Mademoiselle de Vaudrey (to the duchess) O Louise! The Duchess (fixing her eyes on Saint-Charles) And who has had the impertinence to send you to address me? Saint-Charles A sense of your danger brings me here. I am paid to be your enemy. You can keep silence as well as I; prove that your protection is more advantageous to me than the hollow promises of the duke, and I can assure you the victory. But time presses, the duke will soon be here, and if he finds us together, the success of our undertaking would be endangered. The Duchess (to Mademoiselle de Vaudrey) Ah! we may still hope! (To Saint-Charles) And what were you going to do at the house of Monsieur de Frescas? Saint-Charles That which, at present, I am doing at yours. The Duchess Silence, sir. Saint-Charles Your grace has given me no answer; the duke has my word, and he is very powerful. The Duchess And I, sir, am immensely rich; but do not expect to take advantage of me. (She rises) I will never be the dupe of Monsieur de Montsorel, I recognize his trickery in this secret interview, which you had asked for. (With emphasis) Let me complete your information. Monsieur de Frescas is not a wretch; his servants are not assassins; he belongs to a family as rich as it is noble, and he is about to marry the Princesse d'Arjos. Saint-Charles Yes, madame, a Mexican envoy has produced letters from Monsieur de Christoval, and documents remarkably authentic. You have sent for a secretary of the Spanish legation, who has endorsed them: seals, stamps, authentications--ah! all are flawless. The Duchess Yes, sir, the documents are unassailable. Saint-Charles You are very much interested, madame, in their being proved forgeries, I presume? The Duchess (to Mademoiselle de Vaudrey) Never has such torture as this wrung the heart of a mother! Saint-Charles (aside) Whose side shall I take, husband's or wife's? The Duchess Sir, any sum you may ask shall be yours, if you can prove to me that Monsieur Raoul de Frescas-- Saint-Charles Is a criminal? The Duchess No, but a child-- Saint-Charles You mean your child, don't you? The Duchess (forgetting herself) Yes, yes! Be my deliverer, and I will be your eternal protector. (To Mademoiselle de Vaudrey) Ah me! What have I said? (To Saint-Charles) Where is Raoul? Saint-Charles He has disappeared, and this steward of his, who procured the forged deeds in Rue Oblin, and doubtless played the part of the Mexican envoy, is one of the most astute of criminals. (The duchess starts.) Oh, you need not be alarmed; he is too clever to shed blood; but he is more formidable than those who shed it recklessly; and such a man is the guardian of Raoul. The Duchess My whole fortune for his life! Saint-Charles I am for you, madame. (Aside) I know all, and can choose which side I like. SCENE NINTH. The same persons, the Duc de Montsorel and a footman.