This Etext is for private use only. No republication for profit in print or other media may be made without the express consent of the Copyright Holder. The Copyright Holder is especially concerned about performance rights in any media on stage, cinema, or television, or audio or any other media, including readings for which an entrance fee or the like is charge. Permissions should be addressed to: Frank Morlock, 6006 Greenbelt Rd, #312, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA or frankmorlock@msn.com. Other works by this author may be found at http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130
EText by Dagny
Translated and adapted by Frank J. Morlock C 2000
CHARACTERS:
Tortillard
Milkmaid
Rigolette
Fleur de Marie
Rudolph, the Grand Duke of Gerolstein
Sarah MacGregor
Benoit
Francois
Germain
Le Chourineur
Tom Seyton
School Master
La Chouette
Jacques Ferrand
Madame Varner
Madame Anastasia Pipelet
Alfred Pipelet
Postman
Jerome Morel
Madeleine Morel
Morel children
Clermont
Bourdin
Malicorne
Police Superintendant
Madame Clemence D'Harville
Madame Dubreuil
Pierre
Piquevinaigre
Barbillon
Papa Roussel
Man
A street in the Cite facing the audience. A Cabaret in the left corner with a small post. To the right a house under construction. Dark and raining. The street is lit by street lamps.
Tortillard (entering, holding a plank)
Here, Milkmaid. Here it is, The Cabaret of the White Rabbit that
you were looking for.
Milkmaid
Thanks, Tortillard. I really have to find my man's watch there.
Tortillard
Your man! Ah! So, he's still drunk and beat up this morning.
Milkmaid
Yes, but they'll find out who they're talking to—
Tortillard (taking up his plank)
Good luck, Milkmaid. It was worth the trouble to bring this plank
here, and go place it over the stream in the Rue Barillence, and to
choke myself yelling for a whole hour. Pass—pay! Pass—pay. (shaking
his money) A nasty shower! For all that in this Cite they really laugh
at getting dirty, they pass behind my plank and splash me.
(Rigolette enters with an open umbrella, carrying a package.)
Rigolette (stopping at the back)
Go out in weather like this—after putting on white stockings and
pretty lace boots—fortunately I have some good socks.
Tortillard (noticing her)
Heavens! Miss Rigolette, in this part of town.
Rigolette
It's you, Tortillard. You are then to be found everywhere?
Tortillard
Ah. Indeed, I know what brings you. It's because for the last three
days the School Master and La Chouette haven't brought Fleur de Marie
to sing in the court of your house in the Rue du Temple.
Rigolette
Yes, I am uneasy; is she sick?
Tortillard
She? No, it's La Chouette who has a whooping cough to humble the
big bell of Notre Dame. Do you intend to go up to see her?
Rigolette
Amongst those villainous people—never—for goodness sake! Poor
Fleur de Marie, so wise, so honest, so unhappy with them. I reproach
myself if I am some days without seeing her and giving her courage.
Tortillard
Indeed, you'll do just as well not to go up, since she went out.
Rigolette
How do you know that?
Tortillard
She crossed over my plank just now, without paying, of course. She
went to the corner market for flowers for La Chouette and to the
herbalist's for leeches. She brought her little basket with her, the
one you gave her. She takes it with her wherever she goes. Now there's
a funny idea.
Rigolette
That's all she has in the world. It's easy to understand why she
clings to it.
Tortillard (going to the back)
She hasn't wasted any time. There she is. You always gossip
together, so I'll leave you. I'm going to go drink a glass of liquor to
warm up my feet. (enters the Cabaret)
Fleur de Marie (puts her basket on a milestone)
Rigolette, it's you! What luck!
Rigolette
Since you don't come, I have to come. I am bringing you the dress I
fixed for you.
Fleur de Marie
Good Rigolette—after your day job and although I cannot pay
you—you still worked—
Rigolette
Can't I enjoy myself? (Fleur de Marie starts) Well! What's the
matter with you?
Fleur de Marie
My God! It's that I hardly dare to stop. La Chouette is waiting for
me. If I don't return right away, perhaps they are going to beat me.
Rigolette
What! The School Master is still so brutal and this nasty La
Chouette continues to mistreat you?
Fleur de Marie
Since she's been ill, she seems even nastier.
Rigolette
As for me, in your place, I wouldn't put up with that.
Fleur de Marie
What would you do?
Rigolette
I'd go away from there. Just because they found you in the street—
whatever they say—and took you with them, doesn't mean they have the
right to make your life so harsh. Again, as for me, I'd go away from
there.
Fleur de Marie
Often, I've thought of that, but what would happen? I don't know
how to work.
Rigolette
Come with me, I will teach you. It's tough, but in the evening when
one has bravely earned one's pay, one is happy, a little proud, and
sleeps contentedly. Is it agreed? Will you come stay with me?
Fleur de Marie
Stay with you! Oh, never, never, that would expose you to the rage
of the School Master and La Chouette. (she shudders)
Rigolette
What's frightening you?
Fleur de Marie
I thought that La Chouette was calling me.
Rigolette
One more minute.
Fleur de Marie
No, no, I don't want to give them any pretext for their rage. Bye,
bye.
Rigolette (escorting her)
Goodbye. Until tomorrow, right?
(Fleur de Marie enters the house. Rigolette leaves.)
Rudolph (entering)
I've been coming here to no purpose for the last three days, in the
evenings, in the hopes of meeting that man who so boldly helped me.
(Sarah, dressed as a man, follows Rudolph and examines him.)
Rudolph
Here's the Cabaret that he pointed out to me. Come on, go on
in—and if I don't meet him, at least we'll continue the bizarre
observations which this strange part of town has already furnished me.
Sarah (at the moment he enters the Cabaret)
It's really him. I was not mistaken.
(Shouts are heard from inside the Cabaret. Sarah moves out of the
way. Tortillard comes out of the Cabaret. Passers-by are attracted by
the uproar.)
Tortillard
It's getting hot, getting hot in The Cabaret of the White Rabbit.
First passer-by What's going on in there?
Second passer-by Some fight, as usual.
Tortillard (rapping on the flagstones)
Hey, hey, hey! Bite them, old woman, bite them.
Third passer-by Is he naughty, this kid, Tortillard?
Tortillard
For what? For what? I'm encouraging the Milkmaid so she can hold
her own.
First passer-by There's a Milkmaid in there?
(Noise of glass breaking inside.)
Tortillard
Score one for the glass maker. (imitating a glass maker) Hey, glass
maker, are they a bad lot?
Sarah (withdrawing behind the planks)
This uproar, these people. Let's shun their gaze for a moment.
(Le Chourineur, the Milkmaid, Benoit, Francois and others come out
of the Cabaret. Lots of shouting. The Milkmaid recoils before their
shouts, but remains on the offensive.)
Milkmaid
Yes, you are a bunch of ragamuffins, and you don't frighten me.
Benoit
Will you shut up, merchant of diluted wheat?
Milkmaid
Ah, I recognize you. You're the one who picked a fight with my
husband in the past.
Benoit
She's losing her head.
Milkmaid
And it's either you or him, (pointing to Francois) who took the
watch.
Benoit (threateningly)
Say that a little louder, if you dare!
Le Chourineur (interposing)
As for me, I forbid you to touch her. She's a woman. When you want
to give a blow to someone, you have to address yourself to one who can
give one back. Here I am.
Francois
What's this to you, Chourineur?
Le Chourineur
It's to me, what it is to me. That's what it is to me.
(Murmurs in the crowd. Rudolph approaches.)
Milkmaid
Now, there's one who's not a good-for-nothing like you.
Tortillard
Hey, hey, Milkmaid, you'll get some help.
Milkmaid
Do you think, that because I try to prevent my husband from coming
around here, I don't know you? And the School Master, with his organ
and his nasty Chouette, the Screech Owl, and this little Fleur de Marie
who will become like them?
Le Chourineur
Stop there! On the School Master, with whom I have a score to
settle. But not a word about Fleur de Marie. Do you hear? Or I leave
you here, woman.
Benoit
Hey! Make her shut up.
Le Chourineur
Why should she shut up if they stole from her, man?
Benoit
Control yourself, Chourineur, don't be a wise guy, or if not—
Le Chourineur
If not, what?
Milkmaid (to Francois, who is looking to escape)
You want to escape, but it won't happen like that. I'll hang on to
you, and I won't leave you until we're at the police station. (she puts
her hand on his collar)
Francois (pushing her away brutally)
I'm leaving, for all that.
Le Chourineur (grabbing him)
Ah, you would?
Benoit (wanting to hit him)
It's you who would—take that!
Rudolph (grabbing his arm Three against one!
Le Chourineur (recognizing him)
My gentleman from the seashore!
Benoit
And you are going to see—
Rudolph (pressing him to the milestone)
I told you to calm down.
Benoit
What an iron hand for such a small arm.
Le Chourineur (to Rudolph)
You said we'd meet again.
Francois
There's only two of them and a woman. Let's fall on them.
Tortillard (aside)
The bath's warming up for Le Chourineur.
Benoit and Francois Yes! Yes! Let's fall on them!
Le Chourineur (placing himself beside Rudolph)
Watch your heads!
Tortillard (shouting)
The cops. Watch yourselves! Watch yourselves.
Benoit
Beat it!
(Benoit and Francois disappear, along with all the other inhabitants
of the White Rabbit.)
Rudolph (to Le Chourineur)
Get this woman out of here, before they return.
Le Chourineur
That's what I intend. But, your name?
Rudolph
Rudolph.
Le Chourineur
When will I see you again?
Rudolph
Here—soon.
Tortillard
Don't be afraid, Chourineur. The cops—it was me.
Le Chourineur
What do you mean?
Tortillard
It was going bad, so I shouted: “Here come the cops.” They took to
their heels.
Le Chourineur
Bravo, urchin, go. (kicks him in a friendly way)
Milkmaid
And to think, that without this kid—I will never forget it.
Tortillard
Well then, Milkmaid, since you baptize your milk, give it my name,
that will help you to remember me.
Le Chourineur
Hold on, brat. (Tortillard escapes) Come on, Milkmaid, you are like
a good war horse. (to Rudolph) And you, if you have a friend, he can
say to himself, when speaking of you, I have a friend who boldly rains
blows, especially those at the place where we began our acquaintance.
Thunder! What hail!
Milkmaid
Let's go! Let's go. I'm afraid they'll come back.
Le Chourineur
Later, sir.
Rudolph
Later.
(The Milkmaid and Le Chourineur leave. Rudolph, in turn, starts to
leave, but is blocked by Sarah.)
Sarah
Milord!
Rudolph
What do I see? The Countess MacGregor, in these clothes?
Sarah
I had to wear them, in the hope of meeting you here.
Rudolph
Madame.
Sarah
I didn't hesitate at anything to try to obtain an interview with
you. You've refused me until now, despite the law.
Rudolph
The law! Well, Madame, since fate wants it to be here—in this
sinister place—that I see you again, after long years of a separation
that I thought to be eternal, know that the cause of the aversion you
inspire in me—
Sarah
Ah, you are pitiless.
Rudolph
And I ought to be. Seventeen years ago, deluded by ambition,
blinded by the predictions of a Scots fortune teller who promised you a
crown, you came to my father's court with your brother. Deceived by
your selfish seductions, I soon loved you with fidelity, with the noble
devotion of my sixteen years. You wanted a secret marriage. The results
of this mysterious union are going to accuse you in the eyes of the
world. You wanted everything to be revealed to my father. Braving his
wrath, his inflexible pride, his plans for a royal alliance, I informed
him of our marriage. His anger was terrible. He wanted to force me to
break this illegal union. I resisted. Put in prison, I persisted in my
refusal. He wouldn't consent to set me free until I renounced my rights
to the throne in favor of my brother. I renounced my rights. Was that
enough love for you?
Sarah
Yes, yes! But as for me, didn't I suffer, too? And my love—
Rudolph
Your love? Do you dare even speak of it? After the letters you
wrote to your brother, letters that I learned of much too late.
Sarah
What are you saying? Those letters—
Rudolph
Those letters were intercepted. In them, you treated me with a
glacial disdain. I had been the plaything of your execrable ambition.
It wasn't me you loved, but the Prince. So, when a year later I was
disinherited, you accepted the breaking of our union, against which I
protested from the depths of my prison, and you separated from our
daughter, who had become an obstacle to your marriage with Count
MacGregor. You abandoned our unfortunate child to the hands of
mercenaries, and you left her to die far from you. Such was your
conduct. But today, you are a widow, and today my brother's death
restores the crown to me. That is the secret of your pursuits, madame!
Sarah
And the secret of your hate for me? I could find that in your love
for the Marquise D'Harville.
Rudolph
Did you think that I would deny it? Clemence D'Harville, when I was
an exile without a future, gave me the tender pity of a friend, the
noble devotion of a sister. To offer her my hand, I left Germany and I
will soon triumph over her scruples which still hold her back.
Therefore, renounce all hope, Madame. In you I will always see the
cause of the sin I committed. And I try to expiate that sin each day by
rewarding the good, punishing evil, aiding noble unfortunates,
snatching souls from perdition. Such is the task that I impose on
myself—so as to deserve pardon for a fatal moment of distraction, the
fruit of your implacable ambition and cruel egoism.
Sarah
Mercy, Rudolph.
Rudolph
No mercy for you. You armed a son against his father. No mercy for
you, who instead of piously watching over our child—that I still weep
for every day—abandoned her. No mercy for you, for the death of our
daughter broke the last link that united us.
Sarah
Oh, pity. Listen, listen!
Rudolph
Woman without soul, spouse without faith, leave me.
Sarah
Rudolph, pity.
Rudolph (leaving)
Mother without compassion, be cursed. (goes out at the back)
Sarah
My God, is it enough to pay for the ambition that my brother
inspired in me, and which extinguished all the feelings of my heart? No
husband, no child, alone, forever alone! (she weeps)
(Tom enters from the rear and goes toward the right.)
Tom
I can hardly make out the number of the house that Mr. Ferrand told
me to come at nine o'clock.
Sarah
What to do? My God! What to do?
Tom
This is really the street. The house on the corner. It looks bad
enough, it seems the men with whom I have to deal profit little from
their dangerous profession.
Sarah
Let's go revive my courage on the quai aux fleurs. The cold—the
fear —begin to come over me.
(Sarah starts to withdraw, then recognizing Tom, she utters a cry of
fright.)
Tom
You, Sarah!
Sarah (controlling herself)
Brother!
Tom
What are you doing here? And in this outfit?
Sarah
I wanted to see the Prince.
Tom
The Prince—here!
Sarah
I knew that, in disguise—
Tom
But, what do I see? You're all in tears.
Sarah
I have no more hope. He said that the death of our daughter broke
the last bond that united us.
Tom
No, you can still hope.
Sarah
What?
Tom
Hear me! When Count MacGregor offered you a fortune and a rank that
your situation rendered unlooked for, you hesitated because you had a
daughter by the Prince. His brother could die. All hope was not lost
for you. That hope had to be destroyed forever. You were already
separated from your daughter, who had been confided to the Varner woman
without telling her who the child was. She had for her only sign of
recognition a chain and a medallion, the last presents that the Prince
sent you. At any price I wished to destroy the obstacle that prevented
your marriage. I came back to Paris. The man on whom two hundred
thousand francs had been placed for life—on the head of this
child—consented, for half that sum to give me a false death
certificate. The other half was reserved for your daughter, who must
never reappear, and whose supposed death I announced to you.
Sarah
My daughter is still living! Where is she?
Tom
When the events which gave you new hope of marrying the Prince took
place, I found my accomplice again.
Sarah
Who is that man?
Tom
Mr. Ferrand, a business man, Rue du Temple, number seventeen.
Sarah
What have you learned?
Tom
According to the information that Mr. Ferrand gave me, I ought to
find her near here. But tomorrow, be at the same hour at his place and
you will learn everything.
Sarah
Find my daughter. Why the Prince will marry me then. Oh, that
crown! What hope!
Tom
Hasten to leave this street to which I must return alone soon.
Sarah
Tomorrow morning, perhaps the Prince will know that our little girl
still is alive—and Madame D'Harville shall be afraid in her turn.
(While Tom and Sarah move away, one sees Fleur de Marie emerge
despairingly from a house further upstage.)
Fleur de Marie
Oh, I can't stand it any longer. I cannot support it any more. The
violence of that woman is beyond measure. My God. If they had ever let
me enter a church, I would have put myself on my knees before those
paintings where they have virgins and saints whose looks console you. I
would have asked their advice. But I have my sun, this portrait of a
woman that I found, this portrait with such sweet eyes, with a look so
loving. (considering it) Right? My good protectress, so I am not guilty
if I flee from injuries, from blows that overwhelm me, if I prefer
flight to this life, misery, starvation, perhaps? Protect me, my
patroness, for I don't wish to draw the furies of these monsters on to
my sole friend Rigolette. I am going to go away as far as I can go. I
will beg for pity, I will ask for work and permission to live without
being beaten. Sad suburb where I've been so wretched, where I've not
known a single moment of joy or hope—goodbye! Goodbye! I prefer to die
than to see you again. (she recoils) The School Master! (from the left
one hears noisy songs) Those men frighten me. (she turns toward the
house and stops) No, no, I won't go back. I prefer to wait in this
alley until there's no longer anybody here.
(Fleur de Marie goes into the house that Tom Seyton recognized as
the one he was seeking.)
School Master (placing his organ near his house)
Notre Dame just struck 8:30. It seems to me that the man with the
red beard is loitering indeed. Who is the man with the red beard? When
he comes, where's he coming from? When he goes, where's he going to? No
one knows him. What does he want with me again? Ah, I no longer dare
look behind me, and against the threats of the future I have no other
resources than this pen-knife whose blade is poisoned. One scratch and
death is certain. I can no longer escape myself through gross habits
and passions. Rage has its intoxication. From cold blood, I tremble,
because I find myself again.
(Ferrand enters disguised in his red beard. He touches the School
Master on the arm while he is absorbed in deep reverie.)
Ferrand
Ah, It's you.
School Master
As you see, exact to the hour.
Ferrand
That's fine.
School Master
You are satisfied?
Ferrand
Almost.
School Master
Do you doubt my discretion?
Ferrand
No.
School Master
Who can give you offense? Would it be the Screech Owl?
Ferrand
No—
School Master
Who can give you trouble?
Ferrand
That young girl who lives with you.
School Master
Fleur de Marie?
Ferrand
Yes.
School Master
On my life. She's unaware—
Ferrand
Who will answer to me that she will always remain so?
School Master
We cannot put her out the door.
Ferrand
Why don't you find her a situation?
School Master
That's easy to say.
Ferrand
I have what you need.
School Master (astonished)
Ah! (aside) The devil of a man thinks of everything.
Ferrand
You will escort her tomorrow to Mr. Ferrand's—a business man—Rue
du Temple, number seventeen. Promise me!
School Master
So be it! Tomorrow. I will go find this Mr. Ferrand.
Ferrand
Fine.
School Master
You know him?
Ferrand
Yes, he's a grave, austere man. People say much good of him.
School Master
Is he rich?
Ferrand
Perhaps.
School Master
Is it in the hope of furthering some bold stroke that you want to
place Fleur de Marie in his home?
Ferrand
Who lives, will see.
School Master
What do you want then, you whose word never betrays your thought?
Ferrand (giving him gold)
Count
School Master
Two hundred francs.
Ferrand
As much more after success.
School Master
Four hundred francs! What's it about then? Processing papers?
Ferrand
A man!
School Master
Who has papers?
Ferrand
No. Who bothers me!
School Master (with something like terror)
Who bothers you? (brutally) Eh! Where do you want me to meet this
man?
Ferrand (holding him by the arm)
He will come.
School Master
When?
Ferrand
Tonight.
School Master
Soon?
Ferrand
At nine.
School Master
Where?
Ferrand (pointing to the house facing the Cabaret of the
White Rabbit)
There.
School Master
In that alley, dark, tortuous?
Ferrand
You will be there before him.
School Master
Me?
Ferrand
He won't leave.
School Master
There'll be an investigation.
Ferrand
No, not if they think that this man has killed himself.
School Master
Why will they believe that?
Ferrand
If a letter written by him, placed this evening in the post, wards
off all suspicions—
School Master
If he wrote one in advance, or someone for him?
Ferrand
That's my lookout.
School Master
When will I see you again?
Ferrand
At 9:05.
(Ferrand leaves by the rear.)
School Master (alone)
That look—that voice—brief and cutting like a knife—it
subjugates me. Do I dare? (the voice of Chourineur is heard) If I could
propose to someone. Le Chourineur—he has it in for me—but he's
already been condemned—let's try to appease him.
Le Chourineur
Ah—there you are. (grabs him) My boat? Where have you put my boat?
School Master
What do you expect me to have done with your boat?
Le Chourineur
It was next to the boats of the washerwomen. They saw you take it.
I cannot get the idea out of my head that you used it to go steal from
the Chateau on the shores of the river.
School Master
I don't know what you're trying to tell me.
Le Chourineur
You don't know any more about who it was that tried to drag a rider
who was thrown from his horse into the river?
School Master
I am absolutely unaware of it.
Le Chourineur
Well, somebody was paid to know it. But, my boat?
School Master
Look, it was no great loss, you know it. To rake sand, to fish up
logs, to spend the whole day with half your body in the water.
Le Chourineur
It's a tough profession, but honest. I earn my living. That's all I
ask.
School Master
Well, as for me, I am more demanding than you. I have a good deal
to propose to you.
Le Chourineur
You, a good deal?
School Master
Forty francs to be made.
Le Chourineur
In how much time?
School Master
In a quarter of an hour.
