Vautrin: A Drama in Five Acts Part 3

The Duke You ought to know me by this time.

The d.u.c.h.ess The trouble is that you do not know me. You will no longer answer for my son's safety? Indeed--but you had better look after your own son.

Albert is a guarantee for the life of Fernand. If you keep watch on my proceedings, I shall set a watch on yours; if you rely upon the police of the realm, I have resources of my own, and the a.s.sistance of G.o.d.

If you deal a blow at Fernand, beware of what may happen to Albert. A blow for a blow!--That is final.

The Duke You are in our own house, madame. I forgot myself. Pray pardon me. I was wrong.

The d.u.c.h.ess You are more a gentleman than your son; when he flies into a rage he begs no one's pardon, not he!

The Duke (aside) Has her resignation up to this time been nothing but a pretence? Has she been waiting for the present opportunity to speak? Women who are guided by the advice of bigots travel underground, like volcanic fires, and only reveal themselves when they break out. She knows my secret, I have _lost sight of her son_, and my defeat is imminent.

(Exit.)

SCENE TENTH.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey and the d.u.c.h.ess.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey Louise, you love the child you have never seen, and hate him who is before your eyes. Ah! you must tell the reason of your hatred for Albert, if you would retain my esteem and my affection.

The d.u.c.h.ess Not a word on that subject.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey The calm way in which your husband remarks your aversion for your son is astonis.h.i.+ng.

The d.u.c.h.ess He is accustomed to it.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey Yet you could never show yourself a bad mother, could you?

The d.u.c.h.ess A bad mother? No. (She reflects.) I cannot make up my mind to forfeit your affection. (She draws her aunt to her side.) Albert is not my son.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey Can a stranger have usurped the place, the name, the t.i.tle, the property of the real child?

The d.u.c.h.ess No, not a stranger, but his son. After the fatal night on which Fernand was carried off from me, an eternal separation between the duke and myself took place. The wife in me was as cruelly outraged as the mother. But still I purchased from him peace of mind.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey I do not understand your meaning.

The d.u.c.h.ess I allowed the duke to present this Albert, child of a Spanish courtesan, as if he were mine. The duke desired an heir. Amid the confusion wrought in Spain by the French Revolution the trick escaped notice. Are you surprised that my blood boils at the sight of this strange woman's child occupying the place of the lawful heir?

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey Now I can deeply sympathize with your hopes; ah! how glad I should be if you were right in your suspicions and this young man were indeed your son. But what is the matter with you?

The d.u.c.h.ess He is, I fear, ruined; for I have brought him under the notice of his father, who will-- But stay, something must be done! I must find out where he lives, and warn him not to come here to-morrow morning.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey Leave the house at this hour! Louise, you are mad!

The d.u.c.h.ess Come, we must save him at any price.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey What do you propose doing?

The d.u.c.h.ess Neither of us can leave the house to-morrow without being noticed. We must forestall the duke by bribing my chambermaid.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey Louise, would you resort to such means as this?

The d.u.c.h.ess If Raoul is the son disclaimed by his father, the child over whom I have mourned for the last twenty years, I must show them what a wife, a mother, who has been wrongly accused, can do!

Curtain to the First Act.

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 d.u.c.h.ess 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 d.u.c.h.ess 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 astonis.h.i.+ng that you should leave the very hour your mistress must need your services; she is getting up.

Felicite Her grace the d.u.c.h.ess 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.