Spaniards in Denmark Act II
Spaniards in Denmark
Act II
Translated by Fini Løkke
Day II, Scene I
The apartment of Madame de Coulanges in the Three Crowns Inn.
Madame de Tourville
Madame de Coulanges
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
What a goose you are; there you are with your head swimming because you have seen him take a dive. The good thing about knowing to swim is when you have learned it, and yet a carp will be able to teach you how.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
But a man he did not know at all!….and people at this place say that the coast is so dangerous!
MADAME DE COULANGES
Well, he knows how to swim! – Now it is said, and he has courage: but what does that concern you? Give me your report at once.
MADAME DE COULANGES
I have nothing to say.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Do you know that I am tempted to think you are enamoured by this little brown officer who swims like a duck? It is shimmering before your eyes; my child, you have seen nothing. I, however, at once sensed a conspiracy.
MADAME DE COULANGES
A conspiracy! To say the truth, you see it everywhere.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
It is better to see where it is not than not seeing it where it is. Do you know that one always gets a reward beside the ordinary pay for every conspiracy that you detect. – Tell me, have you noticed that this drowning man’s underwear was of batiste?
MADAME DE COULANGES
What is so extraordinary about that?
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
What extraordinary there is? Now, he is a fool, that’s for certain. – Underwear of batiste with a shirt frill. – Do I have to repeat?: – Underwear of batiste, ha? It’s the thread in an abominable conspiracy. It is enough to get twenty people hanged.
MADAME DE COULANGES
You certainly see through the disguise.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
And you are good at playing stupid! – Well, it does not seem obvious to you if this man is a spy, either Swedish, English or Russian…and yet it is certain that he is English, because I would be very wrong if his underwear was not of English batiste. So you see it is clear enough.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Clear!
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Just a moment….Furthermore he wore on his vest an odd button with an anchor below it so he comes from an English vessel.
MADAME DE COULANGES
All the sailors have that kind of button.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Innocent! – And the portraits around the neck? He was nice, the little aide-de-camp, with his woman’s portrait. He has played his role well, I must say! Really a jolly good fellow who makes the trivial seem wonderful. – And the general who so quickly put the locket in his pocket before one could see a thing.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Perhaps there is something mysterious behind it but I will not bother with a story of buttons, batiste underwear and that kind of trifles. That would only make them more suspicious.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Trifles? trifles?….Ah! Elisa, in this business nothing must be ignored. Actually it was a roast chicken that made me discover the hiding place of General Pichegru; and without whishing to boast, that has done me much credit, not to speak of profit. This is how it happened: it was in your father, Captain Leblanc’s time. He returned from the army; he had money, and we had a great time. But one day I go to the usual restaurant, and I ask for a roast chicken. –“My God, Madame,” he tells me, “I am so sorry but I have just sold my last one.”
Knowing the whole quarter well I wanted to know to whom?
“Who took it then?” I ask him. He says to me: “It is a person who acts a little strange because for three days he has ordered poultry for every dinner.”
And mind you, it was exactly those three days when we had lost trace of General Pichegru. Well, I turn the matter over in my mind and say to myself: you certainly have an appetite, you must be starved. – Finally I returned on Monday and buy partridges that had not been delivered, mind you, to have time to speak to my cook’s boy while they were roasted. While I am there, the man with the great appetite enters and buys a turkey hen, a really fine turkey, I tell you!
“Ah,” I say to him, “such a bird requires quite an appetite, there is enough for two and for a whole week.”
He winks his eye to me and says: “It’s because I have appetite for two.”
A Frenchman will rather let himself be hanged than miss the opportunity for using a bon mot. I look him straight in the face, he turns, takes his bird, and leaves. I did not need more evidence, I was certain he knew Pichegru. – They snatch my man and by means of a reasonable compensation he hands over my general, just as I wanted – and I for my part got a six thousand francs reward.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Oh, you are really clever; for my part I am not in the mood for guessing.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Do as you please, that is your problem; for my part I wash my hands. It will not be my fault that someone else gets the reward, and the State will suffer.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Bah! This Don Juan looks like…
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Do you want me to tell you what he looks like? He looks like someone who loves ladies, and if you had as much judgment as I have, you would have more sources of income and more than four times as much from the colonel. It is a marquis although it’s not obvious, and the servants say that he is rolling in gold.