Le Chourineur
In broad daylight, before the whole world?
School Master
No, no one will know. Come on, I'll make it sixty francs.
Le Chourineur
Thanks, but I don't eat that kind of bread.
School Master
But—
Le Chourineur
I tell you, I don't eat that kind of bread. It corrodes.
School Master
You prefer your job, right?
Le Chourineur
My job? That is to say, no. When one wants to put me in a bad
situation, my job is also to hunt down to their death those who would
like to harm those I love—for when those I love need a good dog to
defend them, they find me. And you know that I have good fangs.
School Master
Will you listen to me?
Le Chourineur
Enough, damn! Enough! I forbid you ever to speak to me as you did.
Go away.
School Master
At your ease.
(The School Master goes to enter the Cabaret as Le Chourineur
remains motionless with anger. Fleur de Marie comes from the alley, and
noticing him, goes back quickly.)
School Master (aside)
Let's go see La Chouette. She'll give me booze and I will try it
alone. (goes into his home)
Le Chourineur (alone and raging)
If you lied to me, if you stole my boat, sooner or later I will
catch you again.
Rudolph (entering from the rear)
Well, my lad, things not going well? You seem enraged.
Le Chourineur
Yes, so enraged, that I could beat even myself. I need to give it
to somebody.
Rudolph
I came at a bad time. I want to request a service of you.
Le Chourineur
Then so much the better. That will set me straight. What is it that
I can do for you?
Rudolph
The other evening, on the shore of the Seine near the Chateau
D'Harville, you helped me get rid of some bandits who attacked me.
Le Chourineur
You or someone else—I don't know since it was night. I had just
broken up a train of logs. Through the night I saw one man by himself
against three. You thought I wanted to take it out on you and you
rained a shower of blows on me. I was seeing stars. Anyway, it's all
the same, we had it all out, had an explanation afterwards.
Rudolph
Poor lad, I am sorry for that.
Le Chourineur
Not I. I will keep those blows, they'll serve me for the School
Master.
Rudolph
Now, tell me, I have reason to think that the bandits who attacked
me were those who robbed the Chateau D'Harville.
Le Chourineur (aside)
The School Master and his gang. (aloud) That's indeed possible.
Rudolph
If you know them, try to learn what they did with a portrait
studded with gems. They abandoned the gems to get back the portrait.
Le Chourineur (with rage)
Why do you think that the thieves take me into their business? Do
you take me for—But, indeed, you are right. I know them. I am often
with them. Birds of a feather, right?
Rudolph
But, why are you seen with them?
Le Chourineur
Because I cannot live otherwise.
Rudolph
What's your job?
Le Chourineur
Raker of sand and wharf porter at the Quai Saint Paul. Freeze in
winter, roast in summer. Fifteen hours a day in the water. That's my
job.
Rudolph
Your family?
Le Chourineur
Orphan of the streets of Paris.
Rudolph
Why, who brought you up?
Le Chourineur
Those who raise lost dogs. I remember when I was a kid, I went to
sleep at night in the plaster furnaces and when hunger wore down my
defenses and I could no longer go there, I slept under the great stones
of the Louvre, and in winter I had white sheets when the snow fell.
Rudolph
You were hungry and you didn't steal?
Le Chourineur
Never, and I often went a day or two without eating.
Rudolph
When you grew up, what did you do?
Le Chourineur
I made myself a trooper.
Rudolph
You served?
Le Chourineur
Three years. I was counting on them taking me to Algiers, but I had
bad luck. Raised in the street like a brute, I had rages like a brute.
One day my sergeant used me roughly and I answered back. He pushed me
and he bit me. Damnation! Rage took me; I let him have it at random. I
wounded the sergeant and three soldiers. Three months later they
condemned me to swallow a dozen lead balls.
Rudolph
Condemned to death!
Le Chourineur
I was hoping for it. For when you've once shed blood—you see it's
no use washing your hands—they are always red. But they commuted my
punishment, as they said, because once in a fire I'd saved an old woman
and another time I fished a young girl who couldn't swim out of the
river. You see, I'm an amphibian of fire and water.
Rudolph
And what punishment did you undergo?
Le Chourineur (with a somber air)
I had the right to be shot like a soldier. They condemned me to
five years in a chain gang. When I learned that, I wanted to strangle
myself in prison, but they released me in time.
Rudolph
And after you left prison, you had the same aversion to theft as
when you entered?
Le Chourineur
The same. And while waiting I burst out anew as if I were new born.
I made myself a wharf porter. I earn my living without wronging
anybody.
Rudolph
Well, my lad, you still have a heart and honor.
Le Chourineur
Heart, honor, me? That's funny, Mr. Rudolph. That's the first time
anyone's said that to me, and that does me good. It warms me up a bit.
(striking his heart and repeating with a pensive air) Heart and honor.
Rudolph
That astonishes you?
Le Chourineur
Yes and no. I feel, indeed I am never bad except to those who are
stronger than me, while to the weak, on the contrary, I am good, but
good in a stupid way. See, there's a poor girl called Fleur de Marie,
you won't believe it, but she's sweet, wise, and honest. Sixteen, face
like an angel—well, she's the drudge of a scoundrel called the School
Master and his wife La Chouette (Screech Owl) who took her quite young
out of a street where she was abandoned.
Rudolph
Poor child. And who protects her against these monsters?
Le Chourineur
Me—when I am there. But I cannot always be there, and then, for a
yes or a no, they beat her to death.
Rudolph
Your protégé interests me. Where is she?
Le Chourineur (pointing to the Cabaret)
There, perhaps.
Rudolph
In that dive?
Le Chourineur
She really has to follow the School Master and the Screech Owl.
Rudolph
Poor wretch!
Le Chourineur
Will you also prevent them from doing her harm?
Rudolph
Perhaps.
Le Chourineur
Well, the School Master went in there just now, I believe. Come, if
you dare!
Rudolph
Don't worry, I dare.
(Le Chourineur and Rudolph enter the Cabaret of the White Rabbit.
Ferrand enters from the left and heads towards the house under
construction.)
Ferrand
All's going well. The stormy weather is going to keep everyone
away. There no longer exists against me any witness or evidence; the
witness who dared to threaten me is soon going to perish. The proof,
this chain and medallion given to the Varner woman—this woman, slow,
an idiot, is in the home of her son-in-law, the jeweler, Morel. He
dwells in my house. Is it then so difficult to force them, through
misery, to rid themselves of this precious object? I shall have that
chain and medallion. (going behind the planks) From here I can see
everything.
School Master (entering, drunk)
I say, indeed, that brandy and the Screech Owl are deafening me and
separating me from all scruples. And this little wretch who's fleeing,
who dares to write “I am very unhappy here. You will never see me
again.” Oh! I'll catch you and you will pay dearly. Tomorrow I really
must find you—and bad luck to you! This new rage serves me again and I
hesitate no more.
(The School Master enters the alleyway where Fleur de Marie is
hiding. A scream is heard. The School Master returns, dragging Fleur de
Marie.)
School Master
Wretch! You, you!
Fleur de Marie
Yes, I wanted to flee.
School Master
You picked the wrong time.
Fleur de Marie
I prefer to die at once.
School Master (furious)
Ah, you brave me!
(Le Chourineur and Rudolph leave the Cabaret. Le Chourineur grabs
the arm of the School Master.)
Le Chourineur
Would you like to calm down? I forbid you to touch the little
thing.
School Master
What is it you mean?
Rudolph
He means, as I do, that you will respect this child.
Fleur de Marie
Oh, thank you, sir.
School Master
Well, she can come back, she can go—
(Rudolph is looking at Fleur de Marie with interest.)
Le Chourineur (low to Rudolph)
It's she. (to the School Master) Why make her return—so you can
mistreat her at your ease?
School Master
As for me, I'm going to the Faubourg Saint Antoine.
Le Chourineur
Why isn't she singing as she usually does?
Fleur de Marie
Oh, I couldn't. I feel too much like crying.
Rudolph
Poor child. Receive what I would have put in your bowl if you had
sung.
(Rudolph gives Fleur de Marie a coin. Thunder is heard until the end
of the scene.)
School Master
There's the storm. I have to get going. (to Fleur de Marie) You can
go back. (to Le Chourineur) Don't worry.
Fleur de Marie (to Rudolph)
Sir, you have made a mistake. This is a gold piece.
Rudolph (aside)
Honest. (aloud) Keep it, my child.
Le Chourineur
Right, my little street singer, don't be afraid.
Rudolph (to Le Chourineur)
No, for now there are two of us to protect you.
(Fleur de Marie goes back in the alley. Rain falls. You can hear the
chiming of a clock.)
School Master
Nine o'clock.
(The School Master goes in the alley. A man, enveloped in a cape,
comes out of the darkness, looks at the house, recognises it, and raps.
The School Master opens for him and lets him enter before him. Ferrand
leaves his hiding place, listens a moment to hear what is happening in
the alley with the house, then goes to put a letter in the box of the
small post office.)
CURTAIN
Maison Pipelet. The stage represents the courtyard of a house on the Rue du Temple, number 17. At the back, a building with three floors and garret windows. On the ground floor opposite, an alley at the back through which one can see the street. To the right of the alley, on the court, a window of Pipelet's lodging. Behind the lodging, a staircase leading to the upper stories. To the right of the lodge, in the court, a storeroom with a heavy door. To the left of the alley, the backroom of a gin shop. At a window on the second floor, a cage containing birds. The left of the stage is occupied by a small isolated building occupied by Ferrand. On the ground floor, a single door.
(Madame Pipelet comes to sweep the court. The Milkmaid brings out
jugs of milk which she places in the storeroom. The Milkmaid comes and
goes throughout the scene.)
Madame Pipelet
So, your day is over, Milkmaid?
Milkmaid (without stopping)
It's indeed time. I left this morning at two o'clock.
Madame Pipelet
Ah, indeed! Mine is not nearly finished yet. Since Mr. Ferrand sent
his maid away, I am the one who does his housework. Yet, happily, he
took Tortillard to run his errands.
Milkmaid
He's everywhere, that naughty kid. Yesterday, in the Cite, he
helped all the ragamuffins who were beating my husband escape. But
wherever I find one of them, I'll scream at him until they arrest him
and lynch him.
Madame Pipelet
And you will be doing right, Milkmaid.
(The Milkmaid leaves. Morel comes out of the house and into the
court.)
Madame Pipelet
Well! Mr. Morel, there you are, up and about already. How are
things going at home?
Morel (gaily)
My wife's better, thank God. The doctor assures us that the country
air will put her right. I am going on an errand and I'll go to the Rue
Fontaine au Roi, to Papa Lefebre's to ask him to rent me two little
rooms he has in Belleville.
Madame Pipelet
Go away! House in the city, house in the country—easy to see
you're a bigshot at the Savings Bank.
Morel
Yes, we would be completely happy if the mother of my wife—
Madame Pipelet
The poor old idiot? Ah, yes, that really annoys you.
Morel
After all, she's the wife's mother, and who would care for and pity
her if not us?
Madame Pipelet
Heavens, Mr. Morel, you are the cream of honest men, like my old
friend Alfred, the cream of porters.
Morel (laughing as he is leaving)
And you are the cream of gatekeepers, Madame Pipelet. Got to go.
See you.
(Morel leaves through the alleyway. A postman enters.)
Postman
Madame Pipelet—three sous—a letter for Mr. Ferrand.
Madame Pipelet (paying him)
There's some real money. (looking at the stamp) First morning mail.
It must have been posted last night.
(The postman leaves. Germain enters with his head uncovered and
papers under his arm.)
Madame Pipelet
Hello, Mr. Germain. A letter just came for Mr. Ferrand, your
employer. It's three sous.
Germain (paying her and taking the letter)
Thank you, Madame Pipelet.
Madame Pipelet
Well, were you much amused yesterday at the show?
Germain
Much! But, while I'm thinking of it, here's your passkey that I am
returning to you. Say, it seems you're not as strict with everybody as
you are with me. You always repeat: “No one an come in after midnight.
After midnight I won't pull the cord for anyone.”
Madame Pipelet
It's always that way in strict houses.
Germain
All the same, last night there was no need to give me your passkey
so I could go to the performance.
Madame Pipelet
Why's that?
Germain
Since, after I came in, you opened the door to someone.
Madame Pipelet
For heavens sake! The last person to return was Mr. Ferrand at
9:45. Because of the bad weather, he was wrapped up in his cloak, so I
wouldn't have recognized him except by his voice and his glasses.
Germain
What! Towards midnight no one asked you for admittance.
Madame Pipelet
For what reason are you asking me that?
Germain
Because, as I came in, I passed by someone on the staircase who was
coming down.
Madame Pipelet
Someone from the house?
Germain
No, someone I didn't know.
Madame Pipelet
Bah! You are dreaming.
Germain
I was dreaming so little that the light from my candle allowed me
to see his face. I noticed he had a big red beard. You must have opened
the door for him.
Madame Pipelet
Not at all. Well, you see, it's because you didn't lock it
carefully.
Germain
I assure you that I did.
Madame Pipelet
Ah, I am stupid, it was my old darling that you opened to, and who
didn't want to wake me.
Germain
Good, this was becoming—disturbing. I'm going to my office. I am a
bit late and Mr. Ferrand must be waiting for me.
(Germain enters into Ferrand's lodging. Rudolph enters just at the
last words and is examining the house.)
Rudolph
This must be it! Who can this Mr. Ferrand be, at whose house the
Countess Sarah gives me a rendezvous for tonight? Is it some snare?
Alas, the hope with which she attracted me is a senseless hope.
Madame Pipelet
Sir, where are you going?
Rudolph
Madame.
Madame Pipelet
Sir, to whose residence are you going? You don't go into houses
that way.
Rudolph
Madame, I saw a notice on this door and I came to learn which
apartment is for rent.
Madame Pipelet
The one on the first floor.
Rudolph (aside)
Try to get her talking. (aloud) If, as I hope, this apartment suits
me, I beg you, Madame, to serve me in charging me for my modest
bachelor household.
Madame Pipelet
Why, indeed sir—with delight, you'll be served like a prince for
six francs a month. We won't be your porters but your friends.
Rudolph
Why, tell me Madame—
Madame Pipelet (with a curtsey)
Anastasia Pipelet.
Rudolph
Madame Pipelet, could I, without being indiscreet, ask you who
lives in this house. You get the idea, when one lodges somewhere—
Madame Pipelet
Why, of course! Nothing could be more natural. The house is very
well composed, sir, all the folks being very nice. We won't speak of
the first, since that is vacant. All that I can say is the last
inhabitant was a proud scoundrel who poisoned my life, and that of my
old sweetie, Alfred, my spouse.
Rudolph
Ah! My God—who was this wretch?
Madame Pipelet
A painter named Cabrion, may God confound him. He did so much to
Alfred that he is still stunned, the poor man. Pardon, sir. (calling to
Rigolette) Don't pass so quickly, Miss Rigolette. (to Rudolph) A pearl
of a young working girl who lives in a room on the second, rent always
paid in advance.
Rigolette
What's the matter, Madame Pipelet?
Madame Pipelet
Where are you coming from like that?
Rigolette
From making provisions for my little birds and myself.
Madame Pipelet
Let's see—
Rudolph (aside)
Gracious little person.
Madame Pipelet (pointing to Rudolph)
This gentleman is going to become a tenant.
Rudolph
Pretty the way you are, you ought not to lack suitors.
Rigolette
Suitors! Ah, indeed! For goodness sake!
Madame Pipelet
Ah, no need to say much. Mr. Germain—
Rigolette
Mr. Germain is a very good lad. He has a good heart, he's really
sweet, very obliging, but not at all my suitor. Do I have time to think
of such things? But, what did you want with me, Madame Pipelet?
Madame Pipelet
Papa Morel went out. As his wife hasn't gotten up yet, when you go
back to your room, go give a look at the children.
Rigolette
You don't need to say any more. I am going to take my work to the
Morels and as I work I will sing to the children the latest song given
me by Fleur de Marie.
Rudolph
You know her?
Rigolette
And I love her a lot, a poor angel in the clutches of the devil.
Goodbye, my future neighbor.
Rudolph
Goodbye, Miss Rigolette.
A man (calling from the alley)
Mr. Morel?
Madame Pipelet (from the court)
He went out.
Man
It's on behalf of the jeweler—
Madame Pipelet
Madame Morel will take care of you. Go up.
Man
What floor?
Rigolette (who has taken her cup of milk)
If you want to come with me, sir, I will show you to the door.
(Rigolette precedes the man and they both go upstairs.)
Rudolph
Charming child! (pointing to the left) That building, is it
occupied?
Madame Pipelet
Yes, by Mr. Ferrand.
Rudolph (aside)
That's him.
Madame Pipelet
A worthy man, and honest, only receiving men of the best type and
gentlemen from the Bureau of Charity.
Pipelet (in the back of the alley)
It's an indignity, an abomination!
Madame Pipelet
That's my old sweetie!
Pipelet
No, no, I won't pay them!
Madame Pipelet
What's wrong with you, Alfred? What is it that they want to make
you pay?
Pipelet
Why, they send people to the scaffold who are sheep compared to
this monstrous rogue.
Madame Pipelet
Who is it? What rogue?
Pipelet
Isn't it always the same? Do I have another enemy on the face of
the globe?
Madame Pipelet
Then, you've seen him?
Pipelet
I was on the sidewalk, looking at the cartoons, at the library
steps, when, insensibly at first, I felt myself touched on the back. I
thought of my handkerchief placed in my pocket and turned abruptly.
What do I see? Cabrion! Again Cabrion, who placing his two hands in the
form of a funnel around his mouth, set himself to uttering a ferocious
“Hurrah!” Fear seized me, and, in fear of an insult, I escaped. But
then I hear behind me a dull noise—a noise of sensation and shouts.
“Stop! Stop!” And soon a furious fellow, coming to me, demanded the
price of a hundred chestnuts. Do you know why? Do you know why?
Madame Pipelet
Get to the end of it!
Pipelet
While I was looking at the cartoons, this scoundrel of a Cabrion
had attached a thread to a button at the back of my vest. The other end
of the thread he attached to the frying pan of a chestnut merchant. In
my flight I pulled the frying pan like a dog who runs with a saucepan
tied to his tail.
Madame Pipelet
Come, my Alfred, don't think of that—forget all that, old sweetie,
forget all that.
Pipelet
Forget, Anastasia? When I even think of him, with his big hair and
his pointed hat, I freeze up and I have only strength enough to close
my eyes to try not to see his abhorred face.
Madame Piglet Say, Alfred, watch the house. I am going to show the vacant apartment to this gentleman.
Rudolph
I am with you, Madame. (aside) Let's try to learn more.
(Exit Rudolph and Madame Pipelet.)
Pipelet (installing himself on the bench)
I am tormented like a criminal. I have no inclination to do
anything.
(A carriage stops at the exterior door. A liveried servant rings Mr.
Ferrand's door, and half opening the door, speaks to someone inside.)
Servant
Madame D'Harville asks Mr. Ferrand if he can receive her.
(After a moment the servant leaves.)
Pipelet
It was a week ago that I began this wretched boot which I can't
finish.
(Enter Madame D'Harville, preceded by her servant. They go into
Ferrand's.)
Pipelet
Every moment it falls from my hands, my thread breaks, my wax
breaks in my fingers. It seems to me I always see this evil genie. Last
night I dreamt of him.
(At this moment Cabrion appears and advances silently and terribly
on Pipelet who is motionless and fascinated. He raises Pipelet's hat,
places it on the ground and performs a little pantomime around it.
Gracefully and threateningly he then puts it back on Pipelet's head.
With a sudden blow he flattens it over Pipelet's eyes and distances
himself running.)
Pipelet (uttering mournful complaints)
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Help!
Madame Pipelet (rushing in)
What is this I hear? Alfred! Alfred, buried under his hat. Cabrion
again. But, why don't you get rid of this wretched pointed hat?
Pipelet
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I'm choking!
Madame Pipelet (trying to help him)
Take care. Here, hold your nose straight so I don't push it back
too hard. There, do you feel better?
Pipelet
Ah—a rabbit's skin is really worse to breath.
Madame Pipelet
But say, you don't know what's going on. You can hear loud talk at
Morel's. A man who just entered—a jeweler—seems to be threatening and
Madame Morel has the air of replying with tears. They're going, they're
coming.
Pipelet
It's Cabrion.
Madame Pipelet
You would do well to go fetch Mr. Morel. He's at the house of Papa
Lefebre of Rue Fontaine au Roi.
Pipelet
That ought to be Cabrion.
Madame Pipelet
Ah, Alfred, you are much too shocked. Cabrion worked you over.
Pipelet
It's true.
Rudolph (who's stopped a moment in the alley)
That carriage—I believe I recognize those people.
Pipelet (to whom Madame Pipelet has returned his pointed hat)
Come! I'm going. Just as well. I need air. If I see Cabrion I will
appeal to the passers-by. I'll yell fire.
Madame Pipelet (walking him off)
Go, old sweetie.
(Madame Pipelet comes back to her lodge and sees Rudolph talking
with Madame D'Harville as she comes out of Mr. Ferrand's.)
Rudolph
You here, Madame?
Madame D'Harville
I am coming from the home of my business manager.
Rudolph
Mr. Ferrand! And is that your traveling carriage?
Madame D'Harville
It's mine.
Rudolph
You're leaving?
Madame D'Harville
My father's health—
Rudolph
Why, yesterday you didn't tell me anything. Ordinarily I have a
share in your confidence.
Madame D'Harville
Well, I will be frank, milord, this morning you wrote to tell me of
your interview with the Countess Sarah MacGregor, but you didn't tell
me everything—read this.
