Vautrin: A Drama in Five Acts

SCENE EIGHTH The same persons and the Marquis de Montsorel

The footman (announcing a visitor)

Monsieur le Marquis de Montsorel.

Raoul (aside) Ah! That name recalls me to myself. (To Inez) Whatever happens, Inez, do not judge my conduct until I have myself given an account of it, and believe at the present moment that I am carried along by an invincible fatality.

Inez

Raoul, I cannot understand you; but I shall trust you always.

The Marquis (aside) Again this little gentleman here! (He salutes Inez.) I thought you were with your mother, mademoiselle, and I never dreamed my visit would be so inopportune. Be good enough to excuse me —

Inez

I beg that you will not go; there is no one but ourselves here, for

Monsieur Raoul has been accepted by my family.

The Marquis

Will Monsieur Raoul de Frescas, then, accept my congratulations?

Raoul Your congratulations? I accept them (they shake hands) in the same spirit as that in which they are offered.

Inez (to Raoul) Manage that he go away, and do you remain. (To the Marquis) My mother requires me for a few moments, and I will return with her.

SCENE NINTH. The Marquis and Raoul; later, Vautrin

The Marquis

Will you agree to a meeting without seconds – a fight to the death?

Raoul

Without seconds?

The Marquis

Do you realize that both of us cannot exist in the same world?

Raoul Your family is a powerful one; your proposition exposes me, in case I am victorious, to their vengeance. Allow me to say that I do not want to exchange this house for a prison. (Vautrin appears.) I will fight to the death – but not without seconds.

The Marquis

Will those on your side stop the duel?

Raoul

Our mutual hatred is sufficient guarantee against that.

Vautrin (aside) Well, now – we always commit some blunder in the moment of success! To the death! This child would gamble away his life as if it belonged to him.

The Marquis Very well, monsieur; to-morrow at eight o'clock, we meet at the terrace of Saint-Germain, and drive from there to the forest.

Vautrin (coming forward)

You will not go. (To Raoul) A duel? Are the principals of equal rank?

Is this gentleman, like you, the only son of a noble house? Would your father Don Inigo Juan Varago de los Amoagos de Cardaval las Frescas y

Peral, allow you to do it, Raoul?

The Marquis I have consented to fight with an unknown man, but the greatness of the house to which the gentleman belongs cannot nullify the agreement.

Raoul (to the marquis) Nevertheless, it seems to me, monsieur, that we can treat each other with courtesy, and act like people who esteem each other too much to take the trouble to hate and to kill.

The Marquis (looking at Vautrin)

May I know the name of your friend?

Vautrin

By whom have I to honor to be referred to?

The Marquis

By the Marquis de Montsorel, sir.

Vautrin (eyeing him from head to foot) I have the right to refuse you, but I will tell you my name, once for all, in a very short time, and you won't repeat it. I am to be one of the seconds of Monsieur de Frescas. (Aside) And Buteux shall be the other.

SCENE TENTH. Raoul, Vautrin, the Marquis and the Duchesse de Montsorel; Later, the Duchesse de Christoval and Inez

Footman (announcing a visitor)

Her grace the Duchesse de Montsorel.

Vautrin (to Raoul) Let me have no nonsense; be calm and firm! I stand face to face with the enemy.

The Marquis

Ah, mother dear, and are you come to witness my defeat? All is ended.

The De Christoval family has trifled with us. This gentleman (he points to Vautrin) represents both families.

The Duchesse de Montsorel Then Raoul has a family? (The Duchesse de Christoval and her daughter enter and salute the speaker. To the Duchesse de Christoval) Madame, my son has told me what has occurred to frustrate all our hopes.

The Duchesse de Christoval The interest which yesterday you manifested in Monsieur de Frescas has, I see, changed to indifference?

The Duchesse de Montsorel (scrutinizing Vautrin)

Is it through this gentleman that all your doubts have been satisfied?

Who is he?

The Duchesse de Christoval He represents the father of Monsieur de Frescas, don Amoagos, and the father of Inez, Monsieur de Christoval. He has brought us the news we expected, and brought letters from my husband.

Vautrin (aside)

Am I to act this part long?

The Duchesse de Montsorel (to Vautrin) Doubtless you have known the family of Monsieur de Frescas for some time?

Vautrin

My acquaintance is limited to a father and an uncle – (to Raoul) You have not even the mournful satisfaction of remembering your mother.