MADAME DE COULANGES
My God how tired I am! I did not sleep a wink all night.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
He has the rakish look of a verger. – Well, my child, if I had your good looks I wouldn’t be where I am now, and yet, if you had not had me beside you on your missions, what would you have done then?
It’s almost as if I have to get down on four legs to get the prey for mademoiselle who does not bother to bend down to take it and say thank you for the money it brings.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Not to mention the honour.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Bah! bah! If we have to think about that, there are a lot of more distinguished people than we who are doing worse.
A CHAMBER MAID
(enters)
Monsieur Don Juan asks if he may see the ladies.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
No doubt. – That’s how it is to be pretty! She doesn’t have to exert herself; if only she turns up he will be there shortly.
DON JUAN
(enters)
Pardon me, ladies, if I present myself to you with no other title than being your neighbour. I have taken the liberty to come and ask if the episode yesterday hasn’t had a negative effect on madame’s health.
MADAME DE COULANGES
No doubt it agitated me a great deal…but I have never felt better.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Well said. (Loud) Please sit down, monsieur.
MADAME DE COULANGES
I hope that you yourself have not been incommoded…and the poor man you saved?
DON JUAN
(sits down)
He is well and cheerful, and already speaks of going out to fish herring….But, madame, you seem to be suffering once more, and I reproach myself for having brought the poor man in here where you could see him…but in the confusion…
MADAME DE COULANGES
After you have braved Death!….But I am quite well.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
(aside)
She plays wonderfully passionate! – (Loud) And you, monsieur, you do not give us any news of your health, with the imprudence you have displayed. – Ah, young man, young man! But that’s how they all are!
MADAME DE COULANGES
(low to her mother)
All?
DON JUAN
To tell the truth I have had a very agreeable night after having enjoyed a sea-bath this season.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
My daughter has never stopped talking of your courage. She feared that you couldn’t help getting pneumonia.
DON JUAN
I am quite proud having you think of me. But us military men, we can withstand a cold bath!
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Perhaps you met my sons in your campaigns, two most hopeful officers?….The oldest, General de Tourville, and the midshipman, Colonel de Tourville.
DON JUAN
I admit to my shame that I hear their names for the first time…but I read the Bulletins so little.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Ah, you may be right there. Blood is not what you notice most there. Ah, monsieur Diaz, I so fear that they will send my boys to Spain; that would make us very sorry, it is such an unjust war!
DON JUAN
(instead of responding plays with his sash)
MADAME DE COULANGES
I think you told me you had lived in Seville?
DON JUAN
Sufficient time to have tender recollections of that noble city and its inhabitants. But you, madame, with the exception of your complexion which is a little Moorish, makes me recall all the charms of the ladies of Seville.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Is it at Seville that your junta is? Ah, they were quite courageous, the Romans at the time of Julius Caesar.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Colonel, you are no doubt a musician? And being Spanish you must have known how to play the guitar. I would put your talent to the test if I thought that I bored you.
DON JUAN
Oh, madame, could I be bored with what you enjoy; but being modest for my part I do not play the guitar better than being able to oblige a serenade or accompany our simple Spanish romances. – You, madame, being French, probably dislike the great opera arias.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Not at all. Your melancholy arias please me more than the spineless music which is praised to the skies.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Your music attracts me; pardon me, Colonel Diaz. (Low to her daughter) The opportunity is excellent, make the most of it.
DON JUAN
Do you like Spanish romances? Would you be good enough to sing one?
MADAME DE COULANGES
But that might make me homesick.
DON JUAN
Luckily the musician will balance the effect of the music.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Here are the romances, please choose.
