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Vautrin, a play by Honore de Balzac |
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Act 4 |
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_ ACT IV SCENE FIRST.
THE DUCHESS. If I oppose this unreasonable match, it is certainly not for the purpose of making another with a designing family. INEZ. Unreasonable? Who knows whether it be so or not? You believe him to be an adventurer, I believe he is a gentleman, and we have nothing to refute either view. THE DUCHESS. We shall not have to wait long for proofs; the Montsorels are too eager to unmask him. INEZ. And he, I believe, loves me too much to delay proving himself worthy of us. Was not his behavior yesterday noble in the extreme? THE DUCHESS. Don't you see, silly child, that your happiness is identical with mine? Let Raoul satisfy the world, and I shall be ready to fight for you not only against the intrigues of the Montsorels, but in the court of Spain, itself. INEZ. Ah, mother, I perceive that you also love him. THE DUCHESS. Is he not the man of your choice?
INEZ. Of Mexico! He doubtless brings news of my father! THE DUCHESS. (to the footman) Let him come in. (VAUTRIN. enters dressed like a Mexican general, his height increased four inches. His hat has white plumes; his coat blue, with the rich lace of a Mexican general officer; his trousers white, his scarf crimson, his hair long and frizzed like that of Murat; he wears a long sabre, and his complexion is copper-hued. He stutters like the Spaniards of Mexico, and his accent resembles Provencal, plus the guttural intonation of the Moors.) VAUTRIN. Is it indeed her grace, the Duchesse de Christoval that I have the honor to address? THE DUCHESS. Yes, sir. VAUTRIN. And mademoiselle? THE DUCHESS. My daughter, sir. VAUTRIN. Mademoiselle is then the Senorita Inez, in her own right Princesse d'Arjos. When I see you, I understand perfectly Monsieur de Christoval's idolatry of his daughter. But, ladies, before anything further, let me impose upon you the utmost secrecy. My mission is already a difficult one, but, if it is suspected that there is any communication between you and me, we should all be seriously compromised. THE DUCHESS. I promise to keep secret both your name and your visit. INEZ. General, if the matter concerns my father, you will allow me to remain here? VAUTRIN. You are nobles, and Spaniards, and I rely upon your word. THE DUCHESS. I shall instruct my servants to keep silence on the subject. VAUTRIN. Don't say a word to them; to demand silence is often to provoke indiscreet talk. I can answer for my own people. I pledged myself to bring you news of Monsieur de Christoval, as soon as I reached Paris, and this is my first visit. THE DUCHESS. Tell us at once about my husband, general; where is he now? VAUTRIN. Mexico has become what was sooner or later inevitable, a state independent of Spain. At the moment I speak there are no more Spaniards, only Mexicans, in Mexico. THE DUCHESS. At this moment? VAUTRIN. Everything seems to happen in a moment where the causes are not discerned. How could it be otherwise? Mexico felt the need of her independence, she has chosen an emperor! Although nothing could be more natural, it may still surprise us: while principles can wait to be recognized men are always in a hurry. THE DUCHESS. What has happened to Monsieur de Christoval? VAUTRIN. Do not be alarmed, madame; he is not emperor. His grace the duke has been unsuccessful, in spite of a desperate struggle, in keeping the kingdom loyal to Ferdinand VII. THE DUCHESS. But, sir, my husband is not a soldier. VAUTRIN. Of course he is not; but he is a clever loyalist, and he acquitted himself well. If he does eventually succeed, he will be received back again into royal favor. Ferdinand cannot help appointing him viceroy. THE DUCHESS. In what a strange century do we live! VAUTRIN. Revolutions succeed without resembling each other. France sets the example to the world. But let me beg of you not to talk politics; it is dangerous ground. INEZ. Has my father received our letters, general? VAUTRIN. In the confusion of such a conflict letters may go astray, when even crowns are lost. THE DUCHESS. And what has become of Monsieur de Christoval? VAUTRIN. The aged Amoagos, who exercises enormous influence in those regions, saved your husband's life at the moment I was going to have him shot-- THE DUCHESS. and Inez Ah! VAUTRIN. It was thus that he and I became acquainted. THE DUCHESS. You, general? INEZ. And my father? VAUTRIN. Well, ladies, I should have been either hanged by him, as a rebel, or hailed by others as the hero of an emancipated nation, and here I am. The sudden arrival of Amoagos, at the head of his miners, decided the question. The safety of his friend, the Duc de Christoval, was the reward of his interference. Between ourselves, the Emperor Iturbide, my master, is no more than a figurehead; the future of Mexico is entirely in the hands of the aged Amoagos. THE DUCHESS. And who, pray, is this Amoagos, the