told you, Felicite, never to inform me of his grace's
movements. (Exit Felicite.)

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey
I should hate to rob you of an illusion which causes you such
happiness; but when I see the height of expectation to which you have
soared, I fear a terrible fall for you. The soul, like the body, is
bruised by a fall from an excessive height, and you must excuse my
saying that I tremble for you.

The Duchess
While you fear the effect of despair for me, I fear that of
overwhelming joy.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey (watching the duchess go out)
If she should be deceived, she might lose her senses.

The Duchess (re-entering the room)
Fernand, dear aunt, calls himself Raoul de Frescas. (Exit.)

SCENE SECOND.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey (alone)
She does not see that the recovery of her son would be a miracle. All
mothers believe in miracles. We must keep watch over her. A look, a
word might ruin her, for if she is right, if God restores her son to
her, she is on the brink of a catastrophe more frightful even than the
deception she had been practicing. Does she think she can dissemble
under the eyes of women?

SCENE THIRD.
Mademoiselle de Vaudrey and Felicite.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey
Already here?

Felicite
Her grace the duchess dismissed me early.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey
Has my niece given you no orders for the morning?

Felicite
None, madame.

Mademoiselle de Vaudrey
A young man, named Monsieur Raoul de Frescas, is coming to call upon
me towards noon; he may possibly ask for the duchess, but you must
instruct Joseph to bring him to my apartment. (Exit.)

SCENE FOURTH.

Felicite (alone)
A young man for her? Not a bit of it. I always said that there was
some motive in my lady's retired way of living; she is rich, she is
handsome, yet the duke does not love her; and now the first time she
goes out, a young man comes next day to see her, and her aunt wishes
to receive him. They keep me in the dark; I am neither trusted nor
tipped. If this is the way chambermaids are to be treated under the
new government, I don't know what will become of us. (A side door
opens, two men are seen, and the door is immediately closed again.) At
any rate we shall have a look at the young man. (Exit.)

SCENE FIFTH.
Joseph and Vautrin.
(Vautrin wears a tan-colored overcoat, trimmed with fur, over the
black evening dress of a foreign diplomatic minister.)

Joseph
That blasted girl! We would have been down in ou