ACT II
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.