arbiter, as you say, of Mexico's destiny? VAUTRIN. Is he not known here? Is it possible? I do not know what can possibly be found to weld the old and new worlds together. I suppose it will be steam. What is the use of exploiting gold mines, of being such a man as Don Inigo Juan Varago Cardaval de los Amoagos, las Frescas y Peral --and not be heard over here? But of course he uses only one of his names, as we all do; thus, I call myself simply Crustamente. Although you may be the future president of the Mexican republic, France will ignore you. The aged Amoagos, ladies, received Monsieur de Christoval just as the ancient gentleman of Aragon that he was would receive a Spanish grandee who had been banished for yielding to the spell of Napoleon's name. INEZ. Did you not mention Frescas among other names? VAUTRIN. Yes, Frescas is the name of the second mine worked by Don Cardaval; but you will learn all that monsieur the duke owes to his host from the letters I have brought you. They are in my pocket-book. (Aside) They are much taken by my aged Amoagos. (Aloud) Allow me to send for one of my people. (He signs Inez to ring. To the duchess) Permit me to say a few words to him. (To the footman) Tell my negro--but no, you won't understand his frightful patois. Make signs to him to come here. THE DUCHESS. My child, leave the room for a moment. (Enter Lafouraille, made up as a negro, and carrying a large portmanteau.) VAUTRIN. (to Lafouraille) Jigi roro flouri. LAFOURAILLE Joro. INEZ. (to Vautrin) The confidence my father has reposed in you ensures you a warm welcome; but, general, you have won my gratitude by your promptness in allaying our anxieties. VAUTRIN. Your gratitude! Ah, senorita, if we are to reckon accounts I should consider myself in debt to your illustrious father, after having the happiness to see you. LAFOURAILLE Jo. VAUTRIN. Caracas, y mouli joro, fistas, ip souri. LAFOURAILLE Souri, joro. VAUTRIN. (to the ladies) Ladies, here are your letters. (Aside to Lafouraille) Go round from the antechamber to the court, close your lips, open your ears; hands off, eye on the watch. LAFOURAILLE Ja, mein herr. VAUTRIN. (angrily) Souri joro, fistas. LAFOURAILLE Joro. (whispering) There are the de Langeac papers. VAUTRIN. I am not for the emancipation of the negroes! When there are no more of them, we shall have to do with whites. INEZ. (to her mother) Mother, allow me to go and read my father's letter. (To Vautrin) General-- (She bows.) VAUTRIN. She is charming, may she be happy! (Exit Inez, accompanied to the door by her mother.)
THE DUCHESS. If absent-mindedness may be excused in any one, it is in a diplomat. VAUTRIN. Yes, to civil diplomats, but I mean to remain a frank soldier. The success which I derive must be the result of candor. But now that we are alone, let us talk, for I have more than one delicate mission to discharge. THE DUCHESS. Have you any news which my daughter should not hear? VAUTRIN. It may be so. Let me come to the point; the senorita is young and beautiful, she is rich and noble born; she probably has four times as many suitors as any other lady. Her hand is the object of rivalry. Well, her father has charged me to find whether she has singled out any one in particular. THE DUCHESS. With a frank man, general, I will be frank. Your question is so strange that I cannot answer it. VAUTRIN. Take care, for we diplomats, in our fear of being deceived, always put the worst interpretation on silence. THE DUCHESS. Sir, you forget that we are talking of Inez de Christoval! VAUTRIN. She is in love with no one. That is good; she will be able then to carry out the wishes of her father. THE DUCHESS. How has Monsieur de Christoval disposed of his daughter's hand? VAUTRIN. You see my meaning, and your anxiety tells me that she has made her choice. I tremble to ask further, as much as you do to answer. Ah! if only the young man whom your daughter loves were a foreigner, rich, apparently without family, and bent on concealing the name of his native land! THE DUCHESS. The name, Frescas, which you lately uttered, is that of a young man who seeks the hand of Inez. VAUTRIN. Does he call himself also Raoul? THE DUCHESS. Yes, Raoul de Frescas. VAUTRIN. A young man of refinement, elegance and wit, and twenty-three years of age? THE DUCHESS. Gifted with manners which are never acquired, but innate. VAUTRIN. Romantic to the point of desiring to be loved for his own sake, in spite of his immense fortune; he wishes that passion should prevail in marriage--an absurdity! The young Amoagos, for it is he, madame. THE DUCHESS. But the name of Raoul is not-- VAUTRIN. Mexican--you are right. It was given to him by his mother, a Frenchwoman, an _emigree_, a De Granville, who came from St. Domingo. Is the reckless fellow favored by her? THE DUCHESS. Preferred to all the rest. VAUTRIN. Well, open this letter, and read it, madame; and you will see that I have received full authority from Amoagos and Christoval to conclude this marriage. THE DUCHESS. Oh, let me call in Inez, sir. (Exit.)
