Vautrin | Page 6

reputation, a family which has never formed a single mesalliance--
The Duchess And which will be worthily represented by your son
Albert.
The Duke Be careful what you say, for you waken in me terrible
memories. And your last word shows me that you will not shrink from
causing a scandal that will overwhelm all of us with shame. Shall we
air in public courts past occurrences which will show that I am not free
from reproach, while you are infamous? (He turns to Mademoiselle de
Vaudrey) She cannot have told you everything, dear aunt? She was in
love with Viscount Langeac; I knew it, and respected her love; I was so
young! The viscount came to me; being without hope of inheriting a
fortune, and the last representative of his house, he unselfishly offered
to give up Louise de Vaudrey. I trusted in their mutual generosity, and
accepted her as a pure woman from his hands. Ah! I would have given
my life for her, and I have proved it! The wretched man performed
prodigies of valor on the Tenth of August, and called down upon
himself the rage of the mob; I put him under the protection of some of
my people; he was, however, discovered and taken to the Abbaye. As
soon as I learned his predicament, I gave into the hands of a certain
Boulard all the money I had collected for our flight! I induced Boulard
to join the Septembrists in order to save the viscount from death; I
procured his escape! (To the duchess) He paid me back well, did he not?
I was young, madly in love, impetuous, yet I never crushed the boy!
You have to-day made me the same requital for my pity, as your lover

made for my trust in him. Well--things remain just as they were twenty
years ago excepting that the time for pity is past. And I will repeat what
I said to you then: Forget your son, and he shall live.
Mademoiselle de Vaudrey And shall her sufferings during those twenty
years count for nothing?
The Duke A great crime calls for a great atonement.
The Duchess Ah--if you take my grief for a sign of remorse, I will
again protest to you, I am innocent! No! Langeac never betrayed your
confidence; it was not for his king alone he went to his death, and from
the fatal day on which he bade me farewell and surrendered me to you,
I have never seen him again.
The Duke You purchased the life of your son by making an exactly
contrary declaration.
The Duchess Can a compact dictated by terror be looked upon as an
avowal of guilt?
The Duke Do you intend to give that certificate of birth?
The Duchess It is no longer in my possession.
The Duke I will no longer answer then for your son's safety.
The Duchess Have you weighed well the consequences of this threat?
The Duke You ought to know me by this time.
The Duchess 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
assistance of God. 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 Duchess 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 Duchess.
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 Duchess Not a word on that subject.
Mademoiselle de Vaudrey The calm way in which your husband
remarks your aversion for your son is astonishing.
The Duchess He is accustomed to it.
Mademoiselle de Vaudrey Yet you could never show yourself a bad
mother, could you?
The Duchess A bad mother?