DON JUAN
That one; I only see the title of it; it must be an old romance.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Alas! A strange choice!
DON JUAN
A knight in love with a Moorish lady, that is one of the favourite subjects of the ancient poets.
MADAME DE COULANGES
(sings and Don Juan accompanies her on the guitar)
ROMANCE
Alvar de Luna was a renowned knight, born in Zamora. His horse was called Aquilon, and his rapier Tranche-fer. He had killed more Moors than beads in my rosary. No Spanish knight ever made him lose control. Never was he beaten in a duel or on the battlefield, but he was defeated by a pair of beautiful eyes.
The beautiful eyes belonged to Zobéide, the daughter of the Judge Cordone-la-Grande. He threw his rapier away and left his messenger boy in a meadow. He grabbed a guitar, mounted a black mule with white feet, and went on his way to Alcazar de Cordone and said to Zobéide: ”I love you, get mounted behind me, and I will take you to Zamora.”
Zobéide answered him with a sigh: “Handsome knight; I love you with my heart but Allah is my God, and Christ is yours. I say truthfully to you, I would soon die because my heart is hit. But I cannot be your woman because I am Moor, and you are Christian.”
The good knight once more mounted his mule, returned to his country Zamora, and gave all his belongings to the poor. God bless Brother Jayme in the cloister Saint-Inigo! And he died with a reputation for holiness, brother hearted because Zobéide was Moor and a Christian.
MADAME DE COULANGES
(sad)
And so! What are you thinking of that?
DON JUAN
Charming! Divinely sung! – I wish that a law was made in Spain demanding everyone who was mad enough to become monk, except those who had gone mad with love. That would be the means to diminish the number of monasteries, and if it stayed the same it would give a good idea from us to strangers.
MADAME DE COULANGES
What did you think of the words?
DON JUAN
Like those in the ancient romances. Here you see the foolish habits of our own time. This Alvar de Luna was a sheepish fellow not to let himself become a Moslem instead of making a monk of himself.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Ah? – There are obstacles which can separate two persons who are made for one another.
DON JUAN
What do you mean? differences of nation or religion?
MADAME DE COULANGES
There could also be other reasons.
DON JUAN
Which ones?
MADAME DE COULANGES
For example…
DON JUAN
Well, you cannot think of an example? – Tell me, madame, are you incapable of renouncing your country in order to follow…a husband…who would have known how to make himself love you?
MADAME DE COULANGES
No doubt, that is a husband’s duty. – But…
DON JUAN
(carried away)
But?…
MADAME DE COULANGES
I will never marry again. (She forces herself to smile) It is much, much more agreeable to be a widow.
DON JUAN
(aside)
Then damn the romance!
MADAME DE COULANGES
Would you like to sing once more?
DON JUAN
I think I might tire you, madame; – anyway I am aware that my visit is a little too prolonged.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Colonel, it will always be with the greatest pleasure that…but….(aside) What shall I say to prevent him from throwing himself in the trap that is set for him?
THE CHAMBER MAID
(enters)
Monsieur Marquis de La Romana asks for monsieur.
DON JUAN
One’s general before everything…there you see the principles of Don Alvar. – Pardon me, madame. (He kisses the hand of Madame de Coulanges and leaves.)
MADAME DE COULANGES
(to her chamber maid)
Come and unlace me, I am suffocating.
Day II, Scene II
At the seashore
Don Juan, Wallis, seamen in the background preparing a boat,
a sentinel marches in front of the inn.
WALLIS
Look! The sloop approaches. It puts up a lantern to the top.
DON JUAN
I think I see something like a luminous glass coming toward us.
WALLIS
You do not yet have the eyes of a sailor. Come, they are closer to us than we thought. Within an hour I will disembark you here, and it will all be done. – Children, are your oars well wrapped in linen?
A SEAMAN
At once, lieutenant; they make no more noise than a duck’s feet.
WALLIS
When you pass the pier and the battery, rest on your oars, and if we are challenged, be sure that no one responds.
