ACT I

SCENE--_A room in the palace of King Charles II., at Madrid, about 1695._

DON SALLUST: So, after twenty years of constant toil, And twenty years of honour and high power, The weak hand of a woman strikes me down Into the dust. Dishonoured and exiled! And by the queen, a foolish, foreign girl Ignorant of our ways, who has no fear Because she has no knowledge. Had she guessed I had so many weapons of revenge That I am now perplexed which one to use, She would have been more careful. Poisoning, Of course, is easy; and when she was dead I could retrieve the power that I have lost. But I would rather crush and conquer her Some other way; make her a very slave Obedient to my slightest wish, and rule The country in her name. The king is mad, And she will soon be regent. (_Calling_) Ruy Blas!

RUY BLAS (_appearing at the door_): Sir?

DON SALLUST: Order my men to gather up and pack My papers, books and documents! I leave The palace at the break of day. But you Must wait here till the queen comes through this room At morning, on her way to mass. Who's that?

[DON CESAR _enters, and he and_ RUY BLAS _look at each other in surprise. Then, seeing he is not wanted, the lackey departs._

DON CESAR: Well, here I am, dear cousin! Have you found, After a search of twenty years, a post Worthy of me? Upon the principle Of setting thieves to capture thieves, I'd make A splendid captain of your alguazils!

DON SALLUST: I know all your remarkable exploits, My cousin. Were I not chief magistrate, Your murders, thefts, and acts of brigandage Would long since have been punished, and Don Cesar, Count of Garofa--

DON CESAR: He died years ago. I now am Zafari.

DON SALLUST: Zafari can die, And Cesar, Count of Garofa, revive, And dazzle all the ladies of the court With his fine presence, and the wealth I'll give, If he will serve me, as a cousin should, Boldly and faithfully.

DON CESAR: Ah, this sounds well. Give me a hundred ducats to begin, And I am your man! What do you want of me? Some rival quietly despatched?

DON SALLUST: I need A daring, gallant and ambitious man To help me to avenge myself.

DON CESAR: On whom?

DON SALLUST: A woman.

DON CESAR: I have fallen very low, Don Sallust, but I have not come to that. Murder may be my trade, but to bring down A woman by a dastardly intrigue Is something I would never stoop to do! I am a wolf, maybe, but not a snake!

DON SALLUST: Give me your hand, my cousin! You have come Out of the ordeal I prepared for you Better than I expected.

DON CESAR: Then this plot Against a woman----

DON SALLUST: Merely was a test. I'll give you now the money you require. A hundred ducats, was it? I will fetch them.

[_He departs, and signs to_ RUY BLAS _to enter._

DON CESAR: I knew you in your strange disguise, Ruy Blas. What are you doing here?

RUY BLAS: Ah, Zafari! Hunger has now compelled me to adopt The livery of a lackey. Don Sallust To-night engaged me as his servitor, And brought me here. And I came, Zafari, Because---- (_He hesitates._)

DON CESAR: You wanted food!

RUY BLAS: No. It was love I hungered for.

DON CESAR: There are some pretty maids In this great palace.

RUY BLAS: I am mad, mad, mad! I am in love, Zafari, with the queen-- I, a lackey. Night after night I creep Into the royal park, and leave some flowers Upon her favourite seat. This evening I put a letter with them.

DON CESAR: My poor friend, You certainly are mad!

DON SALLUST (_opening the door slightly and pointing out_ DON CESAR _to three armed alguazils as he whispers_): That is the man. Arrest him when he leaves.

And kill him quickly. [_He then enters the room, and gives a purse to_ DON CESAR, _saying:_ Here is what you want.

Call on me to-morrow.

DON CESAR (_giving_ RUY BLAS _half the ducats_): Come with me. Be a free man again.

DON SALLUST (_in an aside_): The devil!

RUY BLAS (_refusing the money_): No; I never shall be a free man again. My heart is captive; I must stay on here.

DON CESAR: Well, each man to his fate. Your hand, old friend!

[_After shaking hands, he goes out--to his doom._

DON SALLUST: No one has seen you yet, I think, Ruy Blas, Clad in this livery?

RUY BLAS: No one, my lord.

DON SALLUST: Good! Shut the doors, and put on this attire.

[_Bringing out the costume of a nobleman of high rank, he helps his lackey to dress in it._

Splendid! You have a very gallant air, And you will make a perfect nobleman. Now listen. I've your interests at heart, And if you will obey me faithfully, You shall succeed in all that you desire. But stay. There is a letter I must send Before I leave Madrid. Write it for me.

[RUY BLAS _sits down at the table, and_ DON SALLUST _dictates to him:_

"My life is in great danger. You alone Can save me. Come this evening to my house. No one will recognise you if you use The side-door by the corner." Now sign it "Cesar," the name I commonly employ In love affairs.

RUY BLAS: Shall I address the note?

DON SALLUST: Ah, no! I must deliver it myself. Hark! There is someone coming. 'Tis the Queen!

[_Dragging_ RUY BLAS _with him, he opens the door, and says to the noblemen surrounding the_ QUEEN:

Allow me to present to you, my friends, Don Cesar, Count of Garofa, my cousin.