SCENE FOURTH. VAUTRIN. (alone) The major-domo is on my side, the genuine deeds, if he comes upon them, will be handed to me. Raoul is too proud to return to this house; besides that, he has promised me to wait. I am thus master of the situation; Raoul, when once he is a prince, will not lack ancestors; Mexico and I will see to that.
SCENE FIFTH.
INEZ. To thank you, sir? My father tells me, that among other missions you have received is that of marrying me to a certain Signor Amoagos, without any regard to my inclinations. VAUTRIN. You need not be alarmed, for his name here is Raoul de Frescas. INEZ. What! He, Raoul de Frescas!--why then his persistent silence? VAUTRIN. Does it need an old soldier to interpret the heart of a young man? He wished for love, not obedience; he wished-- INEZ. Ah, general, I will punish him well for his modesty and distrust. Yesterday, he showed himself readier to swallow an affront than to reveal the name of his father. VAUTRIN. But, mademoiselle, I am still uncertain as to whether the name of his father is that of a man convicted of high treason, or of a liberator of America. INEZ. Ah! mother, do you hear that? VAUTRIN. (aside) How she loves him! Poor girl, she does not deserve to be imposed upon. THE DUCHESS. My husband's letter does in truth give you the full authority, general. VAUTRIN. I have the authentic documents, and family deeds. A footman (as he enters) Will her grace the duchess see Monsieur de Frescas? VAUTRIN. (aside) What! Raoul here? THE DUCHESS. (to the footman) Let him come in. VAUTRIN. (aside) What a mess! The patient is liable to dose his doctor. THE DUCHESS. Inez, you can see Monsieur de Frescas alone hereafter, since he has been acknowledged by your father. (Inez kisses her mother's hand formally.)
RAOUL. Vautrin! VAUTRIN. No! General Crustamente. RAOUL. Crustamente! VAUTRIN. Certainly; Mexican Envoy. Bear well in mind the name of your father, --Amoagos, a gentleman of Aragon, friend of the Duc de Christoval. Your mother is dead; I bring the acknowledged titles, and authentic family papers. Inez is yours. RAOUL. And do you think that I will consent to such villainies? Never! VAUTRIN. (to the two ladies) He is overcome by what I have told him, not anticipating so prompt an explanation. RAOUL. If the truth should kill, your falsehoods would dishonor me, and I prefer to die. VAUTRIN. You wished to obtain Inez by any means possible, yet you shrink from practicing a harmless stratagem. RAOUL. (in exasperation) Ladies! VAUTRIN. He is beside himself with joy. (To Raoul) To speak out would be to lose Inez and deliver me to justice: do as you choose, I am at your disposal. RAOUL. O Vautrin! In what an abyss you have plunged me! VAUTRIN. I have made you a prince; and don't forget that you are at the summit of happiness. (Aside) He will give in. (Exit.)
INEZ. (approaching, after gazing at him) My father and yours are friends; they consent to our marriage; we make love to each other as if they were opposed to it, and you seem lost in thought, and almost sad! RAOUL. You are right, and I have lost my reason. At the very moment you see no obstacle in our way, it is possible that insurmountable difficulties may arise. INEZ. Raoul, what a damper you are throwing on our happiness! RAOUL. Our happiness! (Aside) It is impossible to dissemble. (Aloud) In the name of our common love I implore you to believe in my loyalty. INEZ. Has not my confidence in you been boundless? And the general has quite justified it, even during your silence before the Montsorels. I forgive you all the little annoyances you were forced to cause me. RAOUL. (aside) Ah! Vautrin! I trust myself to you! (Aloud) Inez, you do not know how great is the impression your words make upon me; they give me power to bear the overwhelming rapture your presence causes--Come then, let us be happy!
