Vautrin | Page 7

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 title, the property of the real child?
The Duchess 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 Duchess 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 Duchess 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 Duchess Come, we must save him at any price.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey What do you propose doing?
The Duchess 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 Duchess 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 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,