DON JUAN
Don’t be nervous. Every night smugglers pass in front of the forts at the coast without anyone noticing.
DON JUAN
Ha!
WALLIS
(low)
Someone is watching us. Aside!
DON JUAN
(low)
Do not fear. Who would recognize us? (To the sentinel) Will you still be on duty when I return?
THE SENTINEL
Yes, my colonel.
MADAME DE COULANGES
(singing without seeing them)
”But I am Moor, and you are Christian.”
DON JUAN
(low)
That damned refrain!
WALLIS
(low to the seamen)
Hurry up in the name of the devil! It is not good to be here.
MADAME DE COULANGES
The chill of the night cannot extinguish the fire burning in me. (As she notices Don Juan)Ha! Who are these people?
WALLIS
Colonel! Gosh! What are you doing under that balcony planted like a bean-pole? – My God, now somebody comes from this side, they will prevent us from retreating. Do not say a word.
BETWEEN TWO CHAMBERMAIDS
MADAME DE COULANGES
(low to Don Juan)
Go away, whoever you are!
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Oh my God, those people in front of the hotel….I am glad the sentinel will protect us…and my daughter who was on the balcony…(She advances toward the boat)
WALLIS
Stop! We are smugglers. Do not destroy us, and you will get free tobacco.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
(still approaching)
Do you listen, monsieur. I wish to buy some.
WALLIS
It will be brought to you. But do not advance. – Aside; let me have the rudder.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
This voice is not unknown to me. – And the other one covered in his cloak up to his eyes, and the sentinel who does not give the alarm…all this is too strange…but I know what it is about. Let us go in.
Day II, Scene III
The apartment of Madame de Coulanges.
Madame de Coulanges, Madame de Tourville.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
You can just as well tell me, it was him.
MADAME DE COULANGES
No, I tell you. Haven’t you seen just like me that they were smugglers?
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
In due time! But I am glad to see them return. I will not go to bed.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Instead of tiring yourself by watching, couldn’t you just ask the host if somebody has gone out tonight?
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
What a fool you are! The host no doubt is bought by them…perhaps…and then those people are sloppy….I played bouilotte at the French envoy; I cleaned them all out. – How innocent they still are. – But go to sleep, you worry me. Do you realize almost an hour has gone?
MADAME DE COULANGES
I can’t sleep when I know you are awake.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
As you wish. -There is still light at the general. You can see the reflection on the water. If I dared I would open the door to the balcony.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Open it. I think the fresh air will relieve my headache.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Yes, but that would put the old fox on alert. – Listen, he walks up and down. (Madame de Coulanges lets a chair fall) Damn you! Can’t you keep quiet.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Oh, I hurt my foot!
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Be quiet; you and that chair!
MADAME DE COULANGES
Oh, it hurts…oh!
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
What is that light, down there on the water?
MADAME DE COULANGES
A lantern perhaps – to get through the port entrance?
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
I rather think it is a vessel under Hamburg flag which for several days has been beating to get into the Great Belt.
MADAME DE COULANGES
What about it? What does that concern you that there is a vessel from Hamburg?
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
From Hamburg? – He is from Hamburg like me.
MADAME DE COULANGES
You always make the strangest suppositions. I would not go to such length in my conscience.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Conscience? You make me laugh; you with your conscience. You speak like a monk. – Quiet! – Instead of one light there are now two but quite feeble. – Haha, this looks interesting.
MADAME DE COULANGES
(aside)
Alas! (Loud) But don’t you know the signals of the sailors?
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
And the light went out with the general….Bravissimo!
MADAME DE COULANGES
He has gone to sleep; he is more sensible than we.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Yes, yes, innocent as you are you think he sleeps. – Now see how his light reappears. -Would you say, perhaps, that he has blown out his candle, and that it has switched on by itself several times? Three ships’ lanterns!…in the other direction, eclipse. – Ah, the candle is lit once again….We have caught you, monsieur le Marquis Romain. -How pale you are! I want to say to you, it is not good for you to stay awake so late. Go to sleep, my dear Elisa, your luck will come to you in your sleep because we are in luck.