(To the Duchess) She died in Mexico, shortly after her marriage.

The Duchesse de Montsorel

Monsieur de Frescas, then, was born in Mexico?

Vautrin

Of course he was.

The Duchesse de Montsorel (to the Duchesse de Christoval) My dear, we are being imposed upon. (To Raoul) Sir, you did not come from Mexico. Your mother is not dead, is she? And have you not been abandoned since your childhood?

Raoul

Would that my mother were alive!

Vautrin Pardon me, madame, but I am here to satisfy your curiosity, if you wish to learn the secret history which it is not necessary you should seek from this gentleman. (To Raoul) Not a word!

The Duchesse de Montsorel It is he! And this man is making him the tool in some sinister undertaking. (She approaches the marquis) My son —

The Marquis You have put them out, mother, and I share your impression of this man (he indicated Vautrin); but only a woman has the right to express her thoughts in a way to expose this frightful imposture.

The Duchesse de Montsorel

Frightful indeed! But pray leave us.

The Marquis Ladies, in spite of my ill-fortune, do not blame me if I still have hopes. (To Vautrin) Often between the cup and the lip there is —

Vautrin

Death!

(Exit the Marquis, after exchanging bows with Raoul.)

The Duchesse de Montsorel (to the Duchesse de Christoval) My dear duchess, I implore you to excuse Inez. We cannot make our explanations before her.

The Duchesse de Christoval (to her daughter, making signs to her to

leave the room)

I will rejoin you in a moment.

Raoul (kissing his hand to Inez)

This is perhaps good-bye forever!

(Exit Inez.)

SCENE ELEVENTH. The Duchesse de Christoval, the Duchesse de Montsorel, Raoul and Vautrin

Vautrin (to the Duchesse de Christoval)

Do you suspect the motive that brings madame here?

The Duchesse de Christoval

After what happened yesterday I prefer not to say.

Vautrin

I guessed her love for him immediately.

Raoul (to Vautrin)

This atmosphere of falsehood stifles me.

Vautrin (to Raoul)

One word more, and the affair will be ended.

The Duchesse de Montsorel Madame, I know well how strange my present conduct must appear to you, and I won't attempt to justify it. There are solemn duties before which the conventions and even the laws of society must give way. What is the character and what the powers of this man?

The Duchesse de Christoval (to whom Vautrin makes a signal)

I am forbidden to answer this question.

The Duchesse de Montsorel Well, I will tell you; this man is either the accomplice or the dupe in an imposture of which we are the victims. In spite of the letters and documents which he brings to you, I am convinced that all evidence which gives name and family to Raoul is false.

Raoul To tell the truth, madame, I do not know what right you have to interfere in personal matters of mine.

The Duchesse de Christoval Madame, you were wise to send out of the room my daughter and the marquis.

Vautrin (to Raoul) What right? (To the Duchesse de Montsorel) You need not avow it, for we divine it. I can well understand, madame, the pain you feel at the prospect of this marriage, and am not therefore offended at your suspicions with regard to me, and the authentic documents which I have brought to the Duchesse de Christoval. (Aside) Now for the final stroke. (He takes her aside) Before becoming a Mexican I was a Spaniard, and I know the cause of your hatred for Albert. And as to the motive which brings you here, we will talk about that very soon at the house of your confessor.

The Duchesse de Montsorel

You know?

Vautrin All. (Aside) She has some motive. (Aloud) Will you examine the documents?

The Duchesse de Christoval

Well, my dear?

The Duchesse de Montsorel Be quick, and send for Inez. Examine the deeds carefully, I implore you. This is the request of a despairing mother.

The Duchesse de Christoval

A despairing mother!

The Duchesse de Montsorel (to herself, looking at Raoul and Vautrin) How is it possible that this man should know my secret and have this hold upon my son?

The Duchesse de Christoval

Will you come, madame?

(Exeunt the two duchesses.)

SCENE TWELFTH. Raoul, Vautrin and later Lafouraille

Vautrin

I thought our star was setting; but it is still in the ascendant.

Raoul Have I not been humbled sufficiently? I had nothing in the world but my honor, and that I gave into your keeping. Your power is infernal, I see that plainly. But from this very moment I withdraw from its influence. You are no longer in danger. Farewell.

Lafouraille (coming in while Raoul speaks) No one caught, – 'twas lucky, – we had time! Ah, sir, Philosopher is below, all is lost! The house has been entered by the police.