Rudolph (low, reading)
“Madame, the Prince is on the point of finding a daughter that he
thought lost. You who are preventing him from remembering he's a
husband—are you preventing him from being a father, too?” (aloud) An
anonymous letter. A cowardly infamy! And you want to leave me?
Madame D'Harville
Would you want me for a single moment to authorize such writings?
Rudolph
Now I see where the shot comes from and the trap that was set for
me.
Madame D'Harville
What do you mean?
Rudolph
It's the agile wit and perfidy of Countess Sarah again.
Madame D'Harville
Milord, aren't you too prompt to accuse? If there is still some
hope of finding this child—
Rudolph
And do you think that if I didn't have in my hand irrefutable and
material proofs of her sad death—
Madame D'Harville
Milord, I will never doubt the noble passions of your soul. That's
the reason I intend to leave.
Rudolph
What?
Madame D'Harville
If that child is still living you would have a great duty to fulfil
towards her by legitimizing her. A union—
Rudolph
With Countess Sarah! Never!
Madame D'Harville
That union would be indispensable.
Rudolph
Don't tell me that.
Madame D'Harville
I tell you that because no one is more anxious than I am to see you
accomplish your duties honestly and valiantly as you have always done.
Rudolph
Noble woman. But why dream of a desired but impossible event? So as
to find reasons for torture?
Madame D'Harville
Reassure me despite myself.
Rudolph
You demand that? I promise it to you—if ever my daughter is
returned to me—whatever ought to be done will be done. You shan't go.
Madame D'Harville
I won't go. But continue the investigation that brought you here.
Rudolph
I obey. (seeing Fleur de Marie and the School Master enter) Anyway,
I see an opportunity to exercise here that spirit of adventurous
charity that you love. You told me so.
Madame D'Harville
Yes, because it's to you I owe knowledge of the charm of
generosity.
Rudolph
Will you accept my arm?
Madame D'Harville
Yes—to my carriage.
(Rudolph and Madame D'Harville leave by the alley. Fleur de Marie
recognizes Rudolph and follows him with her eyes.)
Madame Pipelet (to School Master)
You can go into Mr. Ferrand's, brave man: oh, where it's a question
of protecting honest folks, I don't make myself wait.
School Master
Thanks, Madame Pipelet. (brutally to Fleur de Marie) Wait for me
here. Don't budge. You know you cannot escape me.
(The School Master goes into Ferrand's.)
Rudolph (returning)
My honest child, I find you here?
Fleur de Marie (with a shout of joy)
You are coming back, sir?
Madame de Pipelet Heavens! You know my tenant, so much the better! I
would want to keep your company, but I need to put a little order in my
husband's shop. At your ease. (goes inside)
Rudolph (to Madame Pipelet as she leaves)
That's fine. (to Fleur de Marie) You recognized me, Fleur de Marie?
Fleur de Marie
I've known you a long time.
Rudolph
You're mistaken, I don't live in Paris.
Fleur de Marie
You've never been here?
Rudolph
Four or five years ago I spent a few days—
Fleur de Marie
I knew it quite well. Yesterday I didn't recognize you, but today—
Rudolph
Tell me, my dear child, who are you? And where did you meet me?
Fleur de Marie
Who am I? A poor child, picked up from the streets at the age of
three or four by a woman who would have done better to let me die.
Rudolph
But this woman still had a good heart, since she sheltered you.
Fleur de Marie
That's what I often told myself, to encourage myself not to hate
her when she beats me worse than usual.
Rudolph
Beat so young a child! And why?
Fleur de Marie
If I don't bring back ten sous in alms. One night—it was very
cold—I remained for a long while pressed against a tree in the Champs
Elysee to try to keep warm. It was already late and I hadn't gotten
more than three sous. That night I didn't have any courage at all and I
wept in fear of what was awaiting me. I saw a gentleman coming. I asked
him for a sou and burst out weeping. He looked at me, looked at me
again, as if I'd caused him a lot of pain, turned away and gave me one
hundred sous. For two days I wasn't beaten. That gentleman was you.
Rudolph
Me, my child? It was five years—yes—it's possible.
Fleur de Marie
Oh, you spent a lot of time. I watched you and followed you about
to see you, but without asking you for anything. The first time you had
given me so much.
Rudolph
Poor little thing. And what became of you as you grew up?
Fleur de Marie
A few years later, the Screech Owl became associated with a man
called the School Master, who plays the organ. He took me with him to
the streets and made me sing.
Rudolph
Were you happier?
Fleur de Marie
They both often mistreat me.
Rudolph
What! Still?
Fleur de Marie
Ah, I've sometimes had days of repose when they've amassed some
money. Doubtless they don't work and they leave me in the house,
forbidding me to leave.
Rudolph
But alone, always alone!
Fleur de Marie
No, no longer alone now.
Rudolph
Someone that you love?
Fleur de Marie
Four days ago the School Master and the Screech Owl went out in the
morning and while I was cleaning the house I found in a corner on the
floor—But, I don't dare tell you—it's childishness.
Rudolph
Tell me anyway.
Fleur de Marie
A piece of ivory—with a portrait of a woman, a young woman. It was
so beautiful, so richly set, that at first I only admired it. The woman
had a face so sweet that little by little I started talking to her. I
asked her if she would be my friend. Her smile—she smiles looking at
me. Her smile said yes, and since that day I've been happy. I place her
before me to hear me sing. When I cry, I watch her and when I cry too
much I kiss her.
Rudolph
Charming nature. So loving and so little loved. That portrait which
did you so much good, I love it already.
Fleur de Marie
And if you saw it!
Rudolph
Let me look at it.
Fleur de Marie
Promise me to find her pretty.
Rudolph
I promise you. (looking at the portrait) What do I see! Clemence!
Clemence D'Harville.
Fleur de Marie
You know her?
Rudolph
This portrait. Where did you find it?
Fleur de Marie
My God! You seem angry. I told you, thrown in a corner like a
useless thing which they didn't want to do anything with. Perhaps I did
wrong to take it—but it would have been lost.
Rudolph (aside, reflecting)
This stolen portrait, in her hands—Ah, I've got to clear this up.
(aloud) My child, where do you live?
Fleur de Marie
In the house near which you saw me yesterday evening. Are you going
away?
Rudolph
Fleur de Marie, what you've said has upset me and recalled
memories. Whatever is in my power to change your fate, I will do.
Fleur de Marie
And my portrait?
Rudolph
Entrust it to me, and courage, my child, have faith in your good
angel.
Fleur de Marie
Will you come again to the Champs Elysee?
Rudolph
You won't have to go there any more to wait for me. (exits
hurriedly)
Fleur de Marie (alone for a moment)
Ah, I ask nothing better than to believe those happy words. If God
heard them and wants to accomplish them, from today he will pull me
from the hands into which I fell.
Rigolette (coming into the court from the house)
My God, what an event! (calling) Mr. Germain! (noticing Fleur de
Marie) Heaven's, it's you, Fleur de Marie. (going under Ferrand's
window and calling) Mr. Germain. (to Fleur de Marie) Are things going
better than yesterday?
Fleur de Marie
Ah! Better. For me I think there will soon be a happy change.
Rigolette
Ah, what luck. (calling) Mr. Germain!
Fleur de Marie
But what's the matter with you?
Rigolette (to Germain who enters)
Finally you get here!
Germain
What's the matter?
Rigolette
Quickly, quickly! Come up to the Morels.
Germain
Why do that?
Rigolette
I don't know about it, but there's a man screaming about a diamond.
Mrs. Morel and her children are alone with the idiot. She doesn't
understand. Go, go—
Germain
But, why is the man yelling?
Rigolette
He's talking about finding an officer. Don't leave the poor woman
alone at such a moment. You will know when you get there. Go up, go up!
Germain (going)
I'm on my way, I'm on my way, Miss Rigolette. Have no fear!
Fleur de Marie
Why, what is it that frightens you like this, Rigolette?
Rigolette
Imagine. I head some noise at my neighbor's. I went in. There was a
jeweler there with a nasty brutal appearance who was demanding back a
diamond of at least two thousand francs which he brought to Mr. Morel
to cut.
Fleur de Marie
Well? This diamond?
Rigolette
Madame Morel went into the garret which serves as her husband's
work shop. She looked in the work bench. It wasn't there. She came down
and opened the chest and armoires. Nothing! Then this man became angry.
He said he wanted his diamond and that he would not go without it.
Fleur de Marie
Ah, the poor woman.
Madame Pipelet (coming hastily out of her lodge)
Who's coming down the stairs like to burn the house down?
Germain (returning)
It's me, Madame Pipelet.
Madame Pipelet (following him into the court)
Good God! Is it reasonable?
Rigolette (to Germain)
Well?
Germain
A diamond has been stolen.
All the women
By whom?
Germain
By whom? Perhaps, indeed, by the man I met yesterday
evening—around midnight—and of whom I spoke to you, Madame Pipelet.
Rigolette
What man?
Madame Pipelet
The man with the red beard.
Germain
Mr. Morel finished cutting the diamond only last night.
Fleur de Marie
Ah, my God!
Madame Pipelet
A theft! In my house!
Rigolette
A theft! Do you know where Mr. Morel went this morning?
Madame Pipelet
Yes, he went to Papa Lefebre's, but first, he had to run an errand.
Rigolette
Perhaps he was going to bring the diamond!
Fleur de Marie
Yes, while the jeweler is here.
(Enter Pipelet and Morel.)
Pipelet (wiping his face)
Now, here's Mr. Morel whom I'm bringing.
Rigolette
We're going to find out.
Germain
Don't frighten him at first.
Morel (to Germain)
Hello, my neighbor. (to Rigolette) Hello, neighbor. You see a very
happy man. My poor wife can now get herself together in the country.
I've just taken two little rooms in Belleville. What has happened so
that Mr. Pipelet came to find me at Papa Lefebre's? He couldn't explain
to me.
Rigolette
Before going to Papa Lefebre's you ran an errand, Mr. Morel?
Morel
Yes, I withdrew three hundred francs from the bank.
Germain
Didn't you also go to your jeweler?
Morel
No, what for?
Germain
To bring him the diamond you cut yesterday.
Morel
That diamond I placed in the drawer of my work bench. Well, why's
everybody so quiet?
(The School Master comes out of Mr. Ferrand's jingling some money in
his hand.)
Germain
Because that diamond is no longer there.
Morel
It's no longer there? Then, where is it?
Germain
I don't know how to tell you.
Morel
Speak! Come on, speak.
Germain
Well, know that the diamond has been stolen.
Morel
Stolen! That's not possible! A diamond worth five thousand francs—
stolen. Why, my God, I am ruined! Ruined! This morning, joy and
happiness—and this evening, misery and tears. Oh, my children, my
wife, my poor wife! (falls down annihilated)
Madame Pipelet
Oh, if I knew the scoundrel who did this.
School Master
Fleur de Marie, you will enter the service of Mr. Ferrand.
BLACKOUT
The office of Jacques Ferrand. The stage represents the business office of Jacque Ferrand. To the right, a desk on which is a lit lamp. To the left, Germain's desk. Entry door at the back. Two side doors. A window which a curtain and shutters. At the back and under a table with books, a hiding place in the wainscoting.
Germain (seated at the table stops working to reflect)
Poor Morel. I've never seen more somber and desperate sadness. This
loss is terrible for him. What privations, what misery, if that jeweler
is an intractable man as he told us. To perhaps have been in the
presence of the author of all these ills and unable to find him again!
Clermont (coming from the interior)
Hello, Mr. Germain.
Germain (rising without leaving his desk)
Enchanted to see you, Mr. Clermont.
Clermont
Our excellent, Mr. Ferrand has charged me to beg you to inscribe in
your cash book the sum of fifty francs that he just gave us for our
charity office and the deposit of thirty thousand francs in gold that I
just gave him in my name.
Germain
The boss accepted it?
Clermont
My word, it wasn't easy—it embarrassed him. It was a
responsibility which he didn't care for. At last I had to beg him to do
me this service in the name of friendship—to inform him that it was
the fortune of an absent sister that I could not place in more faithful
hands.
Germain
You know how strict and severe the boss is in business, Mr.
Clermont.
Clermont
I know it very well, and that's what explains the limitless
confidence he enjoys. And who deserves it better than he? Doesn't he
busy himself with the interests of his clients more than his own?
Witness the modesty of his fortune. I am leaving now. Goodbye, Mr.
Germain.
(Germain escorts him to the door at the back and finds himself near
Countess Sarah and Madame Pipelet.)
Sarah (to Madame Pipelet)
Would you tell Mr. Ferrand that the Countess Sarah MacGregor
desires to speak to him.
(Madame Pipelet goes to the interior. Germain offers a seat to Sarah
and returns to his desk.)
Sarah (seated, to herself)
My brother's absence is prolonged. He didn't return to his home
last night. Now that his cupidity is doubly interested in his
researches, perhaps for once, he'll be afraid to lose sight of her. No
matter! I've come armed with revelations against the pretended honest
men with whom I'm going to do business, of whom I shall have a good
bargain.
Madame Pipelet (returning)
Here's Mr. Ferrand, Madame Countess.
(Enter Ferrand.)
Sarah
Sir, the discussion I am going to have with you interests you as
much as me. Would you then shut your doors against all the world except
His Highness, the Grand Duke of Gerolstein, who must soon come here?
Ferrand (bowing)
As you wish, Countess. Madame Pipelet, you heard, don't let anyone
except the Grand Duke of Gerolstein enter. Mr. Germain, withdraw for a
moment.
Madame Pipelet
A Highness! I'm going to put on my new jacket.
(Madame Pipelet leaves hastily. Germain assembles his papers and
takes them to another room. Then, after they are gone, Ferrand remains
impassive under the eye of Sarah, who watches him attentively.)
Ferrand
Take the trouble to be seated again Countess.
(Sarah, still watching him sits down. There is rapping at the door.)
Ferrand
Who is it?
Madame Pipelet
Pardon, Mr. Ferrand, a servant has just brought a letter for the
Countess.
Sarah
From my brother, doubtless. Give it here.
(Madame Pipelet hands the letter and at a sign from Ferrand
withdraws with a deep curtsey.)
Sarah
No, it's from the Prince. He won't come. That woman is taking him
off again. Oh, I'll get even!
Ferrand
We won't be interrupted any further, Madame, and I am listening to
you with a religious attention.
Sarah
Sir, (with bitter irony) people rate your probity as fully
reliable; with your austerity, you inspire all with a confidence
without bounds. (Ferrand bows with humility) I am persuaded, sir, that
your reputation is actual and that all this virtue is not a mark of
hypocrisy. Why, you are not responding?
Ferrand
To what, Countess?
Sarah
That's fine, sir. I will broach the facts succinctly. Around
fifteen years ago, a little girl was brought to Paris and confided to
the care of a woman named Varner of German origin. That is clear and
positive, I think, sir? (Ferrand bows) The following will be less so.
(Ferrand nods again) A sum of two hundred thousand francs was placed as
an annuity on the head of the child, then aged only two. This continues
to be clear, I suppose? (another nod from Ferrand, Sarah continues with
growing impatience) Finally, sir, to be able one day to verify the
identity of this child, if need be, a half of a necklace of old and
precious workmanship and half of a medallion was entrusted to the
Varner woman. You remain silent, sir?
Ferrand
I haven't lost a word. The Varner woman was entrusted with half a
necklace of old and precious workmanship from which hung half a
medallion.
Sarah
Is that all you have to say? It seems to me that in the presence of
such evidence all denial is impossible. (Ferrand remains impassive) I
ask you, sir, if you deny these facts are not completely true?
Ferrand
Madame, Countess—
Sarah (with growing impatience)
In short, sir, the child in question was five years old when her
death was announced to her mother by sending her a death certificate.
You hear, sir?
Ferrand
Quite well, Countess. That was perfectly in order.
Sarah
No, sir—it wasn't in order. The death certificate was false. The
child wasn't dead. They had caused the Varner woman to disappear—
whether by chance or through complicity, she's not to be found since.
Did she keep, or was it stolen from her, the token that could provide
information on the whereabouts of that child is what we don't know.
But—
Ferrand
Oh! Oh! Why, then it's a very grave affair, Countess. It couldn't
be more grave. I understand your emotion. If you are interested in it,
there's been a forgery of things, a kidnapping of persons—those are
real crimes.
Sarah (bursting out)
And you committed those crimes, sir! To secure the two hundred
thousand francs! But these crimes will not remain unpunished. For I
will tear your hypocritical mask away and fasten you to the pillory, if
you don't return my daughter to me. Do you hear, Mr. Ferrand, the
honest man? And don't hope to escape me. I have the confession of your
accomplice, Sir Thomas Seyton.
(Ferrand greets this outburst with an air of total astonishment, but
at the last words makes a motion towards Sarah.)
Ferrand
Pardon, Madame Countess—would you please repeat that name?
Sarah
You know it quite well—Sir Thomas Seyton.
(Ferrand rises from his seat, goes to the desk drawer, takes out a
letter and looks at the signature with astonishment.)
Ferrand
That's indeed it.
Sarah
Explain yourself, sir.
Ferrand
Ah! This is terrible.
Sarah
But, sir—what is that letter?
Ferrand
No, no, Madame, I cannot. It would be too painful. Just now I was
listening with stupor to your strange accusation and I was trying to
explain the error of which you are the victim to myself, when suddenly
I recalled this letter which I received only this morning.
Sarah
This morning?
Ferrand
And that I had taken for a sinister joke. But, what you've just
told me, Madame, only too well proves the reality to me. Madame, I beg
you —pardon my emotion.
Sarah
Sir, what does this letter contain? I want to read it instantly.
Ferrand
No, that would be too unexpected, too cruel.
Sarah
Sir, that letter, I tell you—
Ferrand
No—even to reject your outrageous error, I wouldn't have the
courage.
Sarah
If I've accused you unjustly, I will admit my error.
Ferrand
You insist.
Sarah
My brother's handwriting.
Ferrand (trying to take back the letter)
Your brother's handwriting! Ah, I won't suffer you to go any
further.
Sarah
Leave me alone! Leave me alone! (reading) “In a few days, sir, it
will have been fifteen years since I placed in your hands a sum of two
hundred thousand francs. This unique circumstance which is a fatal date
for me, recalls your name at a moment when I needed it to be thought I
had an accomplice for the abduction, the theft, the falsehoods. I cast
them all on you, but to no purpose. Today all my plans are forever
overturned and, facing the presence of shame, I prefer to die.” (she
stops a moment)
Ferrand
You may believe, Countess, that I feel vividly—
Sarah
I am no longer allowed to blame my unfortunate brother—and yet, he
alone, had provoked a quarrel.
Ferrand
Let's not speak of that, for mercy's sake. (seeing her make a
movement to retire) All this must have agitated you. Don't withdraw at
this moment. Do me the honor of remaining a few seconds in my home.
Sarah
Excuse me, I need to pull myself together.
Ferrand
Allow me at least to escort you to your carriage. If I can be
useful to you, in any way whatever, dispose of me, I implore you.
Sarah
You are too good.
Ferrand
At this moment, my old experience can only offer you some advice:
so as to avoid all disgust, publicity is always painful to the esteem
of a family, it would be good, if you have the strength, to go to a
magistrate. There, with as much reserve as possible, let him know—My
God, I know, indeed, it's cruel—a portion of the truth which led to so
sad an ending. In this way, you will avoid an annoying sensationalism
and the affair will quietly burn out, choked off.
Sarah
You are right, sir, however cruel this may be and I will accomplish
it at once. Sir, this interview began with accusations and violence, I
terminate it with thanks and apologies.
Ferrand
In such a moment, it's too generous of you to think of me.
(Ferrand rings and offers his arm to Sarah. Madame Pipelet appears.)
Ferrand (to Madame Pipelet)
Light the way for us!
Madame Pipelet (turning to speak behind her)
Miss Fleur de Marie, will you light for the Countess?
Ferrand
Tell Mr. Germain, that he can go back to his work.
(Exit Ferrand and the Countess.)
Madame Pipelet
Countesses—Highnesses—here! That would be something for the house
to be proud of if it hadn't been dishonored last night by a theft, if
it weren't bad enough to have had a Cabrion, is a wrong ever wanting?
(Fleur de Marie enters, carrying a light.)
Fleur de Marie
Oh, thanks, Madame Pipelet. You can't know how much all that I hear
and see here makes me happy.
Madame Pipelet
The fact is, that for a young thing like you, you couldn't have a
better house. You will be as in a convent here. Hush! There's the
gentleman coming up. He doesn't like anyone chatting here. Come see
your room. And there I was forgetting—Mr. Germain, you can return.
(Madame Pipelet goes in with Fleur de Marie. Germain returns to his
desk. Ferrand enters, preceded by Morel.)
Ferrand
Come in, Mr. Morel. I was going to ask Madame Pipelet to beg you to
come when I noticed you in her place. But, my God, what is it I
learned? What has happened?
Morel
Alas! All they told you is only too true. Yesterday evening I
didn't leave my studio until eleven p.m. It's in the garret above our
lodging. I had just finished cutting a diamond. I put it in the drawer,
and I simply locked the door with a key. How could I have foreseen?
Ferrand
Strictly speaking, certainly, it was an imprudence, but an
imprudence of an honest man. How could one be on one's guard? The house
is secure, so peaceful! But, have you really searched everywhere?
Morel
Oh, yes, sir. There is no longer any doubt. It's a theft!
Ferrand
But this must be a considerable loss for you?
Morel
The diamond is estimated at three thousand francs.
Ferrand
Fortunately, without doubt, the jeweler is a master for whom you've
been working for a long time, and who will share this loss with you?
