspection in dealing with foreigners. They are our masters; they
have turned Paris upside down.
The Duke
That's the trouble!
Saint-Charles
Does your grace belong to the opposition?
The Duke
I should like to have brought back the king without his following
--that is my position.
Saint-Charles
The departure of the king resulted from the disorganization of the
magnificent Asiatic police created by Bonaparte. An effort is being
made nowadays to form a police of respectable people, a procedure
which disbands the old police. Hemmed in by the military police of the
invasion, we dare not arrest any one, for fear we might lay hands on
some prince on his way to keep an assignation, or some margrave who
had dined too well. But for your grace a man will attempt the
impossible. Has this young man any vices? Does he play?
The Duke
Yes, in a social way.
Saint-Charles
Does he cheat?
The Duke
Chevalier!
Saint-Charles
This young man must be very rich.
The Duke
Inquire for yourself.
Saint-Charles
I ask pardon of your grace; but people without passions cannot know
much. Would you have the goodness to tell me whether this young man is
sincerely attached to Mademoiselle de Christoval?
The Duke
What! That princess! That heiress! You alarm me, my friend.
Saint-Charles
Has not your grace told me that he is a young man? Now, pretended love
is more perfect than genuine love; that is the reason why so many
women are deceived! Undoubtedly he has thrown over many mistresses,
and heart-free, tongue-free, you know--
The Duke
Take care! Your mission is peculiar, and you had best not meddle with
the women; an indiscretion on your part may forfeit my good will, for
all that relates to Monsieur Frescas must go no further than you and
myself. I demand absolute secrecy, both from those you employ, and
those who employ you. In fact, you will be a ruined man, if Madame de
Montsorel has any suspicion of your designs.
Saint-Charles
Is Madame de Montsorel then interested in this young man? I must keep
an eye on her, for this girl is her chambermaid.
The Duke
Chevalier de Saint-Charles, to order you to do this would be unworthy
of me, and to ask for such an order is quite unworthy of you.
Saint-Charles
Your grace and I perfectly understand each other. But what is to be
the main object of my investigations?
The Duke
You must find out whether Raoul de Frescas is the real name of this
young man; find out where he was born, ransack his whole life, and
consider all you learn about him a secret of state.
Saint-Charles
You must wait until to-morrow for this information, my lord.
The Duke
That is a short time.
Saint-Charles
But it involves a good deal of money.
The Duke
Do not suppose that I wish to hear of evil things; it is the method of
you people to pander to depraved passions. Instead of showing them up,
you prefer to invent rather than to reveal occurrences. I should be
delighted to learn that this young man has a family--
(The marquis enters, sees his father engaged, and turns to go out; the
duke asks him to remain.)
SCENE FIFTH.
The preceding and the Marquis de Montsorel.
The Duke (continuing)
If Monsieur de Frescas is a gentleman, and the Princesse d'Arjos
decidedly prefers him to my son, the marquis must withdraw his suit.
The Marquis
But, father, I am in love with Inez.
The Duke (to Saint-Charles)
You may go, sir.
Saint-Charles (aside)
He takes no interest in the proposed marriage of his son. He is
incapable of feeling jealous of his wife. There is something very
serious in these circumstances; I am either a ruined man or my fortune
is made. (Exit.)
SCENE SIXTH.
The Duke and the Marquis.
The Duke
To marry a woman who does not love you is a mistake which I shall
never allow you to commit, Albert.
The Marquis
But there is nothing that indicates that Inez will reject me; and, in
any case once she is my wife, it will be my object to win her love,
and I believe, without vanity, that I shall succeed.
The Duke
Allow me to tell you, my son, that your barrack-room ideas are quite
out of place here.
The Marquis
On any other subject your words would be law to me; but every era has
a different art of love--I beg of you to hasten my marriage. Inez has
all the pliability of an only daughter, and the readiness with which
she accepts the advances of a mere adventurer ought to rouse your
anxiety. Really, the coldness with which you receive me this morning
amazes me. Putting aside my love for Inez, could I do better? I shall
be, like you, a Spanish grandee, and, more than that, a prince. Would
that annoy you, father?
The Duke (aside)
The blood of his mother shows itself all the time! Oh! Louise has
known well my tender spot! (Aloud) Recollect, sir, that there is no
rank higher than the glorious title, Duc de Montsorel.
The Marquis
How have I offended you?
The Duke
Enough! You forget that I arranged this marriage after my residence in
Spain. You are moreover aware that Inez cannot be married without her
father's consent. Mexico has recently declared its independence, and
the occurrence of this revolution explains the delay of his answer.