Vautrin

Disgusting! And no one has been taken?

Lafouraille

We were too cute for that.

Vautrin

Philosopher is below, as what?

Lafouraille

As a footman.

Vautrin Good; let him get up behind my carriage. I want to give you my orders about locking up the Prince d'Arjos, who thinks he is going to fight a duel to-morrow.

Raoul I see that you are in danger. I will not leave you, and I desire to know —

Vautrin Nothing. Do not worry about your own security. I will look out for you, in spite of you.

Raoul

Oh! I know what my future will be.

Vautrin

I too know.

Lafouraille

Come, things are getting hot.

Vautrin

Nay, the fat is in the fire.

Lafouraille No time for sentiment, or dilly-dallying, they are on our track and are mounted.

Vautrin Let us be off then. (He takes Lafouraille aside) If the government should do us the honor to billet its gendarmes on us, our duty is to let them alone. All are at liberty to scatter; but let all be at Mother Giroflee's at midnight. Get off post haste, for I do not wish us to meet our Waterloo, and the Prussians are upon us. We must run for it.

Curtain to the Fourth Act

ACT V

SCENE FIRST. (The scene is laid at the Montsorel house, in a room on the ground floor.)

Joseph (alone) The cursed white mark appears this evening on the wicket side of the garden. Things cannot go on long in this way; the devil only knows how it will end. I prefer seeing him there, however, rather than in the apartments; the garden is at least away from the house, and when the warning comes, one can walk out to meet him.

SCENE SECOND. Joseph, Lafouraille and Buteux; later, Vautrin

(The humming sound of a voice is heard for a moment.)

Joseph

There it is, our national air, which I never hear without trembling.

(Enter Lafouraille) And who are you? (Lafouraille makes a sign) A new one coming?

Lafouraille

No, an old one.

Joseph

Oh, he whose mark is in the garden.

Lafouraille

Can he be waiting here? He intended to be here. (Buteux appears.)

Joseph

Why, there will be three of you.

Lafouraille (pointing to Joseph)

There will be four of us.

Joseph And what do you come to do at this hour? Do you want to snatch up everything here?

Lafouraille

He takes us for thieves!

Buteux We prove that we can be, when we are down in our luck; but we never say so.

Lafouraille

That is, we make money, like other people.

Joseph

But his grace the duke is going —

Lafouraille Your duke cannot return home before two o'clock, and that gives us time enough: do not therefore interlard with anxious thought the professional dish which we have to serve —

Buteux

And serve hot.

(Vautrin wears a brown coat, blue trousers, and a black waistcoat. His hair is short and he is got up as an imitation of Napoleon in undress. As he enters he abruptly puts out the candle and draws the slide of his dark lantern.)

Vautrin What! You have lights here! You think yourselves still members of respectable society. I can understand that this fool should ignore the first elements of sane conduct – but you others! (To Buteux, as he points out Joseph to him) Put wool in this fellow's ears, and talk with him over there. (To Lafouraille) And what of the youngster?

Lafouraille

He is kept well out of sight.

Vautrin

In what place?

Lafouraille

In the other rookery of Giroflee's woman, near here, behind the

Invalides.

Vautrin

And see that he does not escape like that slippery eel of a

Saint-Charles, that madman, who came for the purpose of breaking up our establishment – for I – but I never threaten.

Lafouraille Upon the youngster's safety I will stake my head! Philosopher has put buskins on his hands and frills on his feet, he cannot stir hand or foot, and will be given up only to me. As for the other, who could help it? Poor Giroflee cannot resist strong liquors, and Blondet knew it.

Vautrin

What did Raoul say?

Lafouraille

He made a terrible uproar; and swore he was disgraced. Fortunately

Philosopher is insensible to metaphors.

Vautrin Do you think the boy wishes for a fight to the death? A young man is fearful; he has the courage to conceal his terror and the folly to allow himself to be killed. I hope they prevent him from writing to any one.

Lafouraille (aside)

We are in for it! (Aloud) I can conceal nothing from you, before he was fastened up the prince sent little Nini with a letter to the

Christoval house.

Vautrin

To Inez?

Lafouraille

To Inez.

Vautrin

He wrote a lot of rubbish, I'll warrant.

Lafouraille

A pack of lies and absurdities.

Vautrin (to Joseph)

Hello there! You – the honest man.

