Vautrin | Page 9

speak out, so that I may
know what secrets you will permit us to keep.
Saint-Charles Let us make one stipulation; whenever my frankness
displeases your grace, call me chevalier, and I will sink once more into
my humble role of paid detective.
The Duke Go on, my friend. (Aside) These people are very amusing.
Saint-Charles M. de Frescas will not be an adventurer so long as he
lives in the style of a man who has an income of a hundred thousand
francs.
The Duke Whoever he is you must pierce through the mystery which
surrounds him.
Saint-Charles Your grace requires a very difficult thing. We are obliged
to use circumspection in dealing with foreigners. They are our masters;

they have turned Paris upside down.
The Duke That's the trouble!
Saint-Charles Does your grace belong to the opposition?
The Duke I should like to have brought back the king without his
following-- that is my position.
Saint-Charles The departure of the king resulted from the
disorganization of the magnificent Asiatic police created by Bonaparte.
An effort is being made nowadays to form a police of respectable
people, a procedure which disbands the old police. Hemmed in by the
military police of the invasion, we dare not arrest any one, for fear we
might lay hands on some prince on his way to keep an assignation, or
some margrave who had dined too well. But for your grace a man will
attempt the impossible. Has this young man any vices? Does he play?
The Duke Yes, in a social way.
Saint-Charles Does he cheat?
The Duke Chevalier!
Saint-Charles This young man must be very rich.
The Duke Inquire for yourself.
Saint-Charles I ask pardon of your grace; but people without passions
cannot know much. Would you have the goodness to tell me whether
this young man is sincerely attached to Mademoiselle de Christoval?
The Duke What! That princess! That heiress! You alarm me, my friend.
Saint-Charles Has not your grace told me that he is a young man? Now,
pretended love is more perfect than genuine love; that is the reason why
so many women are deceived! Undoubtedly he has thrown over many
mistresses, and heart-free, tongue-free, you know--
The Duke Take care! Your mission is peculiar, and you had best not
meddle with the women; an indiscretion on your part may forfeit my
good will, for all that relates to Monsieur Frescas must go no further
than you and myself. I demand absolute secrecy, both from those you
employ, and those who employ you. In fact, you will be a ruined man,
if Madame de Montsorel has any suspicion of your designs.
Saint-Charles Is Madame de Montsorel then interested in this young
man? I must keep an eye on her, for this girl is her chambermaid.
The Duke Chevalier de Saint-Charles, to order you to do this would be
unworthy of me, and to ask for such an order is quite unworthy of you.
Saint-Charles Your grace and I perfectly understand each other. But

what is to be the main object of my investigations?
The Duke You must find out whether Raoul de Frescas is the real name
of this young man; find out where he was born, ransack his whole life,
and consider all you learn about him a secret of state.
Saint-Charles You must wait until to-morrow for this information, my
lord.
The Duke That is a short time.
Saint-Charles But it involves a good deal of money.
The Duke Do not suppose that I wish to hear of evil things; it is the
method of you people to pander to depraved passions. Instead of
showing them up, you prefer to invent rather than to reveal occurrences.
I should be delighted to learn that this young man has a family--
(The marquis enters, sees his father engaged, and turns to go out; the
duke asks him to remain.)
SCENE FIFTH. The preceding and the Marquis de Montsorel.
The Duke (continuing) If Monsieur de Frescas is a gentleman, and the
Princesse d'Arjos decidedly prefers him to my son, the marquis must
withdraw his suit.
The Marquis But, father, I am in love with Inez.
The Duke (to Saint-Charles) You may go, sir.
Saint-Charles (aside) He takes no interest in the proposed marriage of
his son. He is incapable of feeling jealous of his wife. There is
something very serious in these circumstances; I am either a ruined
man or my fortune is made. (Exit.)
SCENE SIXTH. The Duke and the Marquis.
The Duke To marry a woman who does not love you is a mistake
which I shall never allow you to commit, Albert.
The Marquis But there is nothing that indicates that Inez will reject me;
and, in any case once she is my wife, it will be my