The Marquis
But, my dear father, your plans are in danger of being defeated. You
surely did not see what happened yesterday at the Spanish
ambassador's? My mother took particular notice there of this Raoul de
Frescas, and Inez was immensely pleased with him. Do you know that I
have long felt, and now at last admit to myself, that my mother hates
me? And that I myself feel, what I would only say to you father, whom
I love, that I have little love for her?
The Duke (aside)
I am reaping all that I have sown; hate as well as love is
instinctively divined. (To the marquis) My son, you should not judge,
for you can never understand your mother. She has seen my blind
affection for you, and she wishes to correct it by severity. Do not
let me hear any more such remarks from you, and let us drop the
subject! You are on duty at the palace to-day; repair thither at once:
I will obtain leave for you this evening, when you can go to the ball
and rejoin the Princesse d'Arjos.
The Marquis
Before leaving, I should like to see my mother, and beg for her kind
offices in my favor, with Inez, who calls upon her this morning.
The Duke
Ask whether she is to be seen, for I am waiting for her myself. (Exit
the marquis.) Everything overwhelms me at the same time; yesterday the
ambassador inquired of me the place of my son's death; last night, my
son's mother thought she had found him again; this morning the son of
Juana Mendes harrows my feelings! The princess recognizes him
instinctively. No law can be broken without a nemesis; nature is as
pitiless as the world of men. Shall I be strong enough, even with the
backing of the king, to overcome this complication of circumstances?
SCENE SEVENTH.
The Duke, the Duchess and the Marquis.
The Duchess
Excuses? Nonsense! Albert, I am only too happy to see you here; it is
a pleasant surprise; you are come to kiss your mother before going to
the palace--that is all. Ah! if ever a mother found it in her heart to
doubt her son, this eager affection, which I have not been accustomed
to, would dispel all such fear, and I thank you for it, Albert. At
last we understand each other.
The Marquis
I am glad to hear you say that, mother; if I have seemed lacking in my
duty to you, it is not that I forget, but that I feared to annoy you.
The Duchess (seeing the duke)
What! Your grace here also!--you really seem to share your son's
cordiality,--my rising this morning is actually a fete.
The Duke
And you will find it so every day.
The Duchess (to the duke)
Ah! I understand-- (To the marquis) Good-bye! The king is strict about
the punctuality of his red-coated guards, and I should be sorry to
cause you to be reprimanded.
The Duke
Why do you send him off? Inez will soon be here.
The Duchess
I do not think so, I have just written to her.
SCENE EIGHTH.
The same persons and Joseph.
Joseph (announcing a visitor)
Their graces the Duchesse de Christoval and the Princess d'Arjos.
The Duchess (aside)
How excessively awkward!
The Duke (to his son)
Do not go; leave all to me. They are trifling with us.
SCENE NINTH.
The same persons, the Duchesse de Christoval and the Princesse
d'Arjos.
The Duchesse de Montsorel
Ah! madame, it is extremely kind of you thus to anticipate my visit to
you.
The Duchesse de Christoval
I come in this way that there may be no formality between us.
The Duchesse de Montsorel (to Inez)
Have you read my letter?
Inez
One of your maids has just handed it to me.
The Duchesse de Montsorel (aside)
It is evident that Raoul is also coming.
The Duke (to the Duchesse de Christoval, whom he leads to a seat)
I hope we see in this informal visit the beginning of a family
intimacy?
The Duchesse de Christoval
Pray do not exaggerate the importance of a civility, which I look upon
as a pleasure.
The Marquis
You are seriously afraid, madame, I perceive, of encouraging my hopes?
Did I not suffer sufficiently yesterday? The princess did not notice
me, even by a look.
Inez
I didn't expect the pleasure of meeting you again so soon, sir. I
thought you were on duty; I am glad to have an opportunity of
explaining that I never saw you till the moment I left the ball-room,
and this lady (pointing to the Duchesse de Montsorel) must be the
excuse of my inattention.
The Marquis
You have two excuses, mademoiselle, and I thank you for mentioning
only one--my mother.
The Duke
His reproaches spring only from his modesty, mademoiselle. Albert is
under the impression that Monsieur de Frescas can give him ground for
anxiety! At his age passion is a fairy that makes trifles appear vast.
But neither yourself nor your mother, mademoiselle, can attach any
serious importance to the claims of a young man, whose title is
problematical and who is so studiously silent about his family.
The Duchesse de Montsorel (to the Duchesse de Christoval)
And are you also ignorant of the place where he was born?
The Duchesse de Christoval
I am not intimate enough with him to ask for such information.