Buteux (leading Joseph to Vautrin)

You had better explain things to the master, as he desires.

Joseph It seems to me that I am not unreasonable to ask what risk I am to run, and what profit is to accrue to me.

Vautrin Time is short, speech long, let us employ the former and drop the latter. There are two lives in peril, that of a man I am interested in, and that of a musketeer which I consider useless: we are going to crush him.

Joseph What! Do you mean monsieur the marquis? I will have nothing to do with it.

Lafouraille

You have no say in the matter of your consent.

Buteux

We have captured him. Look you, my friend, when the wine is drawn —

Joseph

If it is bad, it must not be drunk.

Vautrin And you refuse to pledge me in a glass? He who thinks calculates, and he who calculates betrays.

Joseph

Your calculations lead to the scaffold.

Vautrin Enough! You tire me. Your master is to fight a duel to-morrow. In this duel one of the combatants will never leave the ground alive; imagine that the duel has taken place, and that your master has had no fair chance.

Buteux

That is just it.

Lafouraille

The master is as deep as fate.

Joseph

A fine condition to be in.

Buteux

The devil to pay and no pitch hot!

Vautrin (to Joseph, pointing out Lafouraille and Buteux)

You will conceal these two.

Joseph

Where?

Vautrin I tell you, you must conceal them. When all are asleep in the house, excepting us, you must send them up to the musketeer's room. (To Buteux and Lafouraille) Try to go there without him; you must be cautions and adroit; the window of his room overlooks the court. (Whispers in their ears) Throw him down. It will be a case of despair (turning to Joseph), and suicide will be a ground for averting suspicion from all.

SCENE THIRD

Vautrin (alone) All is saved! There is only one suspect among us, and I will change that state of affairs. Blondet is the traitor, and in this case bad debts will make good friends, for I will point him out to the duke in a friendly manner as the murderer of Vicomte de Langeac. I must finally discover the motive of the duchess's singular behavior. If what I learn explains the suicide of the marquis, what a master stroke it will be!

SCENE FOURTH. Joseph and Vautrin

Joseph Your men are well concealed, but you doubtless intend to leave the house?

Vautrin

No, I am going to do some reading in the study of the Duc de

Montsorel.

Joseph

But if he comes home, won't you be afraid?

Vautrin

If I feared anything, would I be master of you all?

Joseph

But where are you going?

Vautrin

You are very curious.

SCENE FIFTH

Joseph (alone) There, he is disposed of for the moment, his two fellows likewise; I hold them, and, as I don't want to have anything to do with the affair, I am going —

SCENE SIXTH Joseph, a footman; and afterwards Saint-Charles

The footman

Monsieur Joseph, some one is asking for you.

Joseph

At this hour?

Saint-Charles

It is I.

Joseph (to the footman)

You may go.

Saint-Charles His grace the duke cannot come home until after the king's retirement for the night. The duchess is on her way home. I wish to speak to her privately and wait for her here.

Joseph

Here?

Saint-Charles

Here.

Joseph (aside)

O my God! And Jacques —

Saint-Charles

If it inconveniences you —

Joseph

Not in the least.

Saint-Charles

Tell me the truth, you are expecting some one?

Joseph

I am expecting the duchess.

Saint-Charles

And not Jacques Collin?

Joseph

Oh! don't talk to me about that man, you make me shudder.

Saint-Charles Collin is mixed up with some business that might bring him here. You must have seen him lately. I have no time to pump you, and I have no need to bribe, but you must choose between him and me, and pretty quickly, too.

Joseph

What do you require of me?

Saint-Charles

To tell me everything that takes place here.

Joseph Well, the latest thing is the duel of the marquis; he fights to-morrow with Monsieur de Frescas.

Saint-Charles

What next?

Joseph

I see her grace the duchess has just returned.

SCENE SEVENTH

Saint-Charles (alone) What a timid beast he is! This duel is a capital excuse for speaking with the duchess. The duke did not understand me, he saw in me nothing but a tool, to be taken up and dropped at pleasure. Did he not, by imposing silence upon me towards his wife, betray his suspicion that I was dangerous to him? The patrimony of the strong is the faculty of utilizing the faults of a neighbor. I have already devoured several patrimonies, and my appetite is still good.

SCENE EIGHTH. Saint-Charles, the Duchesse de Montsorel and Mademoiselle de Vaudrey

(Saint-Charles disappears till the two ladies have passed, and remains at the back, while they come to the front of the stage.)