SCENE EIGHTH
RAOUL. (aside) Ah! That name recalls me to myself. (To Inez) Whatever happens, Inez, do not judge my conduct until I have myself given an account of it, and believe at the present moment that I am carried along by an invincible fatality. INEZ. Raoul, I cannot understand you; but I shall trust you always. THE MARQUIS. (aside) Again this little gentleman here! (He salutes Inez.) I thought you were with your mother, mademoiselle, and I never dreamed my visit would be so inopportune. Be good enough to excuse me-- INEZ. I beg that you will not go; there is no one but ourselves here, for Monsieur Raoul has been accepted by my family. THE MARQUIS. Will Monsieur Raoul de Frescas, then, accept my congratulations? RAOUL. Your congratulations? I accept them (they shake hands) in the same spirit as that in which they are offered. INEZ. (to Raoul) Manage that he go away, and do you remain. (To The Marquis) My mother requires me for a few moments, and I will return with her.
RAOUL. Without seconds? THE MARQUIS. Do you realize that both of us cannot exist in the same world? RAOUL. Your family is a powerful one; your proposition exposes me, in case I am victorious, to their vengeance. Allow me to say that I do not want to exchange this house for a prison. (Vautrin appears.) I will fight to the death--but not without seconds. THE MARQUIS. Will those on your side stop the duel? RAOUL. Our mutual hatred is sufficient guarantee against that. VAUTRIN. (aside) Well, now--we always commit some blunder in the moment of success! To the death! This child would gamble away his life as if it belonged to him. THE MARQUIS. Very well, monsieur; to-morrow at eight o'clock, we meet at the terrace of Saint-Germain, and drive from there to the forest. VAUTRIN. (coming forward) You will not go. (To Raoul) A duel? Are the principals of equal rank? Is this gentleman, like you, the only son of a noble house? Would your father Don Inigo Juan Varago de los Amoagos de Cardaval las Frescas y Peral, allow you to do it, Raoul? THE MARQUIS. I have consented to fight with an unknown man, but the greatness of the house to which the gentleman belongs cannot nullify the agreement. RAOUL. (to The Marquis) Nevertheless, it seems to me, monsieur, that we can treat each other with courtesy, and act like people who esteem each other too much to take the trouble to hate and to kill. THE MARQUIS. (looking at Vautrin) May I know the name of your friend? VAUTRIN. By whom have I to honor to be referred to? THE MARQUIS. By The Marquis De Montsorel, sir. VAUTRIN. (eyeing him from head to foot) I have the right to refuse you, but I will tell you my name, once for all, in a very short time, and you won't repeat it. I am to be one of the seconds of Monsieur de Frescas. (Aside) And Buteux shall be the other.
VAUTRIN. (to Raoul) Let me have no nonsense; be calm and firm! I stand face to face with the enemy. THE MARQUIS. Ah, mother dear, and are you come to witness my defeat? All is ended. The De Christoval family has trifled with us. This gentleman (he points to Vautrin) represents both families. THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. Then Raoul has a family? (The Duchess E De Christoval and her daughter enter and salute the speaker. To the Duchesse de Christoval) Madame, my son has told me what has occurred to frustrate all our hopes. THE DUCHESS E DE CHRISTOVAL. The interest which yesterday you manifested in Monsieur de Frescas has, I see, changed to indifference? THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. (scrutinizing Vautrin) Is it through this gentleman that all your doubts have been satisfied? Who is he? THE DUCHESS E DE CHRISTOVAL. He represents the father of Monsieur de Frescas, don Amoagos, and the father of Inez, Monsieur de Christoval. He has brought us the news we expected, and brought letters from my husband. VAUTRIN. (aside) Am I to act this part long? THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. (to Vautrin) Doubtless you have known the family of Monsieur de Frescas for some time? VAUTRIN. My acquaintance is limited to a father and an uncle--(to Raoul) You have not even the mournful satisfaction of remembering your mother. (To the Duchess) She died in Mexico, shortly after her marriage. THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. Monsieur de Frescas, then, was born in Mexico? VAUTRIN. Of course he was. THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. (to the Duchesse de Christoval) My dear, we are being imposed upon. (To Raoul) Sir, you did not come from Mexico. Your mother is not dead, is she? And have you not been abandoned since your childhood? RAOUL. Would that my mother were alive! VAUTRIN. Pardon me, madame, but I am here to satisfy your curiosity, if you wish to learn the secret history which it is not necessary you should seek from this gentleman. (To Raoul) Not a word! THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. It is he! And this man is making him the tool in some sinister undertaking. (She approaches The Marquis) My son-- THE MARQUIS. You have put them out, mother, and I share your impression of this man (he indicated Vautrin); but only a woman has the right to express her thoughts in a way to expose this frightful imposture. THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. Frightful indeed! But pray leave us. THE MARQUIS. Ladies, in spite of my ill-fortune, do not blame me if I still have hopes. (To Vautrin) Often between the cup and the lip there is-- VAUTRIN. Death! (Exit The Marquis, after exchanging bows with Raoul.) THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. (to the Duchesse de Christoval) My dear duchess, I implore you to excuse Inez. We cannot make our explanations before her. THE DUCHESS E DE CHRISTOVAL. (to her daughter, making signs to her to leave the room) I will rejoin you in a moment. RAOUL. (kissing his hand to Inez) This is perhaps good-bye forever! (Exit Inez.)
