Saint-Charles If his grace the duke will give me an opportunity, I will prove myself worthy of that flattering opinion. The Duke You shall have one at once. Saint-Charles What are your commands? The Duke You see that maid. She is going to leave the house. I do not wish to hinder her doing so; yet she must not cross the threshold, until she receives a fresh order. (Calls her) Felicite! Felicite What is it, your grace? (The Duke gives her the letter. Exit Felicite.) Saint-Charles (to Joseph) I recognize you, I know all about you: See that this maid remains in the house with the letter, and I will not recognize you, and will know nothing of you, and will let you stay here so long as you behave yourself. Joseph (aside) This fellow on one side, and Jacques Collin on the other! Well; I must try to serve them both honestly. (Exit Joseph in pursuit of Felicite.) SCENE FOURTH. The Duke and Saint-Charles. Saint-Charles Your grace's commands are obeyed. Do you wish to know the contents of the letter? The Duke Why, my dear sir, the power you seem to exercise is something terrible and wonderful. Saint-Charles You gave me absolute authority in the matter, and I used it well. The Duke And what if you had abused it? Saint-Charles That would have been impossible, for such a course would ruin me. The Duke How is it that men endowed with such faculties are found employing them in so lowly a sphere? Saint-Charles Everything is against our rising above it; we protect our protectors, we learn too many honorable secrets, and are kept in ignorance of too many shameful ones to be liked by people, and render such important services to others that they can only shake off the obligation by speaking ill of us. People think that things are only words with us; refinement is thus mere silliness, honor a sham, and acts of treachery mere diplomacy. We are the confidants of many who yet leave us much to guess at. Our programme consists in thinking and acting, finding out the past from the present, ordering and arranging the future in the pettiest details, as I am about to--and, in short, in doing a hundred things that might strike dismay to a man of no mean ability. When once our end is gained, words become things once more, and people begin to suspect that possibly we are infamous scoundrels. The Duke There may be some justice in all this, but I do not suppose you expect to change the opinion of the world, or even mine? Saint-Charles I should be a great fool if I did. I don't care about changing another man's opinion; what I do want to change is my own position. The Duke According to you that would be very easy, wouldn't it?