Vautrin: A Drama in Five Acts Part 15

Raoul You are too old to possess the power of understanding me, and it is no use trying to explain.

Vautrin Well, I will explain to you. You are in love with Inez de Christoval, Princesse d'Arjos in her own right, daughter of a duke banished by King Ferdinand--an Andalusian who loves you and pleases me, not as a woman, but as a ravis.h.i.+ng money-box, whose eyes are the finest in the world, whose dowry is captivating, and who is the most delightful piece of cash, graceful and elegant as some black corvette with white sails which convoys the long-expected galleons of America, and yields all the joys of life, exactly like the Fortune which is painted over the entrance of the lottery agencies. I approve of you here. You did wrong to fall in love, love will involve you in a thousand follies --but I understand.

Raoul Do not score me with such frightful sarcasms.

Vautrin See how quickly he feels his ardor damped, and his hat wreathed in crepe!

Raoul Yes. For it is impossible for the child flung by accident into the bosom of a fisher family at Alghero to become Prince of Arjos, while to lose Inez is for me to die of grief.

Vautrin An income of twelve thousand francs, the t.i.tle of prince, grandeur, and ama.s.sed wealth are not things to be contemplated with melancholy.

Raoul If you love me, why do you mock me thus in the hour of my despair?

Vautrin And what is the cause of your despair?

Raoul The duke and the marquis have insulted me, in their own house, in her presence, and I have seen then all my hopes extinguished. The door of the Christoval mansion is closed upon me. I do not know why the d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel made me come and see her. For the last few days she has manifested an interest in me which I do not understand.

Vautrin And what brought you to the house of your rival?

Raoul It seems you know all about it.

Vautrin Yes, and many other things besides. Is it true you desire Inez de Christoval? Then you can get over this present despondency.

Raoul You are trifling with me.

Vautrin Look here, Raoul! The Christovals have shut their doors upon you.

Well--to-morrow you shall be the accepted lover of the princess, and the Montsorels shall be turned away, Montsorels though they be.

Raoul The sight of my distress has crazed you.

Vautrin What reason have you ever had for doubting my word? Did I not give you an Arabian horse, to drive mad with envy the foreign and native dandies of the Bois de Boulogne? Who paid your gambling debts? Who made provision for your excesses? Who gave you boots, you who once went barefoot?

Raoul You, my friend, my father, my family!

Vautrin Many, many thanks. In those words is a recompense for all my sacrifices. But, alas! when once you become rich, a grandee of Spain, a part of the great world, you will forget me; a change of atmosphere brings a change of ideas; you will despise me, and--you will be right in doing so.

Raoul Do I see before me a genie, a spirit materialized from the Arabian Nights? I question my own existence. But, my friend, my protector, I have no family.

Vautrin Well, we are making up a family for you at this very moment. The Louvre could not contain the portraits of your ancestors, they would overcrowd the quays.

Raoul You rekindle all my hopes.

Vautrin Do you wish to obtain Inez?

Raoul By any means possible.

Vautrin You will shrink from nothing? Magic and h.e.l.l will not intimidate you?

Raoul h.e.l.l is nothing, if it yields me paradise.

Vautrin What is h.e.l.l but the hulks and the convicts decorated by justice and the police with brandings and manacles, and driven on their course by that wretchedness from which they have no escape? Paradise is a fine house, sumptuous carriages, delightful women, and the prestige of rank. In this world there exist two worlds. I put you in the fairest of them, I remain myself in the foulest, and if you remember me, it is all I ask of you.

Raoul While you make me shudder with horror, you fill me with the frenzy of delight.

Vautrin (slapping him on the shoulder) You are a child! (Aside) Have I not said too much to him? (He rings.)

Raoul (aside) There are moments when my inmost nature revolts from the acceptance of his benefits. When he put his hand on my shoulder it was like a red-hot iron; and yet he has never done anything but good to me! He conceals from me the means, but the ends are all for me.

Vautrin What are you saying there?

Raoul I am resolved to accept nothing, unless my honor--

Vautrin We will cake care of your honor! Is it not I who have fostered your sense of honor? Have I ever compromised it?

Raoul You must explain to me--

Vautrin I will explain nothing.

Raoul Nothing?

Vautrin Did you not say, "By any possible means"? When Inez is once yours, does it matter what I have done, or who I am? You will take Inez away; you will travel. The Christoval family will protect the Prince of Arjos. (To Lafouraille) Put some bottles of champagne on ice; your master is to be married, he bids farewell to bachelor life. His friends are invited. Go and seek his mistresses, if there are any left! All shall attend the wedding--a general turn-out in full dress.

Raoul (aside) His confidence terrifies me, but he is always right.

Vautrin Now for the dinner!

All Now for the dinner!

Vautrin Do not take your pleasure gloomily; laugh for the last time, while liberty is still yours; I will order none but Spanish wines, for they are in fas.h.i.+on to-day.

Curtain to the Third Act.

ACT IV.

SCENE FIRST.

(Drawing-room of the d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval.) The d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval and Inez.

Inez If Monsieur de Frescas is of obscure birth, mother, I will at once give him up; but you, on your part, must be good enough not to insist upon my marriage with the Marquis de Montsorel.

The d.u.c.h.ess 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 d.u.c.h.ess We shall not have to wait long for proofs; the Montsorels are too eager to unmask him.