MADAME DE COULANGES
I wish it had come a long time ago!
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Well put, I must admit, because very soon it will be us who drive in a carriage to Paris instead of letting us chill to the bone on this island. But be patient….There is still another light.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Now let us go to sleep.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Ah! And what about my thoroughness? No, I must see him return. Until then I will not be satisfied with myself. I must see proofs…and they come with the boat. – If I dared, I would at once go to the envoy…but that will not serve any purpose. He is so stupid! No, I will write to the Prince myself.
MADAME DE COULANGES
It feels as if my head is on fire.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
When we return to France we can make good use of the cloth; it can help us get through with the money. If we give a dress or two to the wife of the Customs Director we can pass just as we please.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Yes, I wish we had never done anything but smuggling.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
You have to grab what you can with booth hands – I certainly would like to know what has happened to your brother Charles. Now he has not written for two years.
MADAME DE COULANGES
You know how he is. You have given him so good an education that he hardly knows how to write.
MADAME DE TORUVILLE
That doesn’t matter. Charles is a boy who will go far if a bullet does not stop him on his way. His colonel says he has a lion’s heart. He is always first where there are blows to give and take.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Yes, and to bad things. (Aside) He ought to be here.
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
He is the very image of your father, M. Leblanc. He was a captain of the guides. He died bravely in the field of honour. His lieutenant who is the father of Auguste has told me that he had fifteen sabre blows in the head alone.
MADAME DE COULANGES
How dreadful!
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
For my part I have always had a weakness for brave people. The first I had was a general who has gone to America….The savages have eaten him after roasting him. – What I tell you is exactly what happened.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Oh God!
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
I will always remember a government official who paid for my maintenance – twelve thousand francs a year. One day he let a non-commissioned lieutenant who did not own a cent box his ears in front of me. You can be sure I will never forgive myself that I quit Richard for that little rifleman. – If I were a man I would certainly join the military.
MADAME DE COULANGES
You don’t see anything? I told you…
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
No, I don’t see anything yet….Oh, be quiet; I see something black approaching on the water; it is a boat or a whale. – Let us close the shutter this way, that’s better….Elisa!
MADAME DE COULANGES
Is it…the smugglers?
MADAME DE TOURVILLE
Here is my man in the cloak…or rather yours….He shakes hand with another man, he jumps ashore….Is he coming in here?….Goodnight Elisa.
MADAME DE COULANGES
He is done for!…and it is me, miserable me, who has deceived him! Damned be the day I came to this island! – I wish we had perished before entering the port!—So now the only man I felt love for is going to perish…and it is me, I who love him, who has put the rope around his neck! – Look at me, selling Don Juan for gold! Why in the world have I ever consented to this awful business? – A harlot destined for the pleasure of scoundrels is better off than I. A robber is better off than I….And I could do it!….If only I could have changed the time a little bit; because when I came here and I dreamt of finding out this young man’s secret to betray him I had not dreamt there would be a thing that horrible….My love for him has opened my eyes. – Ah, Juan Diaz, you alone could drag me out of the quagmire I had plunged into….Yes, the dice are tossed:
I am bound to his destiny; I will tell him everything; I give up everything to follow him….My country…what does my country matter? – my family which is odious to me…I can love no one but Juan Diaz.
But would he do the same for me if he knew what I know? – Hide it from him – no, Juan Diaz is not a lover I could hide anything for…and tell him…he who is indignant just be being told of a meanness!….He would drive me far away from him; he would rather like me to become the pretty Elisa who lures her lovers to lead them to death….Well, let him think of me as he likes, I love him too much to think of myself…sooner or later he will know everything about me anyway….He will rediscover my love for him….He must love me to make a declaration of love like mine….I will tell him everything….I will expose myself to his anger….Never mind! I will save him. Even if he hits me, slaps me and spits in my face, I will have saved him! I will prefer a slap in the face from Juan Diaz to having bank notes coloured with his blood. Perhaps he will have mercy with a miserable woman who was not born with a sordid character but whom bad luck has forced to degrade herself. They have not been able to take the last bit of conscience away from me….Of conscience? No, it is dead in me; it hasn’t conveyed anything to me for a long time. I do neither act from virtue nor from conscience: it is love, only love, so that I will not die without having done one good deed.
