Vautrin | Page 8

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.
(The duke signs to Saint-Charles to approach, and examines his
appearance.)
Saint-Charles (giving him a letter, aside) Does he know my antecedents,
or will he simply recognize me as Saint- Charles?
The Duke My dear sir--
Saint-Charles I am to be merely Saint-Charles.
The Duke You are recommended to me as a man whose ability, if it had
fair scope, would be called genius.
Saint-Charles If his grace the duke will give me an opportunity, I will
prove myself worthy of that flattering opinion.
The Duke You shall have one at once.
Saint-Charles What are your commands?
The Duke You see that maid. She is going to leave the house. I do not
wish to hinder her doing so; yet she must not cross the threshold, until
she receives a fresh order. (Calls her) Felicite!
Felicite What is it, your grace?

(The Duke gives her the letter. Exit Felicite.)
Saint-Charles (to Joseph) I recognize you, I know all about you: See
that this maid remains in the house with the letter, and I will not
recognize you, and will know nothing of you, and will let you stay here
so long as you behave yourself.
Joseph (aside) This fellow on one side, and Jacques Collin on the other!
Well; I must try to serve them both honestly.
(Exit Joseph in pursuit of Felicite.)
SCENE FOURTH. The Duke and Saint-Charles.
Saint-Charles Your grace's commands are obeyed. Do you wish to
know the contents of the letter?
The Duke Why, my dear sir, the power you seem to exercise is
something terrible and wonderful.
Saint-Charles You gave me absolute authority in the matter, and I used
it well.
The Duke And what if you had abused it?
Saint-Charles That would have been impossible, for such a course
would ruin me.
The Duke How is it that men endowed with such faculties are found
employing them in so lowly a sphere?
Saint-Charles Everything is against our rising above it; we protect our
protectors, we learn too many honorable secrets, and are kept in
ignorance of too many shameful ones to be liked by people, and render
such important services to others that they can only shake off the
obligation by speaking ill of us. People think that things are only words
with us; refinement is thus mere silliness, honor a sham, and acts of
treachery mere diplomacy. We are the confidants of many who yet
leave us much to guess at. Our programme consists in thinking and
acting, finding out the past from the present, ordering and arranging the
future in the pettiest details, as I am about to--and, in short, in doing a
hundred things that might strike dismay to a man of no mean ability.
When once our end is gained, words become things once more, and
people begin to suspect that possibly we are infamous scoundrels.
The Duke There may be some justice in all this, but I do not suppose
you expect to change the opinion of the world, or even mine?
Saint-Charles I should be a great fool if I did. I don't care about
changing another man's opinion; what I do want to change is my own

position.
The Duke According to you that would be very easy, wouldn't it?
Saint-Charles Why not, your grace? Let some one set me to play the
spy over cabinets, instead of raking up the secrets of private families.
Instead of dogging the footsteps of shady characters, let them put me in
charge of the craftiest diplomats. Instead of pandering to the vilest
passions, let me serve the government. I should be delighted to play a
modest part in a great movement. And what a devoted servant your
grace would have in me!
The Duke I am really sorry to employ such talents as yours in so petty
an affair, my friend, but it will give me an opportunity of testing, and
then we'll see.
Saint-Charles (aside) Ah--We shall see? That means, all has already
been seen.
The Duke I wish to see my son married--
Saint-Charles To Mademoiselle Inez de Christoval, Princesse
d'Arjos--a good match! Her father made the mistake of entering Joseph
Bonaparte's service, and was banished by King Ferdinand. He probably
took part in the Mexican revolution.
The Duke Madame de Christoval and her daughter have made the
acquaintance of a certain adventurer, named--
Saint-Charles Raoul de Frescas.
The Duke Is there nothing I can tell you that you do not know?
Saint-Charles If your grace desires it, I will know nothing.
The Duke On the contrary, I should like you to