The Duke
There are three of us here who would be well pleased to have it. You
alone, ladies, would be discreet, for discretion is a virtue the
possession of which profits only those who require it in others.
The Duchesse de Montsorel
As for me, I do not believe that curiosity is always blameless.
The Marquis
Is mine then ill-timed? And may I not inquire of madame whether the
Frescas of Aragon are extinct or not?
The Duchesse de Christoval (to the duke)
Both of us have known at Madrid the old commander, who was last of his
line.
The Duke
He died, of course, without issue.
Inez
But there exists a branch of the family at Naples.
The Marquis
Surely you are aware, mademoiselle, that your cousins, the house of
Medina-Coeli, have succeeded to it?
The Duchesse de Christoval
You are right; there are no De Frescas in existence.
The Duchesse de Montsorel
Well! Well! If this young man has neither title nor family, he can be
no dangerous rival to Albert. I do not know why you should be
interested in him.
The Duke
But there are a great many ladies interested in him.
Inez
I begin to see your meaning--
The Marquis
Indeed!
Inez
Yes, this young man is not, perhaps, all he wishes to appear; but he
is intelligent, well educated, his sentiments are noble, he shows us
the most chivalric respect, he speaks ill of no one; evidently, he is
acting the gentleman, and exaggerates his role.
The Duke
I believe he also exaggerates the amount of his fortune; but it is
difficult at Paris to maintain that pretension for any length of time.
The Duchesse de Montsorel (to the Duchesse de Christoval)
I am told that you mean to give a series of brilliant entertainments?
The Marquis
Does Monsieur de Frescas speak Spanish?
Inez
Just as well as we do.
The Duke
Say no more, Albert; did you not hear that Monsieur de Frescas is a
highly accomplished young man?
The Duchesse de Christoval
He is really a very agreeable man, but if your doubts were well
founded, I confess, my dear duke, I should be very sorry to receive
any further visits from him.
The Duchesse de Montsorel (to the Duchesse de Christoval)
You look as fresh to-day as you did yesterday; I really admire the way
you stand the dissipations of society.
The Duchesse de Christoval (aside to Inez)
My child, do not mention Monsieur de Frescas again. The subject annoys
Madame de Montsorel.
Inez (also aside)
It did not annoy her yesterday.
SCENE TENTH.
The same persons, Joseph and Raoul de Frescas.
Joseph (to the Duchesse de Montsorel)
As Mademoiselle de Vaudrey is not in, and Monsieur de Frescas is here,
will your grace see him?
The Duchesse de Christoval
Is Raoul here?
The Duke
So he has already found her out!
The Marquis (to his father)
My mother is deceiving us.
The Duchesse de Montsorel (to Joseph)
I am not at home.
The Duke
If you have asked Monsieur de Frescas to come why do you begin by
treating so great a personage with discourtesy? (To Joseph, despite a
gesture of protest from the Duchesse de Montsorel) Show him in! (To
the marquis) Try to be calm and sensible.
The Duchesse de Montsorel (aside)
In trying to help, I have hurt him, I fear.
Joseph
M. Raoul de Frescas.
Raoul (entering)
My eagerness to obey your commands will prove to you, Madame la
Duchesse, how proud I am of your notice, and how anxious to deserve
it.
The Duchesse de Montsorel
I thank you, sir, for your promptitude. (Aside) But it may prove fatal
to you.
Raoul (bowing to the Duchesse de Christoval and her daughter, aside)
How is this? Inez here?
(Raoul exchanges bows with the duke; but the marquis takes up a
newspaper from the table, and pretends not to see Raoul.)
The Duke
I must confess, Monsieur de Frescas, I did not expect to meet you in
the apartment of Madame de Montsorel; but I am pleased at the interest
she takes in you, for it has procured me the pleasure of meeting a
young man whose entrance into Parisian society has been attended with
such success and brilliancy. You are one of the rivals whom one is
proud to conquer, but to whom one submits without displeasure.
Raoul
This exaggerated eulogy, with which I cannot agree, would be ironical
unless it had been pronounced by you; but I am compelled to
acknowledge the courtesy with which you desire to set me at my ease,
(looking at the marquis, who turns his back on him), in a house where
I might well think myself unwelcome.
The Duke
On the contrary, you have come just at the right moment, we were just
speaking of your family and of the aged Commander de Frescas whom
madame and myself were once well acquainted with.
Raoul
I am highly honored by the interest you take in me; but such an honor
is generally enjoyed at the cost of some slight gossip.
The Duke
People can only gossip about those whom they know well.
The Duchesse de Christoval
And we would like to have the right of gossiping about you.