Day II, Scene IV
The bedroom of Don Juan Diaz.
Madame de Coulanges enters.
MADAME DE COULANGES
He is again with the general….I tremble as I put my foot on this chamber….This is the first good deed I do, and I tremble….It seems to me that he sees through me…(She catches sight of the table) a started letter….Perhaps he writes to a fiancée he has left in Spain…and when he returns to her he will never write another word to poor Elisa!….Here is his seal; it is adorned with his coat-of-arms…and my name is so obscure!….A swan and as motto: ”Without fault”….He does not deny his motto!….A portrait of a woman; it is no doubt his mother…
DON JUAN
(aside)
What a pleasant surprise!….Is there a conspiracy to prevent me to sleep?
MADAME DE COULANGES
(not seeing him)
The features are the same but the figure does not have the same contemptuous expression as this mouth.
DON JUAN
(aside)
What the hell is she doing?
MADAME DE COULANGES
(noticing him)
DON JUAN
(on his knees)
You see in front of you of all lovers the one is most burning with desire Elisa, let me prove…
MADAME DE COULANGES
(aside)
I will never get the courage…
DON JUAN
…All the passion that you have ignited in my heart….Let us close this door, and…
MADAME DE COULANGES
(pushing him back)
Seigneur Don Juan, there will be time enough to speak of love when the knife hangs over your head…
DON JUAN
But you are in my arms…
MADAME DE COULANGES
Let me go I say; listen to me.
DON JUAN
What is the matter, madame? You seem so agitated.
MADAME DE COULANGES
All your plans are known. You and the general are finished.
DON JUAN
Good Heavens!….(Loud) What plans?….I really don’t know what you are talking about.
MADAME DE COULANGES
You are in connection with the British; you have just had a meeting with them yourself on the boat seen crossing from your windows. The general has made signals, they have observed it…you are seen…your enemies encicle you…it’s up to you to do something to escape them.
DON JUAN
But…really, madame, I am out of my mind because of my mistake….I ought to be ashamed…
MADAME DE COULANGES
You need not be ashamed in front of me….Take care of yourself, and you have disposal of me, I could be of use to you.
DON JUAN
You know everything….That we have just had a reconnaissance signal from them! Why is it that we never can…
MADAME DE COULANGES
Tell me right away, do you need my assistance?
DON JUAN
Ah! Just let us know who has betrayed us: he will not live long.
MADAME DE COULANGES
Monsieur!….I do not know how…
DON JUAN
Go on with your task, serve us, let us be sure to have our just vengeance. Ah, madame, please tell me…
MADAME DE COULANGES
But…I dare not…
DON JUAN
Don’t be afraid, madame. Am I not here to defend you? – Oh Heaven, if you just would consent to trust me…
MADAME DE COULANGES
I believe…that maybe…
DON JUAN
The French envoy? I run to smash his brain!
MADAME DE COULANGES
No, no…I was watching….I was on my balcony, and…
DON JUAN
Your mother has recognized us, but…
MADAME DE COULANGES
Oh, it is not she who will betray us; she has taken us for smugglers….But there were some people hiding…they have seen everything; I saw them.
DON JUAN
Then they have been sent by the envoy. Good God!
MADAME DE COULANGES
He is so stupid…that you do not need to be afraid of him….Well, think about it and make arrangements the way you wanted….Get in touch with me if you think I can be of any use….Good-bye.
DON JUAN
Stop, saving angel!….but she has fled….Now we are in nice mess. I will go tell the marquis.
END OF SECOND DAY