Morel
Alas, on the contrary, sir. He's a young man only established for a
short time. He can't make sacrifices. He hardly knows me and he has,
perhaps, some doubts about my probity and his demands are most
pressing.
Ferrand
But then—what to do?
Morel
Since this morning, I have taken all the measures by which I was
hoping to appease him. The money I had withdrawn from the savings bank
to procure a little well being for my still languishing spouse; I've
joined to it the price of my best furniture which I sold. That's all I
can do for the moment. As to the future, I've left our lodging, which
had two rooms, and we are going to move to my workshop in the garret.
This way we will save two hundred francs in rent.
Ferrand
Oh! Heavens, that resignation makes me ill.
Morel
And all this still does not suffice—
Ferrand
What do you mean?
Morel
In selling all that I posses, I have only been able to pull
together six hundred francs. The jeweler demands at least double that,
and to my pleas, he's responded with threats so harsh and terrifying—
Ferrand
And these are all your resources?
Morel
Absolutely all!
Ferrand
Still—two days ago, when I went up to your place to discuss some
business which, unfortunately, didn't succeed, it seemed to me that the
unfortunate woman—what do you call her? For it is distasteful to me to
refer to her by the name they usually give her.
Morel
My mother-in-law, Madame Varner, who as the result of a cruel
occurrence went mad, and whom we've taken in with us after the death of
her husband—
Ferrand
Brave people! Well, it seems to me I saw around her neck a chain
with half a medallion.
Morel
Yes, sir.
Ferrand
Why don't you sell that chain, too, since it appeared to me to be a
sufficiently precious item?
Morel
For that poor woman, it's a solace. You cannot get it away from her
by trick or by force. It would kill her.
Ferrand
Why, that's frightful! That she should be in the same house, right
beside such a great misfortune, and that she must go on wearing what
could be disposed of. Didn't I just now give fifty francs to the
Charity Bureau? Why this is terrible! Fifty francs—they are not the
five hundred francs you need, but still—fifty francs.
Morel
Ah, sir, it could be a gift from heaven.
Ferrand (low to himself)
Ah, indeed. Could heaven punish me, could men blame me for it? (to
Morel) I have five hundred francs which are not mine. I could dispose
of them for a few days. You are right, some days, it's not enough—
let's say two months, three months. Mr. Germain, give us a stamped
paper.
Morel (hesitating)
But, in three months—
Ferrand (making him sit down)
In three months, you won't be able to pay them. Nor can I. But I
will have avoided a misfortune, aided the unfortunates who cannot wait
three days. You will make payment, I will indeed have something also.
(as Morel begins to write) Don't give yourself any trouble. Just give
me a blank acceptance. (Morel signs and Ferrand takes the note and
places it in a drawer) Ah, not to be rich! Not to be rich! Here's the
five hundred francs.
Morel
My God! I can hardly bear it. So much money! So much joy!
Ferrand
Go, my brave Mr. Morel. After the storm, a ray of sunshine. That's
the law of nature.
Morel
This evening my entire family will bless you. (leaves smiling)
Madame Pipelet (returning with Fleur de Marie)
Now she's moved in, this dear child.
Ferrand (looking at his watch)
Already so late! Mr. Germain, you may retire. Madame Pipelet, lock
up outside.
(Germain and Madame Pipelet leave. Ferrand, now alone, locks the
doors and the window shutters. He pulls the curtains closed.)
Ferrand
Here I am, alone! The day's over. A mask of austerity weighs on my
face. A cloak of hypocrisy enchains all my actions. Off with the mask
and the cloak—now I can be me! I am detached from the cadaver to which
I am yoked during the day. As for me, robust, resolved, glued to this
armchair. My energy is devouring me. How to appease the agitation of my
blood? Gold! Gold! I want gold—to trample under my feet this herd of
imbeciles that I deceive and that I scorn. Thomas Seyton dies by me and
his sister apologizes and thanks me! This Morel, I want him to be in my
power. I want him to deliver that chain, that medallion to me. The last
traces of an existence which annoys me and that I am annihilating. I
have only to make him a misleading loan, which fixes the term of his
liberty and he calls me his benefactor. Stupid fools, stupid fools!
Triply stupid fools. And this Clermont who absolutely insists on
putting his gold on deposit in my hands. (opens a panel in the
wainscoting and removes a box from a secret drawer) So much gold! So
much gold! The rays of the sun are pale beside it. Ah, what charm. Gold
is everything, gold can do everything, gold gives everything. (plunging
his hands in the box) Oh, I love to handle gold! It releases I don't
know what sort of electric energy which circulates in my veins and sets
me ablaze with new cupidity. Bring me, ah, bring me more. Bring it till
the day you say “Give it back.” Give it back to you? Some infernal
trick, some audacious curse will be your answer. Return it to you! I'd
have to return to you my past joys, my joys to come. Fleur de Marie is
beautiful! All the days she came to sing in the street I was there,
behind that window, charmed by her voice, fascinated by her look. Then,
at night, I saw her. I heard her again. Sometimes even during the days,
in the midst of my most complicated plots, when I needed all my
self-possession, her memory dominated me, despite myself, and lured
away my thoughts. The violence of my passion for this child dismays me.
Let's lock up my gold and call Fleur de Marie. (goes to ring) It's
strange how my heart beats and my hand trembles. (ringing) She's going
to come! Get once more this evening the mask on my face and honey in my
words.
Fleur de Marie (entering)
You rang, sir?
Ferrand
Yes, my child. They're going to show you to your room?
Fleur de Marie
Yes, sir.
Ferrand
Come closer, child. Do I frighten you?
Fleur de Marie
Oh, no, sir. Didn't you agree to take me as a servant? Haven't you
taken me out of the sad existence that I could no longer stand? With my
zeal, I will try to deserve your interest.
Ferrand
My interest in you is already won over, dear little one! But it may
still increase. For that it is necessary, not only to serve me with
zeal, but to be persuaded that your fate depends on me. Let me be sure
that you will satisfy me in everything and you won't have to envy any
person.
Fleur de Marie
Doubtless, sir, I will not fail to do my duty.
Ferrand
That's what I mean. And then, carefully understand one thing, my
child. A serving girl who has no family depends absolutely on her
master. Suppose that, dissatisfied for one reason or another, I were
not to keep you. Where would you go if I gave you a bad character? You
couldn't get another situation anywhere, and you understand quite well
that misery does not receive any pity.
Fleur de Marie
Ah, sir, don't think that I would ever be guilty. That would indeed
be without intent. My God!
Ferrand
My child, what I really want to persuade you of is that under no
circumstance, in no manner, must you ever displease me, because, being
all powerful while you are weak, being well known while you are unheard
of—you would be ruined.
Fleur de Marie
My God, sir!
Ferrand (in a softened tone)
What's wrong with you? One can see you are trembling. Well, well,
little crazy one, I shouldn't say things that frighten you, but if you
are wise and obedient—(wants to pull her to him)
Fleur de Marie
Ah! Now I'm more frightened than before.
Ferrand (passionately)
Fleur de Marie! (ringing is heard outside) Curses! (to Fleur de
Marie) Stay here! Don't open.
Fleur de Marie
But, sir—
Ferrand
Do you hear me?
Fleur de Marie
But, what are they going to think?
Ferrand
That I'm home, that I'm resting and that I don't hear them. (louder
ringing) This is hell. (more ringing) Go open!
(Exit Fleur de Marie.)
Ferrand (alone)
Who can be coming at this hour? May a thunderbolt destroy the
impertinent person.
(Madame Pipelet appears outside Ferrand's open door. Fleur de Marie
is behind her and a man is coming behind them.)
Madame Pipelet (to Fleur de Marie)
Ah, indeed. If you are not more vigilant! (to Ferrand) Excuse me!
Ferrand
I thought I said before that my door was closed to the whole world.
Madame Pipelet
Except for His Highness, you told me.
Ferrand
The Prince?
Madame Pipelet
Himself! Even though the School Master, who hasn't left the gin
shop since this morning, and who was carrying on like the devil down
there, didn't want to let the carriage stop. Here's His Highness. (to
His Highness) Heavens, my tenant from this morning!
Fleur de Marie
A Prince.
Rudolph (to Fleur de Marie)
I promised you to return.
Ferrand (aside)
What! He knows her!
Rudolph (to Ferrand)
Pardon, sir. Although it's still early, I fear I've disturbed you.
Can I tell you a few things?
(At a sign from Ferrand, Fleur de Marie and Madame Pipelet move
away.)
Rudolph
Sir, two matters bring me to you. I wish to set up a modest pension
for a brave man who saved my life. I gave him a rendezvous here and I
beg you to formalize this little contract.
Ferrand
At your orders, sir.
Rudolph
The second motive that brings me here is more delicate. You've
observed that I know the young girl who just came to announce me and
who for some hours has been in your service.
Ferrand
Yes, milord.
Rudolph
Several circumstances have inspired me to take an interest in her
which must not be fruitless. But I only knew just now into whose hands
this poor girl has fallen.
Ferrand
I congratulate myself on having harbored her here.
Rudolph
Here, they can come to reclaim her, and perhaps you would be forced
to let them take her away.
Ferrand (with a secret anxiety)
I am waiting, sir.
Rudolph
I want to support her in style.
Ferrand
Your Highness will permit me a few questions?
Rudolph
Speak, sir.
Ferrand
Your Highness proposes to take her away?
Rudolph
This evening.
Ferrand
And where does Your Highness have the intention of taking her?
Rudolph
To my home.
Ferrand
Pardon, milord, for my frankness. In coming to confide your plans
in me, you haven't had the intention of turning me into an accomplice,
even an indiscreet one, of some princely caprice?
Rudolph
You can't suspect it?
Ferrand
But, milord, persons who, like me, are unable to believe in the
complete disinterest of your protection, will judge as the world
judges—of which you know better than I the strict sentences. A street
singer in the house of a Prince! Won't this poor child pay very dearly
for the interest you take in her?
Rudolph
Your objection is that of a wise and prudent man. I would accept
it—
Ferrand
And you don't wish to abandon your protégéé?
Rudolph
At no price. If those wretches didn't know she was here, be sure I
would not see any difficulty in letting her stay here.
Ferrand
But, can't we give them the slip?
Rudolph
How?
Ferrand
I have a house in the country at Saint Maude. I can take Fleur de
Marie there, for a few days at least—tonight.
Rudolph
I wouldn't dare to beg it of you.
Ferrand
Then, permit me to do it without delay.
(Ferrand rings. Fleur de Marie and Madame Pipelet enter.)
Rudolph (to Fleur de Marie)
Child, you have to leave this house tonight.
Fleur de Marie
Me, milord?
Ferrand (to Madame Pipelet)
Tell your husband to go find me a carriage.
Madame Pipelet (leaving)
Ah, indeed. Now this is strange.
Fleur de Marie
Milord, where must I go?
Rudolph
To the country—with Mr. Ferrand.
Fleur de Marie
With you, milord?
Rudolph
No, alone with this gentleman.
Ferrand (to Fleur de Marie)
You remember, my child, the advice I was giving you just now.
(violent ringing is heard) What's going on?
Madame Pipelet (returning, terrified)
Why it would make nature tremble. Do you hear it? Do you hear it?
Ferrand
Why, what is it?
Madame Pipelet
He was there, tapping on the door, when he heard me say to Alfred
to go find a carriage to take Fleur de Marie. Then he screamed: “Take
Fleur de Marie!”
Rudolph
But, of whom are you speaking?
Madame Pipelet
By God—look—the School Master.
(Fleur de Marie screams and seeks refuge behind Rudolph. The School
Master enters, drunk but not staggering.)
Ferrand (to School Master)
What do you want?
School Master (in a rough voice, seeming to be feverish with
rage)
I don't want anything, but I don't intend—do you hear me
clearly?— all of you—I do not intend for Fleur de Marie to be taken
from here.
Ferrand
Why, indeed, you will permit me to accompany her?
School Master (advancing on him)
She won't leave!
Ferrand (with a violet effort, aside)
Silence, my rage!
Rudolph (to School Master)
What, with her master?
School Master
If that's the way it is, return her to me. I want her.
(The School Master goes toward Fleur de Marie who is still seeking
refuge behind Rudolph.)
Fleur de Marie (to Rudolph)
Save me from him.
Rudolph
Get out, wretch!
School Master
We are going to see about wretches.
Rudolph (coming forward)
You shan't touch her.
School Master
I won't touch her!
(The School Master rushes Rudolph who repulses him, knocking him to
his knees.)
School Master
Ah! So it's like that. You don't know who you're dealing with.
Don't you know when I've been drinking that I'm worth six men?
Le Chourineur (entering)
And I'm worth seven when I am protecting my friends.
School Master
Chourineur—now you're going to let me go.
Le Chourineur
Mr. Rudolph. I know you would come out ahead in the end by boxing,
but that would mean dirtying your hands.
Rudolph (to Chourineur)
Thanks, my friend. (to Ferrand) Flee—take her away. (to Fleur de
Marie) Don't be afraid!
Ferrand (aside, as he takes Fleur de Marie away)
They're doing themselves harm to give her to me.
Fleur de Marie
Than you. I am saved.
School Master
Chourineur, I will avenge myself.
Le Chourineur
Sing the National Anthem if it amuses you, but don't budge.
CURTAIN
Rigolette's room. Everything is orderly, very proper. Charming with flowers. A little alcove with windows and curtains. To the right of the alcove, a room. A carrying case on a table. Door at the left, locked with a bolt. To the right, a door with a landing.
(Rigolette is alone, seated at a table, writing in a small notebook
covered with parchment.)
Rigolette
We say—Rent, month of May, 12 francs—a pair of socks, two francs,
fifty—two pots of flowers, six sous—those are the luxury
expenditures.
Madame Pipelet (at the door)
Can one come in?
Rigolette
Hello, Madame Pipelet.
Madame Pipelet
Hello, Miss Rigolette. Here's your little bread.
Rigolette
Thanks, Madame Pipelet, you are really good.
Madame Pipelet
I am coming up for my work, and then I'm not sorry to see you like
this in the mornings, fresh, neat and gay. That reminds me of what I
used to be before becoming Alfred's Stasia.
Rigolette (finishing and straightening up)
Is there nothing new, Madame Pipelet?
Madame Pipelet (sitting down)
My God, no! For the last three months that poor Mr. Ferrand has
been pining away. He's getting yellow like an orange with red eyes like
a rabbit. I don't know what's happened to him. He's truly no longer the
same man. Would you believe it? The other day, I went into his room
without his hearing me—he was on his knees, he was weeping—word of
honor—and he said: “Come back! Come back! Come back!”
Rigolette
To whom was he saying, “Come back”?
Madame Pipelet
Ah, that's what I don't know. For sure it's not the School Master
who comes every two or three days to cause a big scene, reproaching him
for having carried off Fleur de Marie.
Rigolette
Poor Fleur de Marie. What's become of her? Where is she? What an
extraordinary adventure.
Madame Pipelet
Yes, extraordinary—that's the word. I saw her again the day that
Mr. Ferrand went to bring her to Saint Maude. She said two words,
weeping in the ear of the Prince and boom! Instead of getting in the
old carriage—off she went with the Prince in his beautiful carriage.
Rigolette
She was really most sweet, you must agree. You remember the face of
your Mr. Ferrand, huh? (laughing) What a snoot.
Madame Pipelet
It's true he wasn't very gay. But still sadder are the poor Morels.
Since the theft of that diamond, they've gone from bad to worse. They,
once so happy, so calm, now they're all in the garret. Papa Morel,
after having sold and pawned everything, has fallen ill. Now the
jeweler takes half of his wages to finish the reimbursement for the
diamond. The poor people lack everything, and the two children, barely
dressed, don't have enough food. (knocking is heard) Who is it knocking
on the door?
Germain (outside)
It's me.
Madame Pipelet
Eh, why, it's Mr. Germain who doesn't like to wait and who insists
on entering through a condemned door. Should I open?
Rigolette
Open, open.
(Madame Pipelet opens the door and Germain enters.)
Germain
Hello, Miss Rigolette. I bring you the pins you asked me to sharpen
for you.
Rigolette
This comes happily. I was by way of doing my accounts. Would you
finish writing them? That will do honor to my books. Such a fine hand!
I have only two articles left to inscribe.
Madame Pipelet
Well, I'm going down to be with Alfred. I've been upstairs more
than an hour. I am sure he's worried about his Stasia. Goodbye, Miss
Rigolette.
Rigolette
Goodbye, Madame Pipelet, goodbye.
(Exit Madame Pipelet.)
Germain
Finally, here we are alone!
Rigolette
Well, what's that do for us, being alone?
Germain
It makes things so I can talk to you.
Rigolette
Heavens. Then all the sweet things you say to me in company count
for nothing?
Germain
On the contrary, it's that I don't say enough of them.
Rigolette
Ah, fine! Then this is going to be very agreeable and I'm going to
resume my work and listen to you.
Germain
Ah! I beg you, Miss Rigolette, let's speak seriously.
Rigolette
Seriously? Decidedly that's not going to be amusing. (unwinding a
ball of thread) Lend me your two hands, I'll return them later.
Germain
Miss Rigolette, I love you.
Rigolette
And I, also.
Germain
You love me?
Rigolette
Certainly. You are good, complaisant, sweet. How could I not love
you?
Germain
But, tell me, for true, for true—in what way do you love me?
Rigolette
For true, for true—I love you like an excellent neighbor.
Germain
But, that's not it. I want to be loved like a lover.
Rigolette
Like a lover! Ah, really, for heaven's sake. Now that's a crazy
idea. Do I have time for that?
Germain
What's time got to do with it?
Rigolette
Time? Why it's everything for me. Ah, well! I have only to be
jealous to give myself heart pains. Well, do I earn enough money to be
able to waste two or three hours a day weeping in my desolation? And if
you deceived me, the despair! By this time I would be terribly behind
in my work.
Germain
But if I ask that you love me, it's to become your husband.
Rigolette
My husband! But you are poor like me.
Germain
I have an old uncle who's going to leave me at least one thousand
shillings.
Rigolette
A thousand shillings! Yes, but while waiting, we have nothing. Look
at the Morels, see where that leads.
Germain
But it wouldn't do you any good to work if you fell ill.
Rigolette (laughing)
Me, ill? Is he funny! Ah, indeed, for whom would you want me to
fall ill? I eat when I am hungry, drink when I am thirsty. I sleep like
a top, I sing like a lark. My heart's free, joyous. Does one fall ill
like that?
Pipelet (coming in)
Ah, Miss Rigolette—a chair—for pity's sake—a chair—
Rigolette
Ah! My God! Mr. Pipelet, how pale you are.
Pipelet
Miss, the monster now threatens the peace of my household.
Rigolette
Cabrion, perhaps?
Pipelet
Do you know what he's doing now? He wants to make Anastasia believe
that I have—Just now he went by in the street with a big blonde who
had the impudence to blow me kisses up the steps to my lodge. It was
very lewd. At the sight, my spouse treated me suspiciously. I swear to
you, on my honor—(striking his face) Ah, my God! It's terrifying! Ah,
the scoundrel!
Germain (looking around him)
What's wrong?
Pipelet
That monster infuriates me so much that he makes me lose my memory.
I was bringing a letter to Miss Rigolette. Ah, that scalawag of a
Cabrion.
Rigolette
A letter for me! Heavens, I've never received one.
Germain
With a nice seal, handsome arms.
Pipelet
As for me, I'd like to see one—a letter concerning the burial of
Cabrion.
Rigolette
Ah! How lucky! News of Fleur de Marie.
Germain
Where is she? What's she doing?
Rigolette
Listen: “My dear Rigolette, Only today do they permit me to give
you my news because they've taken precautions to prevent certain bad
people from finding me again. I am really happy. I swear to you. I
regret only one thing, it was not being able to write to you, to you
who were the first to love me, but you're no longer alone.”
Germain
There's good news to give to Chourineur who will come tomorrow to
receive his pension.
Rigolette (continuing to read)
“Soon, I think, I will leave for far away, far away—but not
without having seen you again. Someone with whom you spoke once, and
who has been my providence, will go see you today or tomorrow. I love
him even more since he promised me that my sweet Rigolette could yet
once more embrace Fleur de Marie.”
Germain
Her providence! Doubtless the Prince.
Pipelet (striking his face)
Ah! The bandit!
Rigolette
Ah, you're frightening me, Mr. Pipelet.
Pipelet
It will turn me into a moron. I was forgetting that I have another
stamped paper for Mr. Morel.
Rigolette
What's this stamped paper?
Germain (taking the paper)
It's an official order.
Rigolette
An official order for what?
Germain
If they do not pay during the day, then tomorrow they will seize
all he has.
Rigolette
And they have so little.
Germain
And put poor Mr. Morel in prison.
Rigolette
But Mr. Ferrand who loaned him money won't consent.
Germain
The bill is no longer in his hands. He has to pay it himself, and
he says he hasn't the means.
Rigolette
And that nasty usher continues to pursue them, despite the
explanation you gave them?
Germain
My God, yes!
Rigolette
Oh, if I still had economies, I would break all my money boxes.
(Germain goes quickly to take his hat.)
Rigolette
You are going to your office?
Germain
First, I have to run a little errand two steps from here.
Rigolette
What is it then?
Germain
You'll know later and you won't be angry. In a moment I will return
ad I will rap on this door. (points to the door at the back)
Rigolette
And I will open for you. As for me, I am going up to the Morels
with Mr. Pipelet. I will try to calm them a little. Goodbye, my
neighbor.
Germain
Till later.
Pipelet (to Germain)
Mr. Germain, do me an enormous service. When you go down, look and
see if Cabrion is still in the street.