Raoul
It is my interest to keep myself in your good graces.
The Duchesse de Montsorel
I know one way of doing so.
Raoul
What is that?
The Duchesse de Montsorel
Remain the same mysterious personage you are at present.
The Marquis (rejoining them, newspaper in hand)
Here is a strange thing, ladies; one of those foreigners who claim to
be noblemen has been caught cheating at play at the field marshal's
house.
Inez
Is that the great piece of news in which you have been absorbed?
Raoul
In these times, everyone seems to be a foreigner.
The Marquis
It is not altogether the piece of news that set me thinking, but I was
struck by the incredible readiness with which people receive at their
houses those about whose antecedents they know positively nothing.
The Duchesse de Montsorel (aside)
Is he to be insulted in my house?
Raoul
If people distrust those whom they do not know, aren't they sometimes
likely, at very short notice, to know rather too much about them?
The Duke
Albert, how can this news of yours interest us? Do we ever receive any
one without first learning what his family is?
Raoul
His grace the duke knows my family.
The Duke
It is sufficient for me that you are found at Madame de Montsorel's
house. We know what we owe to you too well to forget what you owe to
us. The name De Frescas commands respect, and you represent it
worthily.
The Duchesse de Christoval (to Raoul)
Will you immediately announce who you are, if not for your own sake,
at least out of consideration for your friends?
Raoul
I shall be extremely distressed if my presence here should occasion
the slightest discussion; but as certain hints are as galling as the
most direct charges, I suggest that we end this conversation, which is
as unworthy of you, as it is of me. Her grace the duchess did not, I
am sure, invite me here to be cross-examined. I recognize in no one
the right to ask a reason for the silence which I have decided to
maintain.
The Marquis
And you leave us the right to interpret it?
Raoul
If I claim liberty of action, it is not for the purpose of refusing
the same to you.
The Duke (to Raoul)
You are a noble young man, you show the natural distinction which
marks the gentleman; do not be offended at the curiosity of the world;
it is our only safeguard. Your sword cannot impose silence upon all
idle talkers, and the world, while it treats becoming modesty with
generosity, has no pity for ungrounded pretensions--
Raoul
Sir!
The Duchesse de Montsorel (whispering anxiously to Raoul)
Not a word about your childhood; leave Paris, and let me alone know
where you are--hidden! Your whole future depends on this.
The Duke
I really wish to be your friend, in spite of the fact that you are the
rival of my son. Give your confidence to a man who has that of his
king. How can you be descended from the house of De Frescas, which is
extinct?
Raoul (to the duke)
Your grace is too powerful to fail of proteges, and I am not so weak
as to need a protector.
The Duchesse de Christoval
Sir, I am sure you will understand a mother's feeling that it would be
unwise for her to receive many visits from you at the Christoval
house.
Inez (to Raoul)
A word would save us, and you keep silence; I perceive that there is
something dearer to you than I am.
Raoul
Inez, I could hear anything excepting these reproaches. (Aside) O
Vautrin! Why did you impose absolute silence upon me. (He bows
farewell to the ladies. To the Duchesse de Montsorel) I leave my
happiness in your charge.
The Duchesse de Montsorel
Do what I order; I will answer for the rest.
Raoul (to the marquis)
I am at your service, sir.
The Marquis
Good-bye Monsieur Raoul.
Raoul
De Frescas, if you please.
The Marquis
De Frescas, then!
(Exit Raoul.)
SCENE ELEVENTH.
The same persons, except Raoul.
The Duchesse de Montsorel (to the Duchesse de Christoval)
You were very severe.
The Duchesse de Christoval
You may not be aware, madame, that for the last three months this
young man has danced attendance on my daughter wherever she went, and
that his admission into society was brought about a little
incautiously.
The Duke (to the Duchesse de Christoval)
He might easily be taken for a prince in disguise.
The Marquis
Is he not rather a nobody disguised as a prince?
The Duchesse de Montsorel
Your father will tell you that such disguises are difficult to assume.
Inez (to the marquis)
A nobody sir? We women can be attracted by one who is above us, never
by him who is our inferior.
The Duchesse de Christoval
What are you talking about, Inez?
Inez
It is of no consequence, mother! Either this young man is crazed or
these people are ungenerous.
The Duchesse de Christoval (to the Duchesse de Montsorel)
I can plainly see, madame, that any explanation is impossible,
especially in the presence of the duke; but my honor is at stake, and
I shall expect you to explain.
The Duchesse de Montsorel
To-morrow, then.
(Exit the duke with the Duchesse de Christoval and her daughter,
followed by the Duchesse de Montsorel.)
