Vautrin: A Drama in Five Acts. Honore de Balzac

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      You must wait until to-morrow for this information, my lord.

      The Duke

      That is a short time.

      Saint-Charles

      But it involves a good deal of money.

      The Duke Do not suppose that I wish to hear of evil things; it is the method of you people to pander to depraved passions. Instead of showing them up, you prefer to invent rather than to reveal occurrences. I should be delighted to learn that this young man has a family —

      (The marquis enters, sees his father engaged, and turns to go out; the duke asks him to remain.)

      The Duke (continuing) If Monsieur de Frescas is a gentleman, and the Princesse d'Arjos decidedly prefers him to my son, the marquis must withdraw his suit.

      The Marquis

      But, father, I am in love with Inez.

      The Duke (to Saint-Charles)

      You may go, sir.

      Saint-Charles (aside) He takes no interest in the proposed marriage of his son. He is incapable of feeling jealous of his wife. There is something very serious in these circumstances; I am either a ruined man or my fortune is made. (Exit.)

      The Duke To marry a woman who does not love you is a mistake which I shall never allow you to commit, Albert.

      The Marquis But there is nothing that indicates that Inez will reject me; and, in any case once she is my wife, it will be my object to win her love, and I believe, without vanity, that I shall succeed.

      The Duke Allow me to tell you, my son, that your barrack-room ideas are quite out of place here.

      The Marquis On any other subject your words would be law to me; but every era has a different art of love – I beg of you to hasten my marriage. Inez has all the pliability of an only daughter, and the readiness with which she accepts the advances of a mere adventurer ought to rouse your anxiety. Really, the coldness with which you receive me this morning amazes me. Putting aside my love for Inez, could I do better? I shall be, like you, a Spanish grandee, and, more than that, a prince. Would that annoy you, father?