THE DUCHESS E DE CHRISTOVAL. After what happened yesterday I prefer not to say. VAUTRIN. I guessed her love for him immediately. RAOUL. (to Vautrin.) This atmosphere of falsehood stifles me. VAUTRIN. (to Raoul) One word more, and the affair will be ended. THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. Madame, I know well how strange my present conduct must appear to you, and I won't attempt to justify it. There are solemn duties before which the conventions and even the laws of society must give way. What is the character and what the powers of this man? THE DUCHESS E DE CHRISTOVAL. (to whom Vautrin makes a signal) I am forbidden to answer this question. THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. Well, I will tell you; this man is either the accomplice or the dupe in an imposture of which we are the victims. In spite of the letters and documents which he brings to you, I am convinced that all evidence which gives name and family to Raoul is false. RAOUL. To tell the truth, madame, I do not know what right you have to interfere in personal matters of mine. THE DUCHESS E DE CHRISTOVAL. Madame, you were wise to send out of the room my daughter and the marquis. VAUTRIN. (to Raoul) What right? (To the Duchesse de Montsorel) You need not avow it, for we divine it. I can well understand, madame, the pain you feel at the prospect of this marriage, and am not therefore offended at your suspicions with regard to me, and the authentic documents which I have brought to the Duchesse de Christoval. (Aside) Now for the final stroke. (He takes her aside) Before becoming a Mexican I was a Spaniard, and I know the cause of your hatred for Albert. And as to the motive which brings you here, we will talk about that very soon at the house of your confessor. THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. You know? VAUTRIN. All. (Aside) She has some motive. (Aloud) Will you examine the documents? THE DUCHESS E DE CHRISTOVAL. Well, my dear? THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. Be quick, and send for Inez. Examine the deeds carefully, I implore you. This is the request of a despairing mother. THE DUCHESS E DE CHRISTOVAL. A despairing mother! THE DUCHESS E DE MONTSOREL. (to herself, looking at Raoul and Vautrin) How is it possible that this man should know my secret and have this hold upon my son? THE DUCHESS E DE CHRISTOVAL. Will you come, madame? (Exeunt the two duchesses.)
RAOUL. Have I not been humbled sufficiently? I had nothing in the world but my honor, and that I gave into your keeping. Your power is infernal, I see that plainly. But from this very moment I withdraw from its influence. You are no longer in danger. Farewell. LAFOURAILLE (coming in while Raoul speaks) No one caught,--'twas lucky,--we had time! Ah, sir, Philosopher is below, all is lost! The house has been entered by the police. VAUTRIN. Disgusting! And no one has been taken? LAFOURAILLE We were too cute for that. VAUTRIN. Philosopher is below, as what? LAFOURAILLE As a footman. VAUTRIN. Good; let him get up behind my carriage. I want to give you my orders about locking up the Prince d'Arjos, who thinks he is going to fight a duel to-morrow. RAOUL. I see that you are in danger. I will not leave you, and I desire to know-- VAUTRIN. Nothing. Do not worry about your own security. I will look out for you, in spite of you. RAOUL. Oh! I know what my future will be. VAUTRIN. I too know. LAFOURAILLE Come, things are getting hot. VAUTRIN. Nay, the fat is in the fire. LAFOURAILLE No time for sentiment, or dilly-dallying, they are on our track and are mounted. VAUTRIN. Let us be off then. (He takes Lafouraille aside) If the government should do us the honor to billet its gendarmes on us, our duty is to let them alone. All are at liberty to scatter; but let all be at Mother Giroflee's at midnight. Get off post haste, for I do not wish us to meet our Waterloo, and the Prussians are upon us. We must run for it.
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