Germain
Yes, Mr. Pipelet. I will let you know.
Rigolette
Come then, Mr. Pipelet.
Pipelet
Here I am. (going) So long as he's not there any more with his big
blonde.
(All three leave by the right. After a pause there is a knocking at
the door on the left.)
Ferrand
No one. I was unable to grasp their conversation. That letter that
I saw just now below, bearing the arms of the Marquis D'Harville—and
addressed to Rigolette—where can it be? That working girl cannot know
the Marquise D'Harville, but the Prince knows her and during the three
months he's had Fleur de Marie in his power—since that time—efforts,
tricks, perseverances, explanations—all has been useless. But where'd
she put it then? Ah! That letter! That letter! (searching) Nothing!
Nothing! (falling into a seat) Me! Me! At my age, dominated in this
way. The furies instead of remorse have chosen for me this terrible
love. (with rage) But, take from my heart this lance of iron which
destroys, this fire which consumes it. And my head, my head which can
no longer think, which forgets reality and dreams, always dreams.
(rising) If they come, must search quickly. (joyfully) Ah, here it is!
Here it is! It's from her. She wrote that. (laughing) She's at the home
of Madame D'Harville! Oh, now that I know your refuge, audacity and
gold will do the rest. Yes, gold for her. I will sacrifice my gold, my
blood, anything it may cost me, anything. I will brave all.
(threateningly) Truly, absence, the obstacles, far from calming my
passion have exasperated it into a frenzy.
Germain (knocking outside)
My neighbor, are you there? Can one come in?
Ferrand
Germain! Let him not find me here. Let's return this letter.
(Ferrand goes to the other door and stops abruptly.)
Rigolette (outside)
I will be back up soon.
Ferrand
I hear the voice of Rigolette. Ah, in this cabinet.
(Ferrand hides in cabinet. Rigolette enters, singing.)
Germain (outside)
My neighbor, answer me. Can I come in?
Rigolette
Coming! Coming! Heaven's, I'd not put the bolt—
Germain (entering)
You didn't hear me?
Rigolette
I just got back now. Well, your visit, can I know the purpose now?
Germain
Good news! I've been to a rich friend and I begged him to loan me
one thousand francs.
Rigolette
One thousand francs! And what need have you for that sum?
Germain
Don't you get it? That poor Morel. If they put him in prison—
Rigolette
You would pay his debt? Ah, Mr. Germain, that doesn't astonish me,
but it has an effect on me all the same.
Germain
My friend is leaving tomorrow on a trip. But he has promised to do
everything he can to send me that amount before he departs.
Rigolette
I want to go up right away to the Morels to tell them.
Germain
Wait, he really promised me, but I don't yet have the money. Better
not give them a false hope.
Rigolette
Oh! My God, it's true. It's not certain.
Germain
Don't worry, I will go again today to press him.
Rigolette
Come on, that's it! Good hope. Go down to your office. As for me,
I'm running to take my work to the Rue St. Denis. Give me my shawl, my
neighbor and fasten it under my neck with a pin. Be careful not to
prick me.
Germain (sighing)
Oh, Miss Rigolette.
Rigolette
Well, what?
Germain
I don't like to serve as your chambermaid.
Rigolette
Fine—complain! Come on, come on, let's go. I still haven't done a
thing. I've got my key, my work—I haven't forgotten anything. You are
going down? You are a brave lad, my neighbor.
(Germain and Rigolette go out. Ferrand comes out of the cabinet and
writes in a notebook.)
Ferrand
A word to my usher and tomorrow, at daybreak, Morel is arrested and
the chain is mine. I'll turn against this wretched Germain the loan
he's going to make and he'll be thrown in prison like a thief and in an
hour the School Master will know where Fleur de Marie is.
CURTAIN
The Morels. The stage represents a garret. In the back, the children and Madame Varner. To the right, Madeleine Morel in a large armchair. To the left, a table with a grindstone. Several precious gems shine at the side. At the left, a door. The stage is weakly lit by a candle placed on the table. Morel, exhausted by fatigue and worry, has let his head fall on the grindstone and is sleeping. Madame Varner, whose bearing betrays idiocy, rises, walks about the room, then goes to the workbench.
Madeleine (low)
Mother, where are you going? Don't go there. Don't touch the
diamonds. You know what it cost us.
(Madame Varner warms up her hands by the candle. Then, avidly
watching the diamonds, she burns her hand and screams.)
Morel (waking up)
What's wrong with you, mother? Go back to bed and don't make noise.
Madeleine and the children are sleeping.
The oldest child (raising its head)
I can't sleep.
Madeleine
I was afraid of waking you, Morel, or I would have asked you for
something to drink.
Morel
Right away! Felix, go get something for your mother to drink. (to
the idiot) Ah! Now, that's got to stop. We are getting annoyed. Go back
to bed right away. To bed! To bed!
(The old woman goes to bed, grumbling.)
Felix (coming to his father, crying)
Papa! Papa!
Morel
What a life! What a life!
Madeleine (weeping)
Is it my fault my mother is an idiot?
Morel
Is it mine? What do I ask? Not to die at work for you. I don't
complain. So long as I have the strength I will go on. But I can no
longer do my work and be a guardian for a mad woman, a sick person and
children.
Madeleine
My God, how thirsty I am.
Morel (to Felix)
Give it to me quick, Felix. (stepping, to Madeleine) But this is
going to be too cold, it will make you ill.
Madeleine
So much the better. Everything will be over soon.
Morel
Madeleine, don't talk to me like that. I don't deserve it. Heavens,
I beg you, don't make me shamed.
Madeleine
My God, I don't want to do it, but when I see how I use you, and
how our children serve—
Morel
Our children! They serve to give me courage. Without them, I
wouldn't kill myself working. Without them, discouragement and despair
would have won long ago.
Madeleine
Yes, but these children, these children—
Morel
You see quite well that they are good for something.
Madeleine (after drinking)
My shivering increases. I no longer have the strength to tremble.
Morel (taking off his vest, he places it over her knees)
Warm up.
Madeleine
Oh, you are good. I was wrong just now. You mustn't hold it against
me. When I think that with those diamonds that are there—
Morel
They don't belong to us.
Madeleine
My God—how unfortunate we are.
Morel (sitting on an arm of the chair and holding her hand in
his)
Everyone has his sorrows. The great like the small. For if that
diamond hadn't been stolen, we wouldn't have to pay for it. We wouldn't
be in misery. Work and direction: haven't they given us comfort and
happiness?
Madeleine
Yes, but while waiting, the butcher will no longer give us credit.
What are you going to do?
Morel
I don't know.
Madeleine
Day has come. Extinguish the candle that is burning needlessly.
(Morel puts out the candle) What are you thinking? You don't say
anything.
Morel
I am thinking of the note for which they are pressing us.
Madeleine
Let Mr. Ferrand pay it.
Morel
But it's not up to Mr. Ferrand to pay it since we are the ones who
received the money.
Madeleine
Oh! The rich! The rich!
Morel
My God! The rich are no better off than we are, only they don't
know it. They cannot believe there are people as unlucky as we are.
Madeleine
Oh, you are better than I, and perhaps more fair. My poor man, take
back your vest. Try to rest, to sleep. You will forget.
Morel (going to his bench)
To sleep, to forget! No! No! I don't have the time. I have to work.
Bourdin (entering with Malicorne)
Mr. Morel?
Morel (astonished)
Two men.
The children (running to their mother)
Mama! We're scared.
Madeleine
My friend, take care!
Morel (coming forward)
What do you wish, gentlemen?
Bourdin
Jerome Morel.
Morel
That's me.
Bourdin
Occupation lapidary?
Morel
That's me.
Bourdin
For certain?
Morel
One last time, it's me. What do you want? Explain yourselves and
leave, or I'll call the police.
Bourdin
If anyone has need of the police, it's us, seeing that they will
give us assistance in taking you to prison—if you resist.
Morel
To prison? Me?
Bourdin
Yes, at Clichy.
(Rigolette enters and watches in a trance, stupefied.)
Morel
Clichy!
Bourdin
In prison for debt. We are private police.
Madeleine
Ah! My God! It's Ferrand's note.
Bourdin
Here's the judgement. It is in order.
(General despair.)
Rigolette
Ah! I suspected it. I actually warned Mr. Germain.
Bourdin
Look, will you pay?
Madeleine
Morel, go find Mr. Ferrand. It's Mr. Petit-Jean who is pursuing
this.
Rigolette
Gentlemen, you can see quite well he cannot pay.
Bourdin
In that case, let's go.
Morel
I will go to prison if you wish.
Madeleine
Morel! My friend!
Morel (in anguish)
But I cannot work in prison. They did not confide these gems to me.
They'll think I am a bad character.
Madeleine (offering him her hand which he goes to take)
Ah, my poor man! My poor man!
Rigolette (aside)
And Mr. Germain hasn't come! His friend will depart without leaving
him the money. (going to Bourdin) If I were to promise you eight
francs, ten francs a month?
Bourdin
To pay five hundred francs and the expenses? No, no, hard cash.
Rigolette
I will sell my wash stand.
Bourdin
Come on! One last time, follow me.
Morel
Well, do your job to the end. Tear me from my children who retain
me. Remove from my neck the arm of my wife. Throw us all into ruin, to
misery, but I cannot go voluntarily.
Bourdin
Damn! My brave man, you shall have your wish. We have to do our
job.
Rigolette (screaming in joy)
Mr. Germain!
Bourdin and Malicorne Who's this?
Germain (entering)
Leave that man alone.
Bourdin (turning, in a defensive position)
Do you intend to resist the law?
Germain
No, I intend to pay you.
(General shout.)
Bourdin
I prefer that, indeed, but this is odd.
Morel (coming to Germain)
Mr. Germain, you hardly know me.
Germain
Does one have to be relatives or friends to help someone?
Morel (to Madeleine)
Didn't I tell you those who have something are good—if they know.
Le Chourineur (entering)
They said there was an uproar here. If you need a helping hand, I'm
here.
Rigolette (pointing to Germain)
They don't need anything any more. He paid.
Le Chourineur (takes Germain's hand)
Damn! That's a fine thing, indeed!
Rigolette (to Bourdin)
Gentlemen, we don't wish to detain you. When you've given his
change to this brave man, you will be free to go.
(Malicorne writes at the table and Bourdin takes the paper to
Rigolette and gives her a coin.)
Bourdin
Here, Miss.
Rigolette
What! They owe you five hundred francs and out of a thousand you
return five sous.
Bourdin
Five hundred francs capital, yes, then four hundred ninety-five
francs expenses.
Le Chourineur
Oh, the villains! Oh, the misery mongers! (enter a Police
Superintendant) Heavens! The Police Superintendant.
Morel (to the Police Superintendant, frightened)
Sir, what do you want?
Police Superintendant
I'm looking for Mr. Germain.
Rigolette
There he is, officer, there he is. He's the one who just paid a
thousand francs for Mr. Morel.
Bourdin
That's so, officer.
(Ferrand appears in the doorway.)
Police Superintendant
You are the clerk of Mr. Ferrand?
Germain
Yes, sir.
Police Superintendant
Sir, on a denunciation brought against you, I must arrest you.
All (except Ferrand)
There's a mistake!
You are accused of fraudulently extracting three notes of one thousand francs from the safe entrusted to you.
Germain
Who said that?
Ferrand
I, sir, who do not compromise with dishonesty.
Germain
This is an infamous slander.
Ferrand
Sir, a few days ago, you asked me to advance you five hundred
francs in cash. You didn't possess the sum you've just paid and that
necessarily proves the theft.
Germain
Indeed, that sum does not belong to me.
Police Superintendant
In that case, tell us the origin.
Germain
A friend just loaned it to me this morning.
Police Superintendant
Name this friend, sir. His testimony may be of great weight.
Germain
It's Mr. Herve d'Herben, who lives in the square of the Hotel de
Ville, No. 10.
Police Superintendant
Well, sir, let's go to his place.
Germain
Unfortunately, he's just left.
Ferrand
I have nothing to say. It's up to the Police Superintendant to
judge the worth of such a statement.
Rigolette
But, as for me, I know that it's true. Mr. Germain was at my place
last night and he came to tell me that he hoped to have the sum today.
Police Superintendant
In the presence of an accusation brought by a man like Mr. Ferrand,
despite all the vague allegations you oppose to it, I regret, sir, to
be obliged to fulfill a rigorous duty. (to Germain) Sir, will you
please return to me?
Morel
What! You did all this for me?
Le Chourineur
All the same, you are a famous fellow.
Germain
Oh, Mr. Police Superintendant, I will follow you without fear. The
mistake of Mr. Ferrand, yes, it is an error, will be recognized. Be
calm, Miss Rigolette.
(The Police Superintendant signals Germain to follow him, and at
that moment, Rigolette, who is following them, begins to cry.)
Le Chourineur (going to her and speaking in a low voice)
Don't cry, Miss. In prison he will need a friend. I'll try to get
one for him. (leaves)
Bourdin (returning the money)
Ah, indeed. I won't let it end like this! Come, seize everything
here, Malicorne.
Ferrand (to Bourdin)
Wait! (to Morel, who remains overwhelmed) Mr. Morel, look, be
reasonable, you can see clearly that everyone shares your sorrow. I am
going to offer you help, but I cannot do everything. Help me.
Morel
Sir, I have nothing.
Ferrand
You have that chain which has some value.
Morel
I told you that my mother-in-law—
Ferrand
Oh, my God! Do you have to listen to the scruples of a woman no
longer in her right mind at such a moment? Look, profit by her sleep.
Morel
Well! You shall have it. The thought of leaving my family alone
without support decides me.
(Rudolph enters, gives Bourdin a note and watches what is
happening.)
Morel (in despair)
Ah, courage fails me. That necklace isn't mine. It isn't even
Madame Varner's.
Ferrand (impatiently)
Mr. Morel—
Morel
I tell you that chain is a deposit which belongs to the parents of
a child.
Rudolph (rushing towards Madame Varner)
Oh, my God! What's he say?
Ferrand (taking the chain from Madame Varner)
I have it!
Morel
It belongs to the parents of a young child kidnapped from Madame
Varner.
Rudolph (tearing the chain from Ferrand's hands)
My daughter!
All
His daughter!
Rudolph
All that remains of my daughter, honest Morel, kidnapped, lost!
Morel
Oh, pardon us.
Madeleine
And he's just saved us! Milord, I and my children really want to
thank you.
Ferrand (aside)
Fleur de Marie—daughter of the Countess Sarah. The Prince is her
father and the chain escapes me. Oh, I'll indeed write the School
Master tomorrow that Fleur de Marie will no longer be in his power.
CURTAIN
Madame D'Harville's Park. The stage represents a part of Madame D'Harville's Park. To the left, an enclosing wall, interrupted by an iron grill gate. A pavilion with a door leading into the house. In the back, a fountain with a balustrade. To the right, trees, arbors. At some distance to the right is a farm and farm house.
Madame D'Harville is seated; Fleur de Marie is arranging a bouquet she is bringing to her.
Fleur de Marie
Look at this pretty bouquet, Madame.
Madame D'Harville
It is charming.
Fleur de Marie
Deign to accept it, I beg you.
Madame D'Harville
With pleasure, my dear child. Well, are you happy here?
Fleur de Marie
Ah! If you knew how great my joy is, when each morning I wake up in
the pretty room I live in. I, who was living before in the saddest
abode.
Madame D'Harville
Come, come, you must put these sad memories out of your mind. No
longer think of those times.
Fleur de Marie
No longer think of them, Madame? Isn't it from that time that my
profound gratitude to you and milord dates? Scorned, totally abandoned
as I was, didn't he deign to speak consoling words to me? Also, I
prayed God each day, to shower you with his gifts. For, alas, the poor
can only pray for their benefactors.
Madame D'Harville
Well, be satisfied my child. Your wishes are fulfilled. I can now
confide in you that the signing of my marriage contract with the Prince
is set for tomorrow evening, and soon thereafter, we will leave for
Germany.
Fleur de Marie
It is true. Oh, thank you, my God. You heard me!
Madame D'Harville
Won't you regret leaving France?
Fleur de Marie
Except for Rigolette, to whom you allowed me to write yesterday,
what would I regret more than you, more than milord, for whom I
experience an almost religious gratitude.
Madame D'Harville
Oh, you are right. There's no soul greater, more beautiful than
his. Why must his heart have been so cruelly wounded?
Fleur de Marie
Him, so good, he has sorrows?
Madame D'Harville
Very big ones. This very morning he recalled to me a fatal event
that has just reawakened in his heart the saddest memories on the
subject of a daughter that he idolized. It's for that that I am going
to rejoin him in Paris.
Fleur de Marie
You won't be staying long?
Madame D'Harville
No, my child. In the afternoon we will return. Madame Dubreuil is
presiding over the fishing in the pond and preparations for the
marriage of farmer Bastien which takes place tomorrow, she will remain
near you. If, during my absence, alms need to be given, you have full
authority.
Fleur de Marie
Thank you, thank you, Madame. To console sorrows like those I've
experienced is a double honor. Go, since you must, leave for several
hours. Your presence will calm the sorrow of my benefactor. He had a
daughter. Oh, how she would have loved him, adored him, for she would
have heard it spoken of everywhere that her father helped the poor,
relieved the weak, gave strength and courage to the abandoned, and
although born a princess and close to the throne, she would have been
more proud of her father's heart than of his sovereign birth.
Madame D'Harville
Marie! Marie! These words, this enthusiasm, are our most sweet, our
most cherished reward.
Madame Dubreuil (entering)
The carriage has just arrived at the farm, Madame.
Madame D'Harville
Goodbye, dear child.
Fleur de Marie
Allow me to escort you.
(They leave. The School Master opens the door of the little pavilion
and watches them go.)
School Master
Very nice; here I am perfectly up to date, thanks to the
concierge's pavilion, the exterior door of which I've been able to
open. I've found myself a convenient observatory. If we know how to
pilot our ship, our future is made. They are fighting over Fleur de
Marie. On the one side Red Beard—on the other side this Countess, who
for some inheritance intrigue, without a doubt, requires a young girl
without parents, without known origins. Which of the two will satisfy
us—Mr. Ferrand or Countess MacGregor? We shan't disturb ourselves
about that. Above all we must hasten to act. Since yesterday, nothing
yet. (looking through the gate) That's strange, in the avenue, the big
bloke with the small young man. They seem to be calling me. He's making
gestures to me. It's Francois!
(Enter Francois and Sarah, disguised as a man.)
School Master
You here!
Francois (indicating the Countess)
The Screech Owl told me to bring—
School Master
The Countess in disguise! The Countess is impatient. (to Francois)
See to it we are not interrupted.
Sarah
What have you done?
School Master
I've only been able to get information so far.
Sarah
You promised that yesterday evening.
School Master
The circumstances haven't allowed me—
Sarah
And last night?
School Master
Last night, nothing. It was in vain that I prowled around the
Chateau, needless trouble, entirely impossible. Evidently they are sure
of their guards. As soon as the young girl sets foot in the park,
servants follow her. They push their precautions to the extent of
making her wear a veil, doubtless to prevent her being recognized.
Sarah
If necessary, I will double the reward promised.
School Master
But, what do you want to do with the young girl?
Sarah
Oh, don't be fearful for her. If my hopes are realized, the most
brilliant fate is assured for her. She is destined to replace a young
girl whose death has been mourned more than ten years.
School Master
Ah! I get it. It's a question of saying to the parents: “You
thought your daughter was dead, but she isn't.”
Sarah (aside)
If my plan succeeds, the Prince will think he's found his daughter.
Our marriage will legitimize her birth and my dreams and ambitions will
be satisfied. (aloud) You will affirm all the details that I will
communicate to you about the child, so as to render the fable more
complete.
School Master
Don't worry.
Sarah
Tomorrow, at ten in the morning, be at my place.
School Master
At ten. I'll be there.
Sarah
You will enter through the garden gate which will be left open.
School Master
Fine!
Sarah
I will be waiting for you above. We will agree about everything,
but I must have this young girl.
School Master
My interest answers for my zeal.
Sarah
If need be, you will stay here a week, a month.
School Master
That will be unnecessary. We must leave tomorrow night, and bring
the young girl.
Sarah
Well, until tomorrow. Can't this man second us?
Francois
I do not know if we will be able to remain here until tomorrow.
Sarah
What do you mean?
Francois (with a gesture)
There in the village, at the corner near the roadside inn, I just
met the Milkmaid, you know. Well, she's in mourning for her husband.
School Master
The devil!
Francois
You see, we mustn't make old bones here.
School Master
Ah! The Milkmaid is in mourning. Pardon, Madame, but an obstacle
can be turned into a tool. You have no reason for not appearing before
this woman.
Sarah
Doubtless.
School Master
Deign to take the trouble to go to the country inn. Tell the
Milkmaid that you are coming from the Chateau where they've learned
about the death of her husband, the loss she sustained, and they are
disposed to help her. Engage her to come here this morning.
Sarah
But to what good?
School Master
That's what I don't have the time to explain to you. Francois is
going to point out the Milkmaid's house to you. As for me, I cannot go
far.
(The School Master escorts Sarah and Francois to the gate. Fleur de
Marie reappears at the right.)
Fleur de Marie
I must have left my work box where I put the money Madame
D'Harville gave me for that poor woman.
(Fleur de Marie goes to the bench; the School Master returns.)
School Master
“You will be the dispenser of the charity that we are going to do,”
is what Madame D'Harville said to Fleur de Marie. That little phrase
seems like nothing, but it will suffice.