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey

You are quite worn out.

The Duchesse de Montsorel (sinking into an armchair)

Yes; I am dead! In despair —

Saint-Charles (coming forward)

Madame the duchess.

The Duchess Ah! I had forgotten! Sir, it is impossible at this moment to grant you the interview you ask. To-morrow – or later in the day.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey (to Saint-Charles)

My niece, sir, is not in a condition to listen to you.

Saint-Charles

To-morrow, ladies, it will be too late! The life of your son, the

Marquis de Montsorel, who fights a duel to-morrow with Monsieur de

Frescas, is threatened.

The Duchess

The duel is indeed a frightful thing.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey (in a low tone to the duchess)

You have already forgotten that Raoul is a stranger to you.

The Duchess (to Saint-Charles)

Sir, my son will know how to acquit himself.

Saint-Charles May I venture to inform you of facts which ordinarily would be kept from a mother? Your son will be killed without any fighting. His adversary's servants are bravoes, wretches of whom he is the ringleader.

The Duchess

And what proof have you of this?

Saint-Charles A former steward of Monsieur de Frescas has offered me a vast sum if I would join in this foul conspiracy against the Christoval family. In order to make time, I pretended to assent; but just as I was on my way to warn the authorities, I was dashed to the ground by two men who came by at full speed, and I lost consciousness; they administered to me in this condition a powerful narcotic, thrust me into a cab, and when I came to myself, I was in a den of criminals. Recovering my self-possession, I escaped from my confinement, and set out to track these dare-devils.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey You sometimes come here to see Monsieur de Montsorel, according to what Joseph tells us?

Saint-Charles

Yes, madame.

The Duchess

And who, pray, may you be, sir?

Saint-Charles I am a private detective, whom his grace the duke distrusts, and I am hired for clearing up mysterious occurrences.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey (to the duchess)

O Louise!

The Duchess (fixing her eyes on Saint-Charles)

And who has had the impertinence to send you to address me?

Saint-Charles A sense of your danger brings me here. I am paid to be your enemy. You can keep silence as well as I; prove that your protection is more advantageous to me than the hollow promises of the duke, and I can assure you the victory. But time presses, the duke will soon be here, and if he finds us together, the success of our undertaking would be endangered.

The Duchess (to Mademoiselle de Vaudrey) Ah! we may still hope! (To Saint-Charles) And what were you going to do at the house of Monsieur de Frescas?

Saint-Charles

That which, at present, I am doing at yours.

The Duchess

Silence, sir.

Saint-Charles Your grace has given me no answer; the duke has my word, and he is very powerful.

The Duchess And I, sir, am immensely rich; but do not expect to take advantage of me. (She rises) I will never be the dupe of Monsieur de Montsorel, I recognize his trickery in this secret interview, which you had asked for. (With emphasis) Let me complete your information. Monsieur de Frescas is not a wretch; his servants are not assassins; he belongs to a family as rich as it is noble, and he is about to marry the Princesse d'Arjos.

Saint-Charles Yes, madame, a Mexican envoy has produced letters from Monsieur de Christoval, and documents remarkably authentic. You have sent for a secretary of the Spanish legation, who has endorsed them: seals, stamps, authentications – ah! all are flawless.

The Duchess

Yes, sir, the documents are unassailable.

Saint-Charles

You are very much interested, madame, in their being proved forgeries,

I presume?

The Duchess (to Mademoiselle de Vaudrey)

Never has such torture as this wrung the heart of a mother!

Saint-Charles (aside)

Whose side shall I take, husband's or wife's?

The Duchess

Sir, any sum you may ask shall be yours, if you can prove to me that

Monsieur Raoul de Frescas —

Saint-Charles

Is a criminal?

The Duchess

No, but a child —

Saint-Charles

You mean your child, don't you?

The Duchess (forgetting herself)

Yes, yes! Be my deliverer, and I will be your eternal protector. (To

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey) Ah me! What have I said? (To Saint-Charles)

Where is Raoul?

Saint-Charles He has disappeared, and this steward of his, who procured the forged deeds in Rue Oblin, and doubtless played the part of the Mexican envoy, is one of the most astute of criminals. (The duchess starts.) Oh, you need not be alarmed; he is too clever to shed blood; but he is more formidable than those who shed it recklessly; and such a man is the guardian of Raoul.