SCENE TWELFTH.
The Marquis and the Duke.
The Marquis
The appearance of this adventurer, father, seems to throw both you and
my mother into a state of the most violent excitement; it would almost
seem as if not only was the marriage of your son jeopardized, but your
very existence menaced. The duchess and her daughter went off in high
dudgeon--
The Duke
What could have brought them here in the very midst of our discussion?
The Marquis
And you also are interested in this fellow Raoul?
The Duke
Are not you? Your fortune, your name, your future and your marriage,
all that is more to you than life, is now at stake!
The Marquis
If all these things are dependent upon this young man, I will
immediately demand satisfaction from him.
The Duke
What! A duel? If you had the wretched luck to kill him, the success of
your suite would be hopeless.
The Marquis
What then is to be done?
The Duke
Do like the politicians; wait!
The Marquis
If you are in danger, father, do you think I can remain quiet?
The Duke
Leave the burden to me; it would crush you.
The Marquis
Ah! but you will speak, father, you will tell me--
The Duke
Nothing! For we should both of us have too much to blush for.
SCENE THIRTEENTH.
The same persons and Vautrin.
(Vautrin is dressed all in black; at the beginning of the scene he
puts on an air of compunction and humility.)
Vautrin
Excuse me, your grace, for having forced my way in, but (whispering so
as not to be overheard) we have both of us been victimized by an abuse
of confidence--allow me to say a word or two to you alone.
The Duke (with a sign to his son to leave them)
Say on, sir.
Vautrin
In these days success is in the power of those alone who exert
themselves to obtain office, and this form of ambition pervades all
classes. Every man in France desires to be a colonel, and it is
difficult to see where the privates are to come from. As a matter of
fact society is threatened by disintegration, which will simply result
from this universal desire for high positions, accompanied with a
general disgust for the low places. Such is the fruit of revolutionary
equality. Religion is the sole remedy for this corruption.
The Duke
What are you driving at?
Vautrin
I beg pardon, but it is impossible to refrain from explaining to a
statesman, with whom I am going to work, the cause of a mistake which
annoys me. Has your grace confided any secrets to one of my people who
came to you this morning, with the foolish idea of supplanting me, and
in the hope of making himself known to you as one who could serve your
interests?
The Duke
What do you mean? That you are the Chevalier de Saint-Charles?
Vautrin
Let me tell your grace, that we are just what we desire to be. Neither
he nor I is simple enough to be his real self--it would cost us too
much.
The Duke
Remember, that you must furnish proofs.
Vautrin
If your grace has confided any important secret to him, I shall have
immediately to put him under surveillance.
The Duke (aside)
This man seems more honest and reliable than the other.
Vautrin
We put the secret police on such cases.
The Duke
You ought not to have come here, sir, unless you were able to justify
your assertions.
Vautrin
I have done my duty. I hope that the ambition of this man, who is
capable of selling himself to the highest bidder, may be of service to
you.
The Duke (aside)
How can he have learned so promptly the secret of my morning
interview?
Vautrin (aside)
He hesitates; Joseph is right, some important secret is at stake.
The Duke
Sir!
Vautrin
Your grace!
The Duke
It is the interest of both of us to defeat this man.
Vautrin
That would be dangerous, if he has your secret; for he is tricky.
The Duke
Yes, the fellow has wit.
Vautrin
Did you give him a commission?
The Duke
Nothing of importance; I wish to find out all about a certain Monsieur
de Frescas.
Vautrin (aside)
Merely that! (Aloud) I can tell your grace all about him. Raoul de
Frescas is a young nobleman whose family is mixed up in an affair of
high treason, and he does not like to assume his father's name.
The Duke
He has a father, then?
Vautrin
He has a father.
The Duke
And where does he come from? What is his fortune?
Vautrin
We are changing our roles, and your grace must excuse my not answering
until you tell me what special interest your grace has in Monsieur de
Frescas.
The Duke
You are forgetting yourself, sir!
Vautrin (with assumed humility)
Yes, I am forgetting the fact that there is an enormous difference
between spies and those who set them.
The Duke
Joseph!
Vautrin (aside)
The duke has set his spies upon us; I must hurry.
(Vautrin disappears through the side door, by which he entered in the
first act.)
The Duke (turning back)
You shall not leave the house. Heavens! Where is he? (He rings and
Joseph answers.) Let all the doors of the house be locked, a man has
got into the house. Quick! Let all look for him, and let him be
apprehended. (He goes to the room of the duchess.)
Joseph (looking through the postern)
He is far away by this time.
Curtain to the Second Act.