Fleur de Marie
Oh, what do I see? My God! My God! Who will save me? What's that
man come here to do?
(Fleur de Marie vanishes behind the wall.)
School Master
On that I am basing the success of my plan. It's true that I have
within reach this enraged Milkmaid. (seeing Francois return) Already,
what brings you back?
Francois
Fear.
School Master
What do you mean?
Francois
I was unable to speak before the Countess. Things are going bad.
Benoit and Barbillon have been arrested and the Screech Owl charged me
with a letter for you.
School Master
A letter? (takes the letter and reads) “They have suspicions.
Yesterday they came to investigate at the moment Red Beard entered; he
wanted to know if you had succeeded. Arrested, interrogated, he had to
identify himself. Judge what was my surprise when I recognized in him
Mr. Ferrand of Rue du Temple—” (interrupting himself) Jacques Ferrand!
Here! Here in my power! I can dominate him in my turn. (continuing to
read) “As they had nothing against him, they released him, too.”
Jacques Ferrand, now you are my slave.
Francois
Well, what do you say?
School Master
I say as soon as we are masters of the little girl, we will take
her to the home of La Martial, in L'ile des Ravageurs, and the two of
us will go to Paris to see our business up close.
Francois
Then, you are sure of success?
School Master
That's what you are going to see. Someone's coming—Let's make
tracks.
(The School Master and Francois enter the pavilion and shut the
gate. Fleur de Marie appears. The music indicates steps of many
neighbors.)
Fleur de Marie
I can hardly bear up. It's not chance that brings those two men
here. I heard everything. They are manufacturing some conspiracy
against me, against the Marquise, against my benefactor. Before this
evening, they will learn the peril that threatens them. People coming?
Ah, I want to be alone. I want to be able to weep.
(Enter Madame Dubreuil, servants, peasants, fishermen and the
Milkmaid.)
Madame Dubreuil
Come, bring the nets. You will cast them and everybody will pull
them in. Women, bring the baskets. (to the Milkmaid who is in mourning)
Don't be afraid, Miss is very good. (as Fleur de Marie is about to
leave, Madame Dubreuil stops her) Miss, here's a poor widow that the
Marquise told me to recommend to you.
Fleur de Marie (without looking at her, gives her the purse
given to her by Madame D'Harville)
Here my brave woman!
Milkmaid
Ah, Miss. Ah, my children and I, we really deserve your pity. After
three months of illness that ruined us, my husband just died of wounds
he received in the Cite.
Fleur de Marie
What do I hear? Is it you?
Milkmaid
You heard of it?
Fleur de Marie
Yes, yes. I will tell everything to Madame D'Harville. Be sure of
her charity.
Milkmaid
Madame Dubreuil was right to say that you were truly good.
(The Milkmaid takes Fleur de Marie's hand to kiss it and then
recognizes her and utters a scream.)
Milkmaid
Ah!
Madame Dubreuil
What's the matter?
Milkmaid
It's she! (holds tight to Fleur de Marie's hand) Why, look me in
the face!
Madame Dubreuil (stopping her)
Why wretch! What are you doing?
Milkmaid
My friends, she's one of the gang that caused the death of my
husband.
(Everyone mingles around in curiosity, saying: “What's wrong?” “What
did she say?”)
Madame Dubreuil
You are mad! Sorrow is distracting you, my good woman. You are
mistaken. Tell them you are mistaken.
Milkmaid
I am not mistaken! Here. See how pale she is! Her teeth are
chattering, the wretch.
Madame Dubreuil
Insolent! Get out of here. To dare to be lacking in respect to
Miss.
Milkmaid
Miss! It's you who are crazy! Miss is a street singer that I saw
loitering in all the streets.
(Murmurs amongst the peasants.)
Madame Dubreuil (exasperated)
Kick this woman out of here. (no one moves) Why, didn't you hear
me? I am ordering you to kick this woman out of here.
(Voices, murmurs.)
Pierre
If she recognizes her, she is within her rights. They murdered her
husband.
Milkmaid
You want to kick out a poor widow? But ask if she doesn't know me.
Madame Dubreuil
Do you hear her, Miss?
Milkmaid
Yes or no? Are you called La Goualeuse?
Fleur de Marie (in a low voice amidst a profound silence)
Yes.
(Murmurs of: “She admits it.” “She admits it.”)
Madame Dubreuil
But what? What does she admit?
Milkmaid
Let her answer. She will admit at least that she lived in the midst
of bandits—that she knows them.
Fleur de Marie (in a low voice)
I can know them without ever—
Madame Dubreuil (moving away)
Ah! The wretch!
(The group becomes noisy and more threatening and Fleur de Marie
recoils.)
Pierre
She wants us to call her Miss! She insinuates herself with the
master, the bold one.
Fleur de Marie (terrified)
My God! What harm have I done you gentlemen?
Pierre
Her husband is dead. You knew those who struck him down.
(Fleur de Marie has retreated to the balustrade of the pond. The
School Master cracks the gate of the pavilion half open and observes.)
Milkmaid
There's justice in heaven. (advancing on Fleur de Marie) You don't
see my black dress, miscreant! (advancing further) Brave folks have
their turn, too! Ah, you thought you wouldn't be recognized!
Fleur de Marie (retreating)
Madame! Madame! You want to make me fall in the water?
Peasants That's right. That's right, in the water.
Madame Dubreuil (screaming in terror and rushing to Fleur de
Marie)
What's this? What are you doing to her?
Peasants In the water! In the water!
Fleur de Marie
Mercy! Mercy!
Madame Dubreuil
Stop! If she is guilty, is it up to you to do justice? Lock her in
there until the masters' return.
Peasants Yes, yes. That's fair. That's better.
Fleur de Marie (kissing Madame Dubreuil's hand)
Ah, you've saved me.
Peasants Yes, yes. In prison.
(Fleur de Marie, terrified, retreats towards the pavilion. The
School Master seizes her by the arm without being seen and pulls her
inside and locks the door. The peasants remain in a threatening
attitude.)
Madame Dubreuil (with the key)
Now, I swear to you, I won't open this door except to Madame the
Marquise.
(A scream from Fleur de Marie is heard from inside the pavilion.)
CURTAIN
The Prison. The stage represents a warming room of a prison. At the back, a door giving on a court. To the right, a wicket gate through which one goes to the clerk. A stove around which several groups of prisoners are seated or standing. They are listening to Piquevinaigre (Sharp Vinegar) who is seated above them on a big block of wood. The School Master is at the door at the back and looking outside. Benoit with Barbillon is mid stage with the other prisoners.
While Piquevinaigre speaks through an opening of a flagstone raised in the midst of the stage, a hand pulls out little sacks of earth that the prisoners, obedient to Benoit, share amongst themselves. Some put the earth in their pockets, others throw it behind the planks of a camp bed placed in the back of the theatre.
Piquevinaigre
So, then the fairy said to the enchanter—
Benoit
Well? And so what? Finish your tale, Piquevinaigre.
Piquevinaigre
Noon is about to strike.
Benoit
What tells you it's noon?
Piquevinaigre
My stomach.
Benoit
Your stomach is ahead of time by a quarter of an hour.
Piquevinaigre
I'll continue in that case.
Benoit (to prisoners)
Form a wall around here—you know quite well—you cannot be sure of
a poltroon like Piquevinaigre.
Francois (raising his head out of the trench)
There are no more shovels full of earth to take out. (goes back in
the tunnel)
Piquevinaigre
Then the fairy said to the enchanter: You are protecting the old
hump- back. I am protecting the young troubadour. But, it's all the
same, he will marry the princess and all her treasures.
Benoit (in a low voice)
Nothing. School Master?
School Master
No, the guard is walking in the courtyard.
Benoit (to Barbillon who is listening at the wicket by the
left)
And you? At your wicket?
Barbillon
The newcomer of yesterday is still being watched.
Benoit
Watch carefully, for this Germain, with his proud air and his
despair, doesn't suit me at all. (turning toward the group by the
stove) Well, are you yawning, Piquevinaigre?
Piquevinaigre
It's true. I am not in the mood to tell stories. It's appetite
which is taking away my words, but another time I will tell you about
the Gringalet and Cut-in-Two—Ah, now there you see is a story to make
the birds come down from the trees to hear it.
Barbillon (in a low voice, coming in)
Here's that Germain.
(Benoit utters a shout. Francois leaps out of the trench and intends
to give a hand to another prisoner who's already raising his arm, but
at the noise of the bolts in the door at the left, Benoit puts his foot
on the flagstone which falls back. The groups, which have hidden from
Piquevinaigre what is happening, disperse. Germain comes in from the
left and goes to sit sadly in a corner. The prisoners keep away from
him, except Piquevinaigre. The School Master comes back from the rear.)
Francois (low to Benoit)
How's the other going to get out of there now that the new one is
here?
Benoit (low)
Hell, he's going to have to wait for the signal. (to School Master)
Are you sure of him, still?
School Master
Like myself, he had some trouble to decide to flee this place, but
it seems he's really put himself to it. He even broke a shutter and
although he's only been here since this morning, you've seen he doesn't
hesitate to work with us.
Benoit (to Francois)
All is ready?
Francois
There's only one more plank to raise and we are in the adjoining
house. The comrade has only to enlarge the passage.
Piquevinaigre
Don't seem so sad like that. They are giving you the evil eye.
You've got to take your part. Being neither courageous nor strong, I am
a talker. (shouts in a half voice) The guard! The guard!
Papa Roussel (entering)
Everybody being good in here?
Benoit
Like angels—like little angels.
Papa Roussel
At noon, you will go into the covered courtyard. Because of the
repairs being made to this building, this room is going to be used as a
parlor.
(Papa Roussel goes to the back with some of the prisoners.)
School Master
Then I'm going to receive the business man here.
Benoit
You—a business man?
School Master
You recall an individual who had a red beard and who was seen
sometimes in the Cite. He's going to come here to take my orders—but
without his red beard and disguised as an honest man.
Germain
What a suspicion!
School Master
I wrote him yesterday when, along with Francois, we were arrested
in the Cite. He's going to come. Whatever I want, he will want, and if
one's friends have need of something, he will have to obey.
Papa Roussel
In the courtyard, in the courtyard. There are visitors coming.
A voice (outside at the wicket gate to the right)
Duresnil—called the School Master?
Germain
I am going to know if I am mistaken.
School Master (seeing Ferrand enter)
What was I telling you? There he is.
Ferrand (to Germain)
You here!
(Germain stops near Ferrand while the other prisoners leave.)
Germain
Mr. Ferrand, I am no longer uneasy about the fate of the Morels.
Ferrand
What do you mean?
Germain
You will answer for their future.
Ferrand
Why's that?
Germain
Because it's you who stole the diamond. Because you've been found
out at last!
Ferrand
Sir, I don't comprehend enigmas. None of this will prevent me from
recommending your affair to the clerk. If you have something to say,
you can speak when it pleases you.
Germain
Don't worry. I will speak.
Ferrand (low to the School Master)
Look closely at that young man.
Papa Roussel
In the courtyard! In the courtyard!
(Germain leaves with the guard.)
School Master
I know him. What have you against him?
Ferrand
Later. But why are you here? I thought you were at the Chateau of
Madame D'Harville.
School Mater I went there. I succeeded.
Ferrand
You found Fleur de Marie?
School Master
Your directions were excellent.
Ferrand
She's in your hands?
School Master
Not without a lot of trouble.
Ferrand
You will bring her to me.
School Master
One moment. There's a score to settle.
Ferrand
Let's see!
(The School Master and Ferrand sit down.)
School Master
After having taken Fleur de Marie to a safe place, and after having
planted some of her clothes on the shore of the Seine to make it look
like her death was voluntary, I had the unfortunate idea of returning
to Paris. Arriving in the Cite I was arrested and brought here, but
informed by the Screech Owl of your double identity, I though we were
sufficiently joined in crime to count on your help—and wrote you.
(Ferrand notices a box of earth on a bench that was forgotten by a
prisoner.)
Ferrand (aside)
Dirt—that's strange.
School Master (with somber bitterness)
Do you know this is a great discovery made by the Screech Owl. Ah,
you are a man with a double face. Ah, you are your own accomplice. The
red beard confidant of the business man with green glasses! How you
count on each other! What discretion, what obedience!
(The flagstone is raised a bit and one can see the top of someone's
head, listening. Ferrand doesn't miss any of this.)
Ferrand (aside)
More dirt. (aloud) Enough! You can ruin me, but you are a man of
sense. We can understand each other.
School Master
So be it! But I must tell you, frankly I am disposed to abuse the
advantage I have over you.
Ferrand (going to the flagstone which he taps with his cane)
Your irony is bitter. Let's talk seriously. What price to you put
on your silence? (rapping the flagstone again with his cane) That must
be it.
School Master
If you were a rogue of no substance you would get off with twelve
thousand francs. But the austerity you've paraded shows the high
probity of your character, the limitless confidence which you've
obtained necessarily increases my pretensions. Still, I will only ask
you ten thousand francs per lie.
Ferrand
Thirty thousand francs.
School Master
And more later—we will see.
Ferrand (placing the end of his cane under the flagstone)
We will see.
School Master (grabbing his arm)
Great God!
Ferrand
Huh?
School Master
Nothing.
Ferrand
Indeed. It seems to me there's a current of air.
School Master
Ah, indeed, they really care about that air.
Ferrand
They're wrong. There's nothing so dangerous as currents of air. I'm
going to inform the guard.
School Master
Mercy! They've been working on this tunnel for three months.
Ferrand (imperiously)
Where is Fleur de Marie?
(The flagstone raises and one can see the head of a man, listening.)
School Master
At the L'ile des Ravageurs and La Martial will be expecting me
there, with her tonight, at the Bridge of Asnieres at seven o'clock.
Ferrand
About time.
School Master
But how did you know that this flagstone—?
Ferrand
That young man that I mentioned to you the moment that he left.
(aside) Germain, my vengeance won't be a long while in coming.
School Master
It was him? The wretch! We were going to flee in two hours.
Ferrand
Nothing is desperate. To escape suspicion, he charged me with
denouncing you. That will give you at least an hour.
School Master
An hour! We still have time to punish a traitor.
Ferrand
And now, until this evening, seven o'clock at the Asnieres Bridge.
School Master
But if the escape does not succeed?
Ferrand
That will be because you let Germain live.
School Master
Why, you who know—
Ferrand
Haven't I all means of knowing that my accomplice is outside the
hands of justice?
School Master
You threatened me, still—
Ferrand
To frighten you. You must think before answering me.
School Mater That's true. Come on—he's cleverer than I am—and I thought I was his master! Bow before him, wretch, and march where he directs.
Ferrand (to Roussel who has just entered)
Would you take me to the clerk, please?
Papa Roussel
Here, sir. (after having opened to Ferrand, speaking into the
court) You can come back now.
School Master
Let's think about this Germain and find the way to punish his
treason.
(All the prisoners, including Germain, return.)
Piquevinaigre
Until then—be on your guard.
School Master (excitedly to Piquevinaigre)
What did you say to him?
Piquevinaigre
Me? Nothing. I was going over the story of Gringalet and
Cut-in-Two.
School Master
Right. (taking Benoit and Francois aside) Listen, you two, there's
a traitor amongst us.
Francois
A traitor!
Benoit
Name him a bit so I can do justice. Look, speak. Where is he?
School Master (pointing to Germain who is at the left)
There.
(Piquevinaigre listens cautiously.)
Benoit
That Germain? How do you know?
School Master
I have proof he's a snitch.
Benoit
Wait! You're making me think of something. Just now, the guard told
him at any moment he would be called to the director's.
School Master
He mustn't go there.
Benoit (with a determined air)
He won't go. I'll take care of him.
Piquevinaigre (terrified)
He's lost.
School Master
I understand you, but when?
Benoit
When the guard leaves.
School Master
That will be the moment of slipping away.
Benoit
As the first go down, Germain will have to deal with me.
School Master
The other one is still there waiting, and when will the guard
leave?
Benoit
As usual, to have soup when we are busy listening to Piquevinaigre.
School Master
Our friends have cash?
Benoit
Like you and me.
School Master
In that case, if the escape succeeds we must rendezvous tonight at
the Asnieres Bridge.
Benoit (low)
Why?
School Master
Because the man who was just here will be there. He has something
and can be forced to give it up.
Piquevinaigre (listening to bell)
There's less than a half hour. If I could save him by making the
guard listen to me—
School Master (to Benoit)
Say, time is passing and I'm getting ants in my pants.
Benoit
Come on, look. Piquevinaigre, your story of Cut-in-Two—
Papa Roussel
That's nice. I wouldn't be sorry to see you well behaved so I can
go have a word about lunch.
Piquevinaigre (aside)
Let's try to stretch things out. (aloud) That will work, gentlemen,
but there's one condition: I have some comforts to beg. I ask the
honorable company to provide me a capital of twenty sous. Twenty sous,
gentlemen, to hear the fairy stories of Piquevinaigre.
Benoit
Get on with it. You'll get your twenty sous when you finish.
Piquevinaigre
After? No, no, before.
Benoit
Ah, indeed! Say, do you think we are capable—
Piquevinaigre
Me—come on!
Benoit
I'll risk two sous. (meaningfully) Can one be stingy for such a
pleasure?
Piquevinaigre (making his collection)
Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen—it's a bad count, and still
there's a lot of money lacking. Come on, gentlemen, you rich fellows,
capitalists. A little more effort. All we lack is seven sous. Seven
wretched sous! Ah, gentlemen, ah, gentlemen, you are making people
believe you are unjustly put here, or that you've really got no talent.
Germain
Here's ten!
Piquevinaigre (aside)
He's a real jerk. He's putting them in himself. I would have gained
ten minutes with my collection.
Benoit (low to the School Master)
He's going to go sit in his corner as usual. Without drawing
attention, I am going to sit near him.
Piquevinaigre (taking Germain by the hand)
Gentlemen, the banker is a good kid. A place of honor near the
story teller. (low to Germain) Watch yourself, your life's at stake.
Benoit (aside)
Fine! I won't have so far to go. (aloud) Oh, come on, start,
Piquevinaigre.
Piquevinaigre (aside)
Come. We'll really have to talk good to keep Papa Roussel. (aloud)
Jingle!
All
Jangle!
Piquevinaigre
Abra!
All
Abra!
All
Cadabra.
Piquevinaigre
So I begin. Once upon a time in Little Poland—(to Papa Roussel,
who takes a step to the rear) That's your old quarter, I believe,
guard?
Papa Roussel
No, I used to live in the Street of the Fishing Cat.
Piquevinaigre
A street with a very pretty stream in the middle of it, my word.
Benoit (impatiently)
Ah, come on. Are you ever going to tell the tale?
Piquevinaigre
Once upon a time in Little Poland, there was a man so evil they
called him Cut-in-Two. He had the complexion of boot tops, red hair,
green eyes and a black tongue. To these accomplishments Cut-in-Two
joined the profession of having I don't know how many turtles, monkeys,
pigs and foxes corresponding in number to little Savoyards or abandoned
children. (the guard starts to leave) Do you want to see Gringalet? I
am going to serve up Gringalet.
Papa Roussel
Let's see Gringalet. I can spare a minute.
Piquevinaigre
Gringalet, one of those children, and the most puny, was beaten by
Cut-in-Two, by the monkeys, and all the little animal keepers.
Papa Roussel
Poor lad!
School Master (to Benoit)
The guard is not going away.
Benoit (low, enraged)
Damned slow poke. Will you finish?
Piquevinaigre
Gringalet was too weak and too cowardly to revenge himself. He wept
and his sole consolation was to prevent the big beasts from eating the
little ones.
Papa Roussel
Ah!
Piquevinaigre
Ah, now that should interest you, Papa Roussel. You understand
quite well one doesn't meddle in the affairs of foxes and monkeys. But,
when he saw a spider lying in ambush in its web to catch a poor fool of
a fly, who wanted only God's sunshine, Gringalet beat down the web,
delivered the fly and crushed the spider.
Benoit
You are not on the subject, Piquevinaigre.
Piquevinaigre
I am not on the subject! Guard, I ask you to be judge—hear a dream
that Gringalet had one night.
Papa Roussel
Well, let's see. Tell it fast.
Piquevinaigre
Gringalet dreamed he was like one of those flies, like the ones he
had saved so often, and that, in his turn, he was falling in a strong
web, and he was struggling, struggling. Then he saw a sort of monster
coming toward him, with a face like Cut-in-Two, on the body of a
spider. The spider approached him, touched him. He felt the big cold
legs of the monster seize him, wrap around him to devour him. He
thought he was dead. Then suddenly he saw a pretty little midge of
gold, which had a sort of pointed tongue like a diamond needle,
fluttering around the web with a furious air.
Papa Roussel (sitting)
My word, this is amusing me.
Piquevinaigre (aside)
He's saved.
Benoit (low)
I feel like exterminating all three of them.
A voice (outside)
Papa Roussel, come to dinner. Only five minutes more.
Papa Roussel (rising)
The rest tomorrow.
(Piquevinaigre, seeing the movement among the prisoners, who follow
Papa Roussel with their eyes, retreats towards the back, while the
School Master moves the block from the flagstone.)
Piquevinaigre
Watch yourself, Mr. Germain.
Benoit (rushing Germain)
He's right—for here's your spider.
(Hardly has the block been moved when the prisoner who was in the
trench raises the flagstone and rushes at Benoit.)
Le Chourineur
And here's his golden midge!
Benoit (struggling and releasing Germain)
What's it to this brigand?
Le Chourineur (protecting Germain)
He's got it in for all those who would treacherously kill a lamb of
God.
(As soon as the trench is open, the School Master rushes into it and
is followed by several others.)
