The d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval I come in this way that there may be no formality between us.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel (to Inez) Have you read my letter?

Inez One of your maids has just handed it to me.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel (aside) It is evident that Raoul is also coming.

The Duke (to the d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval, whom he leads to a seat) I hope we see in this informal visit the beginning of a family intimacy?

The d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval Pray do not exaggerate the importance of a civility, which I look upon as a pleasure.

The Marquis You are seriously afraid, madame, I perceive, of encouraging my hopes?

Did I not suffer sufficiently yesterday? The princess did not notice me, even by a look.

Inez I didn't expect the pleasure of meeting you again so soon, sir. I thought you were on duty; I am glad to have an opportunity of explaining that I never saw you till the moment I left the ball-room, and this lady (pointing to the d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel) must be the excuse of my inattention.

The Marquis You have two excuses, mademoiselle, and I thank you for mentioning only one--my mother.

The Duke His reproaches spring only from his modesty, mademoiselle. Albert is under the impression that Monsieur de Frescas can give him ground for anxiety! At his age pa.s.sion is a fairy that makes trifles appear vast.

But neither yourself nor your mother, mademoiselle, can attach any serious importance to the claims of a young man, whose t.i.tle is problematical and who is so studiously silent about his family.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel (to the d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval) And are you also ignorant of the place where he was born?

The d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval I am not intimate enough with him to ask for such information.

The Duke There are three of us here who would be well pleased to have it. You alone, ladies, would be discreet, for discretion is a virtue the possession of which profits only those who require it in others.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel As for me, I do not believe that curiosity is always blameless.

The Marquis Is mine then ill-timed? And may I not inquire of madame whether the Frescas of Aragon are extinct or not?

The d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval (to the duke) Both of us have known at Madrid the old commander, who was last of his line.

The Duke He died, of course, without issue.

Inez But there exists a branch of the family at Naples.

The Marquis Surely you are aware, mademoiselle, that your cousins, the house of Medina-Coeli, have succeeded to it?

The d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval You are right; there are no De Frescas in existence.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel Well! Well! If this young man has neither t.i.tle nor family, he can be no dangerous rival to Albert. I do not know why you should be interested in him.

The Duke But there are a great many ladies interested in him.

Inez I begin to see your meaning--

The Marquis Indeed!

Inez Yes, this young man is not, perhaps, all he wishes to appear; but he is intelligent, well educated, his sentiments are n.o.ble, he shows us the most chivalric respect, he speaks ill of no one; evidently, he is acting the gentleman, and exaggerates his role.

The Duke I believe he also exaggerates the amount of his fortune; but it is difficult at Paris to maintain that pretension for any length of time.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel (to the d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval) I am told that you mean to give a series of brilliant entertainments?

The Marquis Does Monsieur de Frescas speak Spanish?

Inez Just as well as we do.

The Duke Say no more, Albert; did you not hear that Monsieur de Frescas is a highly accomplished young man?

The d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval He is really a very agreeable man, but if your doubts were well founded, I confess, my dear duke, I should be very sorry to receive any further visits from him.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel (to the d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval) You look as fresh to-day as you did yesterday; I really admire the way you stand the dissipations of society.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval (aside to Inez) My child, do not mention Monsieur de Frescas again. The subject annoys Madame de Montsorel.

Inez (also aside) It did not annoy her yesterday.

SCENE TENTH.

The same persons, Joseph and Raoul de Frescas.

Joseph (to the d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel) As Mademoiselle de Vaudrey is not in, and Monsieur de Frescas is here, will your grace see him?

The d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval Is Raoul here?

The Duke So he has already found her out!

The Marquis (to his father) My mother is deceiving us.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel (to Joseph) I am not at home.

The Duke If you have asked Monsieur de Frescas to come why do you begin by treating so great a personage with discourtesy? (To Joseph, despite a gesture of protest from the d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel) Show him in! (To the marquis) Try to be calm and sensible.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel (aside) In trying to help, I have hurt him, I fear.

Joseph M. Raoul de Frescas.

Raoul (entering) My eagerness to obey your commands will prove to you, Madame la d.u.c.h.esse, how proud I am of your notice, and how anxious to deserve it.

The d.u.c.h.esse de Montsorel I thank you, sir, for your prompt.i.tude. (Aside) But it may prove fatal to you.

Raoul (bowing to the d.u.c.h.esse de Christoval and her daughter, aside) How is this? Inez here?

(Raoul exchanges bows with the duke; but the marquis takes up a newspaper from the table, and pretends not to see Raoul.)

The Duke I must confess, Monsieur de Frescas, I did not expect to meet you in the apartment of Madame de Montsorel; but I am pleased at the interest she takes in you, for it has procured me the pleasure of meeting a young man whose entrance into Parisian society has been attended with such success and brilliancy. You are one of the rivals whom one is proud to conquer, but to whom one submits without displeasure.