The Follies of Love | Page 7

almost paid with my life. Do you know, sir, I was in Cremona?
Albert I believe you. But, after all your famous exploits, what do you want from me?
Scratch What do I want?
Albert (peremptorily) Yes.
Scratch Nothing. I believe one doesn't have to have any special reason to take a walk, and doing so offends nobody.
Albert Yes, but don't stay too long. Your servant, sir.
Scratch Servant! Before leaving, tell me, if you please, sire, to whom does this country house belong?
Albert It belongs to its owner.
Scratch Oh, to be sure. You answer so cleverly, that one cannot abandon your conversation easily. We ought to go to the village together to find a place to stay. We'll be there soon.
Albert If you hurry.
Scratch (aside) This chap doesn't like conversation and answers my questions with a single word. (aloud) I will leave after asking the time.
Albert Your question is funny. You think I'm here like the dial on a clock to display the time to passersby. Go learn it elsewhere. Don't weigh down my ear any longer. Your appearance tires me as much as your conversation. Goodbye. Good day!
(Exit Albert.)
Scratch (alone) This fellow has quite the aspect of a bear. My word, this beginning bewilders me. The old man appears to me to be a bit subject to anger. To bring everything to fruition we may have to fight. So much the better--that's where I shine, and I love to fence. But, I see my master, Mr. Worthy.
(Enter Worthy.)
Worthy Well, Scratch, what news? Dear Scratch, did you see the beauty in these parts? Have you seen the tutor and do you see some ray of hope for my love someday?
Scratch To tell you the truth, it wasn't worth the trouble to race here breathlessly from Milan. You could have spared me the trouble of coming. Oh, that battle on Mount Cenis was no joke. Do you remember how maliciously my cursed mule threw me in a ravine, and I was almost a quarter of an hour rolling to the bottom?
Worthy Don't jest. Speak in a different way.
Scratch As you wish, a clearer phrase. I will tell you, sir, that I have seen the jealous one--who received me in a manner that makes a cold wind seem mild. We'll need a cannon to take the place.
Worthy We'll come in the end to what he said and what he did. I won't leave these parts until I am in possession of the object of my vows. Love will vanquish the resistance of this brute.
Scratch If we had some money for expenses, I'd have hope enough for success. Money is the sinew of love as well as war.
Worthy Don't worry. Arabella has thirty thousand crowns when she marries. If she had nothing, I would still love her a hundred times better than a rich girl with money enough to turn your head. From her earliest years, raised by my mother, her image has been graven in my heart and nothing can efface it. Our two hearts, which seem made for each other, first tasted this happy news just before my mother died. Because of this disaster, Albert, this old jealous fool that hell should confound--separated her from me, with the consent of Arabella's relatives. I didn't know him, and she, I believe, like me, had never heard of his name. People told me that he was a very troubled spirit-- defiant, hard, brutal.
Scratch They told you right. We must learn, first off, if we can introduce ourselves into this fortress by cleverness or must use force--whether it is better to make an open siege or form plans for a blockade.
Worthy You always employ military terms. You've been to the wars.
Scratch In all affairs, the mind must always be used before resorting to brute force. Today's not the first time I've seen combat. I deserted twice from the militia. When one intends, you see, for a siege to succeed, one must prevent anything from entering, know the surroundings, learn its weaknesses and its strengths. When one is well informed about what's happening, one digs a trench, bombards the place, overthrows a rampart--makes a breach--advances in good order--and gives the assault. One strangles, massacres, kills, steals, and pillages. It's almost the same when one takes a young woman. Right, sir?
Worthy In this matter, Jenny, the maid, is in our interests.
Scratch So much the better. The more intelligence one has of the city, the more hope one has of success. One must take it noiselessly--without drums. All night help comes. Make her signals, so she'll understand.
Worthy Come, let's discover ways to take it. And, so as not to arouse suspicions, let's avoid remaining around here too long.
Scratch As chief engineer and master of artillery, I am going to see where I ought to place my batteries--to punch a hole in