Benoit and several prisoners Death to both of them. Death!
Piquevinaigre
The Guard! The Guard!
(Benoit separates from the prisoners and rushes into the trench.)
Benoit (to Chourineur)
We will see each other again. I am in a real hurry at this time.
Le Chourineur
At your ease, good fellow!
(Chourineur puts his foot on the flagstone. Several soldiers have
now come in and arranged themselves around the back.)
A Sergeant (to the soldier)
Fire on the first one who moves!
(Everyone remains motionless.)
CURTAIN
The Bridge of Asnieres. The stage is cut by the Bridge of Asnieres. Through the arches one can see the islands. To the left, a flat-bottomed boat. To the right, a large boat is moored.
AT RISE, the School Master enters furtively from the canal and goes toward the first arch of the bridge.
School Master
Are you there?
Voice
Yes.
School Master
With Fleur de Marie?
Voice
Yes.
School Master
Keep her until I notify you. What can that music and torchlight be
coming from this side?
(The School Master comes forward a bit to discover what is happening
on the bridge, where the head of a wedding party begins to appear.
Madame Dubreuil stops on the bridge at the head of a procession that
can be seen by the audience.)
Madame Dubreuil
Ah, indeed! I am stopping here as I told you. The rest of you, go
dance all night at the Golden Chariot.
Peasants (insistent)
Come with us, Madame Dubreuil, come on.
Madame Dubreuil
No, my friends. I am too saddened by the events of yesterday, when
Madame D'Harville was shamed by the death of that poor little girl—
that misfortunate. It would be wrong for me to go with you.
Peasants Let's go then, since you wish it. It's a shame.
Madame Dubreuil
Pierre, will you escort me back?
Pierre
Willingly, Madame Dubreuil.
(There are goodbyes. Madame Dubreuil turns on her heels, taking
Pierre's arm while the wedding party continues on to the sound of
music.)
School Master
They're moving off. I have no time to lose. At ten in the evening,
I must be at the home of my Countess. To return to Paris! Is it really
prudent? I shall take care to arm myself against all eventualities. But
at the moment of my departure, I must lose no opportunity. Ferrand is
going to come. (to the rear) Let's see, come forward, pick pocket.
Fleur de Marie
What do you want with me?
School Master
A small thing. I see clearly we can no longer work together.
Consequently, I am going to simply place you back where you were—in
the home of Mr. Ferrand. You will consent to that, won't you?
Fleur de Marie
You are strangely mistaken if you think that contact with honor and
virtue hasn't inspired me with courage, with spirit. Understand
plainly, to resist you now, I am as strong as you.
School Master
What do you mean?
Fleur de Marie
I am not afraid of you, I tell you. I have courage to oppose your
cowardly will to ruin me, kill me—I have the courage to die.
School Master
Words, that's all.
Fleur de Marie
It's you who gave me this courage.
School Master
Me?
Fleur de Marie
Yes, yesterday, through the horror you inspired in me when I
learned you were a thief and murderer.
School Master
What's she saying?
Fleur de Marie
Yesterday, I heard your conversation with your accomplice.
School Master
Wretch!
Fleur de Marie
In the island where you took me, and from which I could not escape,
I had to be silent. But you've brought me near a highway, near a
bridge. I will stay here until someone comes by, until my screams bring
someone to my aid. And twelve hours later, I will say who you are and
what you have done. I don't want to be your accomplice, even through my
silence. So flee! Flee before me, for if a living creature comes, on my
life which I abandon to you, I swear it, I will speak!
School Master
The devil! This deserves some reflection—
Fleur de Marie
Do what you wish. You know what I will do.
School Master (aside)
I am ruined if she wishes it. The wretch is condemning herself.
It's my liberty, my life, which must be saved. But if she perishes,
then nothing from Ferrand, nothing from the Countess. Why nothing from
her? I can still go there this evening, leaving her ignorant of
whatever is going to happen—obtain money from her—or snatch from her,
perhaps— the wherewithal to assure my flight. Fleur de Marie, yet
another curse. Can I stop! The boat there belongs to the Plunderer, a
valve that one raises in advance allows water to penetrate it, which
submerges it.
Fleur de Marie
People on the bridge—
School Master (seizing her)
Not a word or you are dead.
(Chourineur come in from the right, Tortillard from the left.)
Le Chourineur
Well, kid?
Tortillard
What?
Le Chourineur
Have you seen something?
Tortillard
I've seen the wedding party and the moon.
Le Chourineur
And Mr. Germain?
Tortillard
He's searching down there—by the edge of the small woods.
Le Chourineur
Still, it's here they have their rendezvous. I indeed heard them
yesterday from the trench that I was shut in.
School Master (low)
It's Le Chourineur. (holding Fleur de Marie, who is struggling)
Don't give yourself so much trouble. I am going to call him.
Fleur de Marie
You?
School Master
Hey there! Chourineur—over this way.
Le Chourineur (looking from the bridge)
The School Master.
School Master
Come on over here!
Le Chourineur
I am coming down.
Tortillard (stopping him)
Alone?
Le Chourineur
You don't want me to wait for the others? Try to find Germain and
tell him we've done our business.
(Chourineur disappears for a moment to the left and Tortillard to
the right.)
School Master (aside)
Yes, that's it. In that way I will rid myself of him, too. Two
birds with one stone. (to Fleur de Marie) Well, you see, I surrender
myself to your wishes. I've just called a friend.
Fleur de Marie (to herself)
I don't understand a thing.
School Master
You have no confidence?
Fleur de Marie
No.
Le Chourineur (coming onto the barge)
Not even in me, Fleur de Marie?
Fleur de Marie (seeking refuge with him)
In you, yes!
Le Chourineur (to School Master)
Now, decamp!
School Master
Decamp! And what for? Aren't you a prisoner like us? Didn't you
escape like us?
Le Chourineur
Left through the front gate, do you hear? Ah, you thought I'd
become a brigand? When the patrol arrested me in the street for
breaking a window, it was the window to my room, and I chose my moment
to be put with you and to protect Mr. Germain, who you would have
killed but for me. But as it is lawful to break one's own window,
provided you repair it, when I told my affair, my motives, and they
learned what had happened, they cocked a snoot at me and put me out the
door—which I wanted, because I knew where to find you—from my trench
yesterday, I heard you with Ferrand.
School Master
Well! Here's the thing. Fleur de Marie, for reasons she's just told
me, is no longer pleased with me. On the other hand, an excursion to a
foreign land is necessary. You understand that she embarrasses us—we
are returning her—her freedom—you can take her.
Fleur de Marie
Are you speaking the truth?
School Master
This very moment.
Le Chourineur
Fleur de Marie, where do you want to go?
Fleur de Marie
To the Chateau of Madame D'Harville.
Le Chourineur
Come. School Master, there's still some good in you.
Fleur de Marie
Ah! Let's go! Let's go.
(Fleur de Marie and Chourineur get onto the barge.)
School Master (low)
Not yet.
Le Chourineur (stopping)
What are you doing there?
School Master
Didn't you hear it?
Le Chourineur
It's a signal.
School Master
You are very clever to figure that out.
Le Chourineur
Who is the signal for?
School Master
For the friends with whom I must leave.
Le Chourineur (coming forward)
That's true. They are in the neighborhood—and you are setting a
trap for me.
School Master
A trap—me? Did I know you were coming? Did I know you would be
going that way?
(The School Master goes on to the boat which he prepares.)
Le Chourineur
We won't go by the road, on which without a doubt they are waiting
for this unfortunate child.
School Master
Go by whichever way you wish.
Le Chourineur (seizing him)
Get out of there.
School Master (struggling)
Why?
Le Chourineur
I want this boat.
School Master
It's not mine.
Le Chourineur
I know some one as good as you to give it to. (to Fleur de Marie)
Get in, my child. I know about this.
School Master (wanting to retake the boat)
We need this boat to flee.
Le Chourineur (in the boat with Fleur de Marie)
So do we.
School Master (trying to keep the boat)
It's our last way to safety.
Le Chourineur
Watch the boat hook.
School Master (giving a new signal)
Help me, my friends!
Le Chourineur
I was sure of it. (pushing the boat off) Now we are saved.
School Master
They are lost.
Fleur de Marie
My God, I thank you for having sent me a savior.
School Master
Let's go fast to the L'ile des Ravageurs, first. And at ten, to the
Countess Sarah. (disappears)
Fleur de Marie (on her knees in the boat while Chourineur
rows)
Why, look—(rising) Water in the boat.
Le Chourineur (still rowing)
It's nothing, don't worry.
Fleur de Marie
It's rising, it's rising.
Le Chourineur (casting away the oars)
Sonofabitch! Treachery!
(Chourineur takes off his vest.)
Fleur de Marie
Don't abandon me!
Le Chourineur
I think so, indeed.
(The boat bumps into the pier of the bridge and collapses.)
Fleur de Marie
Help! Help! (faints)
(Chourineur grabs a ring on the bridge with his hand, and with the
other supports Fleur de Marie, who has passed out.)
(Germain and Tortillard arrive on the bridge.)
Germain
A boat which has capsized. Help! To the house down there—help!
Tortillard (crossing the bridge, running)
Oh! Oh! This way.
Le Chourineur (to Fleur de Marie)
Hold on tight. I won't release you.
Germain
Courage! Hold on tight! Ropes! Ropes!
Le Chourineur
Find a boat. The little one is ill—and I am not well either.
Peasants (who have run in)
There's no boat around here.
Germain (jumping on to the bridge)
Oh, I don't have the courage to look at them like this.
Peasants (trying to hold him back)
What are you doing?
(Germain jumps from the bridge into the river.)
Le Chourineur
He intends for all three of us to die.
Peasants There's a boat! There's a boat!
(A boat steered by a peasant pulls away from those moored on the
shore at the right.)
Peasants Hurry. Once more, courage! Quick! Quick! They are coming, they are coming! (a peasant takes Fleur de Marie from Chourineur's arms) She's saved! Bravo! Bravo! Hurray!
Le Chourineur
First of all, take care of the little girl.
Peasants And you too, Chourineur.
Le Chourineur
Have no fear. I know the element. I live in it every day.
(The boat moves away from the bridge and Chourineur lets himself
fall into the water. The peasant removes his hat and one recognizes
Ferrand.)
Ferrand
This time she won't escape me!
CURTAIN
The stage represents the interior of La Martial's cottage on the L'ile des Ravageurs. Nets and fishing instruments. To the right, a door leading to an entry room. At the back, a large window through which one perceives the shore.
AT RISE, the School Master, Benoit, Barbillon and two other escaped prisoners, clothes in disorder and covered with dust, are grouped on the ground around a pitiful table, in the posture of discouraged men.
Benoit
Here we are, really in luxury now! You couldn't wait until Ferrand
came and write to him?
School Master
Wasn't the most pressing thing to find a way to get rid of that
little spy? So much the worse for Chourineur if he finds himself with
her.
Benoit
He swims like a fish. Where is Francois?
School Master
He's remaining on watch at the head of the island. Heavens! Here he
is.
(Enter Francois.)
Benoit (to Francois)
What's the matter?
Francois
A boat is landing on the isle.
Benoit
Police?
Francois
No. There's a man in it, rowing, and at the prow, something in
white.
Barbillon (at the window in the back)
They are landing.
Benoit (also at the window)
The white thing is an unconscious woman. He's carrying her this
way.
School Master (at the door)
It's Ferrand, my friends. (to the wings) La Martial, receive her,
and send him this way. (closes the door) Don't show yourselves. When he
comes in, listen to what he says to La Martial.
Benoit (listening)
He told La Martial to light the fire and make the young girl come
to.
School Master (looking through the key hole)
It's Fleur de Marie! (aside) In Ferrand's hands. Defeated, always
defeated by him. If Satan offers me revenge, I'll take it, free and
clear.
Benoit
Watch yourselves. Here he is.
(They retreat into the back and Ferrand enters without seeing them.)
Ferrand (thinking himself alone)
Once again fate favored me. I shall not flee alone; she will
accompany me.
School Master
And there I was afraid I'd made you wait down at the Bridge of
Asnieres.
Ferrand (surprised)
You here?
(The School Master points to the others, who come forward.)
Ferrand
A trap?
School Master
Your discretion this morning rendered us a great service. It's
necessary that your generosity complete a work so well begun.
Ferrand
What do you mean by that?
School Master
We are obliged to leave and we have nothing with which to pay the
travel expenses.
Ferrand
The position is embarrassing.
School Master
Less so, now that you are here.
Ferrand
I prefer to have matters stated clearly.
School Master
Here's something that will leave nothing to be desired. You are
going to give one of us a paper which will open big and small doors in
the Rue du Temple. You will give him entry to clerks and secretaries,
etc., and when he returns here, with a satisfying result, you will be
able to go, like each of us into a country where eyes are less
observant and prison doors less perfect.
Ferrand
And, if I refuse?
School Master (showing a stylus)
It's poisoned.
Benoit
And the river—
Ferrand
Now that's plain and I respond in a like manner, no less precise. I
will give the paper that you dictate. I will give the keys, etc. Your
envoy will visit all with care, and at his return I won't be surprised,
but you will be really disappointed by the meager booty for which you
will have risked his neck and yours.
School Mater The treasure is disposed of, then?
Ferrand
Bad joke. Hasn't everything been seized at my home?
Benoit
We must have money, do you hear? More honest men than you have
passed away for the same reason. So, money, lots of money. How? I laugh
at that. Manage it, and quickly, but I intend to have it.
Ferrand
I am going to tell you also what I want. You are going to
leave—even the woman that is here—and you are going to leave now,
right away, on this boat with Fleur de Marie.
School Master
She has my secrets.
Ferrand
Don't worry, she won't betray them. How many boats are there here?
School Master
Ours, one down there at the point of the island, and the one you
brought.
Ferrand
And the other end—the other side?
School Master
Not one.
Ferrand
As you get off your boat, you will sink your boat so no one can
come here.
Benoit (ready to explode)
Ah, indeed!
School Master
Hear him out.
Ferrand
And, from this moment, here in France anyway, I will have the right
to kill whichever of you who, by a gesture, by saying a word, indicates
he knows me.
School Master
The devil! The conditions are hard.
Ferrand
Because the prize is magnificent.
School Master
What is it?
Ferrand
A fortune.
All A fortune!
Benoit
If you hold to what you promise, I swear to you, in the name of all
of us—and we'll take these oaths—I swear all that you wish. Now
speak.
Ferrand (pointing to School Master)
It's for him to speak.
Benoit
What's this?
Ferrand (to the School Master)
Isn't it true that tonight the Prince of Gerolstein is marrying the
Marquise D'Harville.
School Master
Yes.
Ferrand
And aren't they supposed to leave soon after the ceremony?
School Master
That's also true.
Ferrand
Isn't their route through the Forest of Garenne which surrounds the
Chateau?
School Master
Perfectly correct.
Ferrand
How many determined men are needed to stop the carriage despite the
postillions and the servants and to seize the Prince's strong-box
containing three hundred thousand francs and the Marquise's diamonds
which are worth doubt that?
School Master
Six men.
Ferrand
Are you counting?
School Master
He's right. He was the Marquise D'Harville's confidential business
adviser. He must have returned them to her. He is our friend, our
savior. I believe him, we must believe him.
All Yes! Yes!
Ferrand
How slow you are to understand!
Benoit (to Ferrand)
Through the Forest of Garenne? You are not mistaken?
Ferrand
At five hundred paces from the Chateau, a million.
School Master
It is done.
Benoit
By dawn, all of us—rich!
School Master
Follow me, all of you. Come, come.
Ferrand (pointing to the window)
No, that way. (to Barbillon) You take La Martial.
(All but Ferrand leave through the window. Almost as soon as they're
gone, La Martial is seen leaving with Barbillon.)
Ferrand (alone)
Leave, you who thought to victimize me and are all my tools.
Virtue, weakness, vice, I've known how to make them useful to me, like
those threats which growled around me since yesterday, I've known how
to play them. My plan of flight with the pluckings from my dupes was a
bit hasty, that's all. My two passions, my double life, my treasure,
and Fleur de Marie—rare treasure—my strong-box buried where no human
can find it. Fleur de Marie, Fleur de Marie will follow me. If
necessary, my promises, my prayers, will decide her. I love her so
much, I have so much gold. (going to the window) Ah, they went on
board. If they fail to keep their promises. No, the boat has
disappeared. I am alone. No one can come. (looking through the door
which remained open) Fleur de Marie, still fainted. No, she made a
gesture. She's getting up, she's coming. Now dreams! Now appeals in all
the voices of a heart too long confined, hours of expansion, of
liberty, you are finally here.
Fleur de Marie (running in, distracted)
Save me! Save me!
Ferrand (receiving her in his arms)
There is no danger.
Fleur de Marie (retreating with terror)
You! Great God!
Ferrand
You cringe from me, who snatched you from certain death?
Fleur de Marie
Well, be generous now, take me to the persons who sheltered me.
Ferrand
Don't think about them any more.
Fleur de Marie
Why, without them, what will become of me?
Ferrand
If you like, your fate will be as brilliant and as happy as it has
been wretched up to now.
Fleur de Marie
I don't understand you.
Ferrand
Where you want to go, your position would be subordinate and
precarious. With me, you will reign. We two, we will leave France.
Fleur de Marie
Me! Flee with you?
Ferrand
You are afraid I will condemn you to a sad and monotonous life such
as I led in my miserable dwelling? Don't worry! I've lived in
constraint long enough—with precautions and sordid avarice. Like
anyone else, more than anyone else, I love luxury, pleasure, parties
and now I have the wherewithal to satisfy this luxury—which you will
share.
Fleur de Marie
Me! Me!
Ferrand
Yes, you. Oh! You don't know me. You've seen me careful and
austere, overwhelmed, under the weight of business. But under my
feigned humility, you thought I was old, sad and stout! No! No! I am
young still in my energy and in my audacity.
Fleur de Marie
Oh, I'm afraid.
Ferrand
What must I do to assure you? Must I confess my weakness? Well,
yes, I love you like a fool. After your departure from my home, you
don't know what I suffered. Yes, suffered. Interests, duties, money, I
forgot everything. I was unable to think of anything but you. I only
wanted you. I found you. I saved you. And now they will kill me, rather
than snatch you from my life. We will never part.
Fleur de Marie
You will never force me to follow you—never.
Ferrand
Why, you are forgetting that you are in my power?
Marie (wanting to flee)
Ah!
Ferrand (retaining her)
No, reassure yourself—I won't abuse that power. But, at least,
know my preference to be at your feet, humble, submissive, imploring.
You, be quiet, let me talk! Just listen to my prayers, just listen to
the complaints of this unknown pitiless passion, this passion which
tames when it conquers all other passions. Don't you feel even in my
voice the tears which have choked me so many nights? Why, look at me,
is there no tear of my sorrows in my features? I would like to have
suffered more still, so that you could better read my sorrow in my
face. Follow me, my will will submit to yours. I will no longer be the
same; near you I will feel pity, near you I will be humane, charitable,
I will do good works. What must I say? What must I do to soften you?
Listen, you don't say anything. I have gold, I have lots of it. Do you
want it? I will give it to you. We will share. Is that enough? Well, I
will marry you. Yes, my fortune, my name, everything is yours.
Fleur de Marie
You! You charged with crimes!
Ferrand
Crimes?
Fleur de Marie
Three months ago in the Cite.
Ferrand
Who told you?
Fleur de Marie
Yesterday I heard your accomplices.
Ferrand
Fleur de Marie, you are wrong to tell me this.
Fleur de Marie
No, this way you won't doubt my hate. I won't always be here, far
from help.
Ferrand
You are wrong again to tell me that. You are wrong.
Fleur de Marie
What do you care? Kill me! God be blessed! My life has been very
bitter.
Ferrand
I can kill you. I am alone here with you.
Fleur de Marie
Help!
Ferrand
Hear me! You can still do it.
Fleur de Marie
Murderer. Get away!
Ferrand
Have pity on yourself.
Fleur de Marie
Demon of evil, get away!
Ferrand (exploding)
You are lost.
Fleur de Marie
Death then. Death at last.
Ferrand
Not yet.
Fleur de Marie
Help! My God!
Ferrand
God is deaf.
(The window breaks and Germain rushes into the room as Chourineur
rushes through the door. They are in shirt and pants and appear to have
been soaked in water.)
Le Chourineur
No! God isn't deaf.
Ferrand (seizing a pistol from the table and firing it at
Chourineur)
Invoke him for you, then.
Germain
Wounded?
(Fleur de Marie hides near Germain, who takes a step towards
Chourineur.)
Germain
No, no! (holding Ferrand, to Fleur de Marie) Flee!
Fleur de Marie
But, you—
(Germain pushes her.)
Le Chourineur
The boat, quick!
(Germain drags Fleur de Marie out.)
Ferrand
Your blood is pouring out. Your strength is diminishing.
Le Chourineur
Not yet.
(Germain and Fleur de Marie can be seen rowing away at the back.)
Ferrand (with a last effort)
Curse on you!
Le Chourineur (falling exhausted)
It was in time.
Ferrand
A boat, a boat.
Le Chourineur
At the other end of the island. Go look for it.
Ferrand
Wretch, you won't see their joy.
Le Chourineur
You can no longer reach them.
Ferrand
He's taking her to Madame D'Harville's?
Le Chourineur
And to the Prince.
Ferrand (seizing him and tying his hands)
Well, I intend for you to die with rage in your heart.
Le Chourineur
Do with me what you will.
Ferrand
In four hours, your Prince and Madame D'Harville will be attacked
in the woods by the comrades from prison yesterday.
Le Chourineur
What are you saying, brigand?
