Saint-Charles To tell me everything that takes place here. Joseph Well, the latest thing is the duel of the marquis; he fights to-morrow with Monsieur de Frescas. Saint-Charles What next? Joseph I see her grace the duchess has just returned. SCENE SEVENTH. Saint-Charles (alone) What a timid beast he is! This duel is a capital excuse for speaking with the duchess. The duke did not understand me, he saw in me nothing but a tool, to be taken up and dropped at pleasure. Did he not, by imposing silence upon me towards his wife, betray his suspicion that I was dangerous to him? The patrimony of the strong is the faculty of utilizing the faults of a neighbor. I have already devoured several patrimonies, and my appetite is still good. SCENE EIGHTH. Saint-Charles, the Duchesse de Montsorel and Mademoiselle de Vaudrey. (Saint-Charles disappears till the two ladies have passed, and remains at the back, while they come to the front of the stage.) Mademoiselle de Vaudrey You are quite worn out. The Duchesse de Montsorel (sinking into an armchair) Yes; I am dead! In despair-- Saint-Charles (coming forward) Madame the duchess. The Duchess Ah! I had forgotten! Sir, it is impossible at this moment to grant you the interview you ask. To-morrow--or later in the day. Mademoiselle de Vaudrey (to Saint-Charles) My niece, sir, is not in a condition to listen to you. Saint-Charles To-morrow, ladies, it will be too late! The life of your son, the Marquis de Montsorel, who fights a duel to-morrow with Monsieur de Frescas, is threatened. The Duchess The duel is indeed a frightful thing. Mademoiselle de Vaudrey (in a low tone to the duchess) You have already forgotten that Raoul is a stranger to you. The Duchess (to Saint-Charles) Sir, my son will know how to acquit himself. Saint-Charles May I venture to inform you of facts which ordinarily would be kept from a mother? Your son will be killed without any fighting. His adversary's servants are bravoes, wretches of whom he is the ringleader. The Duchess And what proof have you of this? Saint-Charles A former steward of Monsieur de Frescas has offered me a vast sum if I would join in this foul conspiracy against the Christoval family. In order to make time, I pretended to assent; but just as I was on my way to warn the authorities, I was dashed to the ground by two men who came by at full speed, and I lost consciousness; they administered to me in this condition a powerful narcotic, thrust me into a cab, and when I came to myself, I was in a den of criminals. Recovering my self-possession, I escaped from my confinement, and set out to track these dare-devils. Mademoiselle de Vaudrey You sometimes come here to see Monsieur de Montsorel, according to what Joseph tells us? Saint-Charles Yes, madame. The Duchess And who, pray, may you be, sir? Saint-Charles I am a private detective, whom his grace the duke distrusts, and I am hired for clearing up mysterious occurrences.