The Grand Breteche by Honoré de Balzac--Delphi Classics (Illustrated) by Honoré de Balzac

Author:Honoré de Balzac [BALZAC, HONORÉ DE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Parts Edition 105 of 116 by Delphi Classics
Publisher: Delphi Classics (Parts Edition)
Published: 2017-08-22T00:00:00+00:00

ACT IV.

SCENE FIRST.

(Drawing-room of the Duchesse de Christoval.) The Duchesse 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 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?

SCENE SECOND.

The same persons, a footman and Vautrin.

(The footman brings the duchess a card, wrapped up and sealed.)

The Duchess (to Inez)

General Crustamente, the secret envoy of his Majesty Don Augustine I,

Emperor of Mexico. What can he have to say to me?

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.

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