(Ferrand goes for a moment into the side room, then returns.)
Ferrand
In four hours, Fleur de Marie will be part of my booty. And you,
you are going to die!
(Flames can be seen in the next room.
Le Chourineur
Fire!
Ferrand
To spare you the sorrow of seeing what is going to happen to those
you love.
Le Chourineur
Wretch!
(The flames spread. Ferrand is leaving by the window at the back.)
Le Chourineur
My God! I still want to live!
Ferrand
And, as for me, I intend you to die. (jumps out window)
CURTAIN
At Sarah's residence. Door at the back. Two others, right and left. Torches light the stage.
Sarah
In a few minutes that man is going to come, that man who holds my
present, my future, in his hands. Let him make haste then. I have no
more than an hour, perhaps, to overturn this odious marriage which is
to be accomplished tonight, and which will cast me forever into
nothingness. (she sings)
Impatience doubles the duration of time. (to a servant who
enters) Did they return from the Prince's residence?
Servant
Yes, madame. His Highness had not yet returned.
Sarah
Did they leave my letter with the order to give it to him the very
moment of his return?
Servant
Yes, Madame. (starts to leave)
Sarah (to herself)
Ah, if he believes that his daughter has returned, perhaps—could
he hesitate to recognize her? To give me my rights? Let an intelligent
man go wait for the Prince and let him not leave the residence without
having seen him, without bringing him here.
Servant
It will be done, Madame.
Sarah
The little door giving on the street is open?
Servant
It has been for more than an hour.
Sarah
And the door to the room giving on the garden? (pointing to the
right)
Servant
It's open also.
Sarah
That's fine. Don't let anyone in without my order. If the Prince
comes, you will bring him.
(Exit servant.)
Sarah
If Rudolph isn't yet here when everything is settled with this man,
I am going to find him myself. If necessary, I'll follow him. I'll rush
into the midst of this marriage and I'll add to my joy the sight of my
rival's despair. (she listens) Someone entered. At last. It's destiny
and power which are coming to me. Never a more violent emotion. I
cannot move.
School Master (opening the door to the right)
Can one enter?
Sarah
Yes, entrance and exit are equally free and no one will come to
interrupt us.
School Master (aside)
That's good to know.
Sarah
And this young girl?
School Master
Everything succeeded yesterday.
Sarah
When will your bring her to me?
School Master
Let's reach an agreement today and I will bring her to you
tomorrow. (aside) If the other one really will give her up.
Sarah
The young girl mustn't be in the confidence of the role she will
have to play. I reserve to myself instructing her in the circumstances
to which she must impart belief. But, so that all will be in accord
with this fable, I need to know all the details of her childhood that
she herself might know.
School Master
That won't take long. All she knows is that she was abandoned.
Sarah
For how long?
School Master
Ten years.
Sarah
How old might she have been then?
School Master
Six years old.
Sarah
Why—don't you know more about it?
School Master
Perhaps.
Sarah
Do you know to whom she belonged?
School Master
They didn't tell me.
Sarah
They didn't tell you! But they abandoned her to you then?
School Master
I don't say no.
Sarah
Who?
School Master
Oh, as to that—that costs dear.
Sarah
Speak and you will have gold.
School Master
Well! One night, a woman brought us a little girl. They wanted to
be rid of her and make her pass for dead.
Sarah
The name of this woman?
School Master
I didn't learn it until much later. Her name was Madame Seraphine.
Sarah
Madame Seraphine! What did she do?
School Master
She was in the service of Jacques Ferrand.
Sarah
Jacques Ferrand, you say? Jacques Ferrand of the Rue du Temple?
School Master
Himself.
Sarah
A little blonde girl?
School Master
Blonde.
Sarah
With blue eyes?
School Master
Like cornflowers.
Sarah
And you carried her off from the Chateau yesterday?
School Master
You haven't paid us for that.
Sarah (falling to her knees)
Oh, my God, my God! She's my daughter. Your designs are
impenetrable. Such good fortune!
School Master (looking around)
How many riches are here.
(Noise of a carriage is heard in the courtyard.)
Sarah (rising)
A carriage! It's him! (rushes to window)
School Master (aside)
And us pass this by without anything? Oh, no.
Sarah
Here! At such a moment, it's God who sends him. (to School Master)
And you recall the features of the child?
School Master
I recall them.
Sarah
If I were to show you a portrait, would you recognize her?
School Master
Yes.
Sarah
Come.
School Master
Where?
Sarah (pointing to the right)
There, among the jewels.
(Sarah goes toward the chimney to ring.)
School Master (aside)
Jewels.
Sarah (preceding him into the room)
Come, come!
(Sarah and the School Master go out. Rudolph comes in, brought by a
servant from the door at the back.)
Rudolph (alone)
No one! Yet her letter was so pressing that I still had the
weakness to come. But I'm on guard against ruses and lies. (noise of a
bolt at the door to the right) They slid a bolt into that door. That's
strange. But today is the last day that the obsession of this woman can
reach me. In a few hours, I'll be leaving with Clemence, far from this
city where ten years ago, a crime ravished me of my daughter, where two
days ago, wretches reduced to despair and suicide the poor child I had
snatched from them. I would still doubt it, but Fleur de Marie's
clothes were found on the banks of the river. Ah, I bring misfortune to
children that I love. At least I am sure of the fate of all those I've
known and loved. (screams are heard from the room to the right) What's
happening in there? I heard a scream. (goes to the door and tries to
open it) Open! Open! (goes to the door at the back) Some one!
(Sarah comes out of the room and stops the Prince.)
Sarah
Stop! Don't call! Don't call!
Rudolph (returning to her)
You, Madame? Injured, bloody?
Sarah
It's nothing. A wretch who wanted to steal from me. It's only a
scratch.
Rudolph
A doctor!
Sarah
No one! It's nothing, I tell you. It's you, it's you alone, to whom
I must speak.
Rudolph
Explain yourself. Despite this wound, the joy on your face—
Sarah (with exaltation)
Yes, my joy! My joy! Rudolph, Rudolph, our daughter!
Rudolph (astonished)
Our daughter?
Sarah
She exists, she exists!
Rudolph
What are you saying? No! No! It's impossible. You are deceiving me.
It's a trick. It's an ignoble lie.
Sarah
Rudolph, hear me.
Rudolph
No, I know your ambition. I know what you are capable of.
Sarah
Well, yes, yes. I intended to abuse you, I wanted to find a young
girl that I would have presented to you in place of our daughter.
Rudolph
Enough! Oh! Enough, Madame.
Sarah
After that admission, you won't believe me, perhaps? Oh, listen to
me. I tell you that all this is fate—providential. Some months ago,
you took a young girl out of misery and brought her to the country.
Rudolph
To the home of Madame D'Harville, yes.
Sarah
I just learned only now that you were her protector, that she was
in the home of Madame D'Harville; but all that favored my plans—
Rudolph
And so what, Madame?
Sarah
I came to an agreement with people who were to have kidnapped her.
I had her kidnapped yesterday. She is in their hands.
Rudolph (sadly)
She isn't any longer.
Sarah (with astonishment mixed with fear)
She isn't any longer!
Rudolph
She gave in to despair, to terror. She killed herself.
Sarah
My child! My daughter!
Rudolph
What are you saying?
Sarah
Dead! My daughter! Dead!
Rudolph
Fleur de Marie! Your daughter? Oh, that can't be. Sarah, come to
yourself. Calm down. Often there are appearances which deceive.
Sarah
Ah, this last blow overwhelms me. Read, read this declaration.
(Rudolph seizes it hurriedly.)
Sarah
I wrote it under the dictation of that man when he struck me.
Rudolph (rejecting the paper)
No—I don't believe it. I don't want to believe it. My God, you
wouldn't do that!
Sarah (presenting him a portrait)
And this portrait?
(Rudolph seizes the portrait, looks at it, and kisses it.)
Rudolph
Marie! Marie! It's you. (falling into a chair) I've seen you. I've
had you near me, and nothing told me that you were my daughter.
Sarah
Ah, all my blood is freezing. I will die without having seen
her—and forsaken by her father.
Rudolph (rising)
Oh! It's not the death of your child that you are weeping for, it's
the loss of rank that you have pursued with an inflexible obstinacy.
Well, these infamous regrets are your punishment.
Sarah
Ah, yes, the last I believe.
Rudolph
But, you must know the tortures of your child. Yes, Countess, while
in the midst of your opulence, you dreamt of a crown, while your
daughter, small as she was and covered with rags, was going to beg in
the streets, suffering from cold and hunger, during wintry nights she
sheltered on a little straw in a garret.
Sarah
What is it I feel? My God!
Rudolph
And if a complaint escaped her lips, the insults of a shrew, the
blows of a barbarian. Oh, your heart is hardened, your egoism pitiless.
Why you ought to have wept to see her thus.
Sarah (beginning to faint)
That wound, it's death.
Rudolph
Oh, that's not all. You remember the evening when you followed me
into the Cite? In that horrible quarter you heard of men who frightened
you. Well, those bandits, Countess, those bandits were on a first name
basis with your daughter.
Sarah
Ah, shut up, Rudolph.
Rudolph
Curse on you, for it's your abandonment that caused all these
horrors. Curse on you, for after withdrawing my daughter from that
degradation, I had given her asylum and you had her snatched from me.
Sarah
Ah, in the name of heaven, shut up!
Rudolph
This kidnapping caused her death. Curse on you! Curse on you!
(A noise is heard at the back. A servant appears.)
Sarah
Wretch! Who called you?
Servant
Pardon, Madame. But there's a young man who absolutely insists on
speaking to His Highness. As I had no orders, I refused to let him
enter. He says his name is Germain and he brought this letter.
Rudolph
Give it to me! (servant leaves) What's happened? Who is this letter
from? From Clemence! Despite myself, I am afraid.
(Rudolph opens the letter and hardly has he read a few words when he
utters a cry of joy.)
Rudolph
Ah! She exists!
Sarah
Our daughter?
Rudolph (continuing to read)
She's there.
Sarah
Our daughter?
Rudolph
I am going to see her.
Sarah (grasping his arm)
Our daughter?
Rudolph
Leave me alone.
Sarah
How could I leave you alone? (solemnly) But, don't you see that
something extraordinary is happening in me? That I am becoming—that I
am shivering—Listen to me. I am gathering all my strength, all my
energy, to resist this shock. Rudolph, let me see my daughter!
Rudolph
You!
Sarah
Oh, I know that I don't deserve it. But, I swear to you, I am
experiencing a bitter repentance—deep and terrible—a new light is
enlightening me. Ambition, pride is giving way; maternity is revealing
itself.
Rudolph
No. For her happiness, she must never know.
Sarah
Well—she will never know.
Rudolph
What do you mean?
Sarah
Let me see her, see her one time—and for a long while—and,
Rudolph, I swear an oath, I will not tell her I am her mother.
Rudolph (who hesitates at first)
Bring the young girl who is below in the carriage.
Sarah (falling on her knees)
I thank you, on my knees.
Rudolph (raising her and leading her to the sofa)
Stand up, Madame, and think of the oath you've just made.
Sarah
I will keep it, and I won't tell her how I am suffering as I look
at her. But you, Rudolph, won't you lift your curse?
Rudolph
Perhaps.
Sarah
Hurry, soon you won't be able to—in front of her it would reveal
everything.
Rudolph
Ah, since it returns my daughter to me, heaven is more clement than
men.
Sarah
Silence! She's here.
Rudolph (watching her)
Ah, I have trouble containing the beating of my heart.
(Fleur de Marie enters and goes straight to the Prince.)
Fleur de Marie
Milord, I see you again. (he contemplates her wordlessly) I wanted
to see you so much. Forgive me for coming here.
Sarah
We were just talking of you, Marie.
(Fleur de Marie looks at Sarah with astonishment and embarrassment.)
Rudolph
You still seem very weak.
Fleur de Marie
Why, you yourself, milord, your eyes are wet. You've never before
looked at me this way. (noticing signs between Sarah and Rudolph)
What's happening?
Sarah
It's that, during your absence, Marie, many things have happened.
(Fleur de Marie looks from Sarah to the Prince and back)
Sarah
You don't know me. You can approach me without fear.
(The Prince gives Fleur de Marie a sign to approach.)
Sarah
They've learned that all your sorrows came from a woman who was
very sinful.
Rudolph
Who was mistaken, also, without a doubt.
Sarah (low to Prince)
Ah, thanks. (to Fleur de Marie) But you are well avenged, Marie,
and if all your wrongs were over, could you forget that this woman was
the cause?
Fleur de Marie
I am very happy to forget.
Sarah
You pardon her?
Fleur de Marie
I pardon her. May God be as indulgent to me as I am to her.
Sarah
Marie, this woman will bless you. Her last prayer will ask of
heaven, not of clemency for her, but of happiness for you. And your
happiness, you will have it. Yes, Marie, happiness greater than the
greatest you could hope for.
Fleur de Marie
What do you mean, Madame?
Rudolph (in a low voice)
Be prudent.
Sarah
Marie, your family has been discovered.
Fleur de Marie
Oh, my God!
Rudolph (in a low voice)
Mercy.
Sarah (in a weak voice)
Oh, leave me alone in my singular joy. (aloud) They know who you
father is.
Fleur de Marie
My father!
Sarah
How you will love him, when you know him.
Fleur de Marie
I don't know him and I owe everything to milord.
Sarah
A new life is going to begin for you.
Fleur de Marie
My new life began the day he took pity on me.
Sarah
And you love him?
Fleur de Marie
Because he rescued me, because he did for me what God alone could
have done.
Sarah
Love him even more—he is your father.
Fleur de Marie
Him!
Rudolph
Come to my arms.
Sarah (in a weak voice)
For my part, your hand.
(The Prince, as he embraces Fleur de Marie, offers his hand to
Sarah, who kisses it.)
Fleur de Marie
My father—you! And my mother?
Sarah
Dead.
Rudolph (turning)
What are you saying? Great God. Those altered features. Help!
Sarah
It's too late. There was doubtless poison in this wound. (seizing
Fleur de Marie's hand) Yes, Marie, your mother. Dead, really wretched,
without having embraced you.
(Sarah expires, looking at her daughter.)
CURTAIN
The Crossroads. A clearing in a forest, where several roads abut. To the right, a hillock under which one notices an opening surrounded by trees.
Tortillard kneels by Chourineur, who he is trying to revive.
Tortillard
Chourineur! Chourineur, answer me, will you? He doesn't hear me.
Now here it is more than an hour since he fainted. It must be from his
wound and exhaustion. We've come so far and so long since we left the
L'ile des Ravageurs! (noticing Benoit and Barbillon sliding through the
trees) It seems to me something stirred in the leaves. If it was one of
them, I would need help. Is there someone there? (Benoit and Barbillon
retire) No one. It's the wind which agitated the leaves. What to do in
the midst of this forest? It's indeed lucky that yesterday evening, as
I coasted the banks of the river, I noticed the first gleam of fire. I
arrived in time enough to prevent him from being grilled—poor
Chourineur! (Chourineur sighs) I am not mistaken, he's coming to.
Chourineur! Chourineur!
Le Chourineur
It's you, Tortillard!
Tortillard
You're feeling better?
Le Chourineur
Yes, the breeze is reviving me.
Tortillard
Your wound?
Le Chourineur
Never mind that! Where are we?
Tortillard
Still in the woods.
Le Chourineur
What? Already day! What time is it?
Tortillard
Hell! There's no clock here.
Le Chourineur
Damnation! It will be too late. The Prince will have fallen into
their ambush. Quick, to the Chateau of Madame D'Harville.
Tortillard
But, we haven't been able to find the Chateau.
Le Chourineur
Well, we will meet some guard, some peasant. Come! Come!
Tortillard
But you cannot walk.
Le Chourineur
Come anyway. If I cannot walk, I will drag myself. If I fall, you
will leave me there and you will remember there's no one left but you
to save them. Come! Come!
(Tortillard and Chourineur leave.)
Benoit
Who were those two? Luckily they didn't see us. (to School Master,
who comes forward) Who goes there?
School Master (in a low voice)
That you, Benoit?
Benoit (coming downstage)
Yes. Well, have you seen anything?
School Master
Through the cross road, I was with Francois, right up to the small
gate of the park—everything is calm and silent there. I climbed up a
tree to see the Chateau. I saw lights coming and going. No doubt about
it, they are going to leave.
Benoit
This delay is beginning to worry me. Ferrand told us that it might
take place towards one in the morning, and day has already come.
School Master
Where are the others?
Benoit
All in ambush in the brushwood, the length of the road.
School Master
And Ferrand?
Benoit
He's going from one to the other, more impatient than any of us,
since it's agreed to leave him Fleur de Marie for his share.
School Master
Come, let's rejoin our comrades, for Francois, by creeping along
the wall of the Park, was able to slip under the gate and will give us
the signal as soon as the carriage leaves the court.
Benoit
Let's go then.
School Master
One moment. We must foresee things. In the event the affair is not
successful, don't lose sight of Ferrand. We have to talk with him.
Benoit
Why?
School Master
There's got to be some gold here somewhere. I've an idea—(several
shots are heard) What's that? Are our boys on the attack or are they
attacked? Come! Come!
Ferrand (rushing in, followed closely by the School Master
and Benoit)
The attack failed—all that remains is for me to flee and to take
my treasure. It's there. (goes to the trunk of a tree, moves some
branches, and pulls out a box) Flee, yes. But I know the road the
Prince, who stole Fleur de Marie from me, will take. I will follow him
from a distance. I will attach myself to his steps like a tiger to his
prey. The surveillance with which he surrounds his daughter will fail
one day—and I will be avenged for the tortures of this execrable love.
Yes, Fleur de Marie, your death alone can assuage a passion which is no
longer anything but hate and ruin. (noticing a man crossing the road as
he flees) They're coming. Curses!
(The School Master hides behind a tree and watches Ferrand with his
eyes. At the moment he goes to get his treasure, the School Master bars
his way.)
School Master (advancing slowly towards Ferrand)
I have to speak to you.
Ferrand
What do you want?
School Master (to Benoit, who has remained at the back)
Benoit, watch that way. (to Ferrand) Half of your gold?
Ferrand
I don't have any gold.
School Master
As you entered these woods you had a box in your hand. You hid it.
Now we must have our share of it.
Ferrand
Do you think you can intimidate me? You are forgetting they are
pursuing us.
School Master
Saved together or lost together.
Ferrand
So be it!
School Master
All the evil I've done. What's the reward for it? Misery, fear.
I've only purchased forgetfulness in an orgy. I don't want that life
any more.
Ferrand
Change it if you can.
School Master
I want what you have kept; we were sharing—the power of
evil—mine, the brutal energy—yours, trickery, lying, hypocrisy. We
must share today the fruit of this infernal alliance.
Ferrand
My answer is: I don't wish it.
School Master
I am obliged to flee without resources. Will you do it?
Ferrand
No.
School Master
The two of us are alone. Will you do it?
Ferrand
No!
School Master
For a long while, you've conceived the crime and I executed it. If,
at this time, pushed to the limit, I were to conceive and execute it—
Take care, it will be terrible.
Ferrand
Kill me. I'm taking my secret with me.
School Master
I won't kill you, and you yourself will lead me to your treasure.
Yet once more, it will be terrible.
Ferrand
Try it!
Benoit (coming forward rapidly)
They're coming! They're approaching!
Ferrand (to School Master)
We must flee. We must hide.
School Master
We'll bide together.
Ferrand
In this cave!
School Master (to Benoit)
You know what I told you. It has to be done.
(All three go down into the opening. Two guards and Tortillard come
in.)
Tortillard
This way! This way! I saw them.
Le Chourineur
Carefully surround this clearing. Guard all the exits.
(Profound silence. Suddenly one hears a scream coming from the
opening.)
Tortillard
That scream! Chourineur! There! There!
Le Chourineur
Shut up.
(All hide behind the trees.)
School Master (coming out of the cave, pale)
His scream terrified me.
Benoit
Let's wait till he comes out.
(The guards surround them. Chourineur, who has heard them, points to
the weapons pointing at them.)
Le Chourineur
If you say a word, you are dead.
Ferrand (leaving the cave in despair)
Blind! Blind! Where are you? Where are you then? I will avenge
myself. No, no, I cannot.
(A movement of terror. On a signal from Chourineur, a complete
silence is reestablished.)
Ferrand
Night! Night! Oh, this is frightful! Benoit, oh, I beg you. Don't
abandon me. You ought to have pity on me. You are there, answer.
School Master (forced by the threats of a guard)
Yes.
Ferrand
Don't leave me. I am going to tell you where my treasure is. There
at the left of the cave, at the foot of the first tree, under those
leaves.
(Chourineur follows the directions.)
Le Chourineur
A box.
School Master
Curse!
Ferrand
Betrayed! (feeling himself seized) Arrested!
Shouts
There's the carriage! There's the carriage!
Le Chourineur
Surround these wretches so Fleur de Marie can pass without seeing
them.
(All the women leave by the left and reenter with shouts of joy and
go before the carriage which enters. Rudolph is in the front and Fleur
de Marie and Madame D'Harville are in the back seat.)
All
Long live Milord! Long live Mr. Rudolph!
Rudolph
Goodbye, my friends! Good luck to all of you, brave people.
Le Chourineur
Saved! Happy, that's all that I wanted. Goodbye, Fleur de Marie.
(following the carriage out with his eyes) Goodbye, Fleur de Marie.
Ferrand (who remains on stage with two guards watching him)
She's leaving! No more gold! Blind! I am vanquished. Oh, my God! My
God! My God!
(Two guards approach to seize him.)
CURTAIN