y sorry to employ such talents as yours in so petty an
affair, my friend, but it will give me an opportunity of testing, and
then we'll see.

Saint-Charles (aside)
Ah--We shall see? That means, all has already been seen.

The Duke
I wish to see my son married--

Saint-Charles
To Mademoiselle Inez de Christoval, Princesse d'Arjos--a good match!
Her father made the mistake of entering Joseph Bonaparte's service,
and was banished by King Ferdinand. He probably took part in the
Mexican revolution.

The Duke
Madame de Christoval and her daughter have made the acquaintance of a
certain adventurer, named--

Saint-Charles
Raoul de Frescas.

The Duke
Is there nothing I can tell you that you do not know?

Saint-Charles
If your grace desires it, I will know nothing.

The Duke
On the contrary, I should like you to 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