Riccaut De La Marliniere, Minna, FranziskaRIC. (before he enters).
Est-il permis, Monsieur le Major?
FRAN.
Who is that? Any one for us?
(going to the door).
RIC.
Parbleu! I am wrong. Mais non--I am not wrong. C'est la chambre--FRAN.
Without doubt, my lady, this gentleman expects to find Major von Tellheim here still.
RIC.
Oui, dat is it! Le Major de Tellheim; juste, ma belle enfant, c'est lui que je cherche. Ou est-il?
FRAN.
He does not lodge here any longer.
RIC.
Comment? Dere is four-and-twenty hour ago he did lodge here, and not lodge here any more? Where lodge he den?
MIN. (going up to him).
Sir
RIC.
Ah! Madame, Mademoiselle, pardon, lady.
MIN.
Sir, your mistake is quite excusable, and your astonishment very natural. Major von Tellheim has had the kindness to give up his apartments to me, as a stranger, who was not able to get them elsewhere.
RIC.
Ah! voila de ses politesses! C'est un tres-galant homme que ce Major!
MIN.
Where has he gone now?--truly I am ashamed that I do not know.
RIC.
Madame not know? C'est dommage; j'en suis fache.
MIN.
I certainly ought to have inquired. Of course his friends will seek him here.
RIC.
I am vary great his friend, Madame.
MIN.
Franziska, do you not know?
FRAN.
No, my lady.
RIC.
It is vary necessaire dat I speak him. I come and bring him a nouvelle, of which he will be vary much at ease.
MIN.
I regret it so much the more. But I hope to see him perhaps shortly.
If it is a matter of indifference from whom he hears this good news, Iwould offer, sir
RIC.
I comprehend. Mademoiselle parle francais? Mais sans doute; telle que je la vois! La demande etait bien impolie; vous me pardonnerez, Mademoiselle.
MIN.
Sir
RIC.
No! You not speak French, Madame?
MIN.
Sir, in France I would endeavour to do so; but why here? I perceive that you understand me, sir; and I, sir, shall doubtless understand you; speak as you please.
RIC.
Good, good! I can also explain me in your langue. Sachez donc, Mademoiselle, you must know, Madame, dat I come from de table of de ministre, ministre de, ministre de . . . What is le ministre out dere, in de long street, on de broad place?
MIN.
I am a perfect stranger here.
RIC.
Si, le ministre of de war departement. Dere I have eat my dinner; Iordinary dine dere, and de conversation did fall on Major Tellheim; et le ministre m'a dit en confidence, car Son Excellence est de mes amis, et il n'y a point de mysteres entre nous; Son Excellence, I say, has trust to me, dat l'affaire from our Major is on de point to end, and to end good. He has made a rapport to de king, and de king has resolved et tout a fait en faveur du Major. "Monsieur," m'a dit Son Excellence, "vous comprenez bien, que tout depend de la maniere, dont on fait envisager les choses au roi, et vous me connaissez. Cela fait un tres-joli garcon que ce Tellheim, et ne sais-je pas que vous l'aimez? Les amis de mes amis sont aussi les miens. Il coute un peu cher au Roi ce Tellheim, mais est-ce que l'on sert les rois pour rien?
Il faut s'entr'aider en ce monde; et quand il s'agit de pertes, que ce soit le Roi qui en fasse, et non pas un honnete homme de nous autres.
Voila le principe, dont je ne me depars jamais." But what say Madame to it? N'est pas, dat is a fine fellow! Ah! que Son Excellence a le coeur bien place! He assure me au reste, if de Major has not recu already une lettre de la main--a royal letter, dat to-day infailliblement must he receive one.
MIN.
Certainly, sir, this news will be most welcome to Major von Tellheim.
I should like to be able to name the friend to him, who takes such an interest in his welfare.
RIC.
Madame, you wish my name? Vous voyez en moi--you see, lady, in me, le Chevalier Riccaut de la Marliniere, Seigneur de Pret-au-val, de la branche de Prens d'or. You remain astonished to hear me from so great, great a family, qui est veritablement du sang royal. Il faut le dire;je suis sans doute le cadet le plus aventureux que la maison n'a jamais eu. I serve from my eleven year. Une affaire d'honneur make me flee. Den I serve de holy Papa of Rome, den de Republic St. Marino, den de Poles, den de States General, till enfin I am brought her. Ah!
