RODERICK
Yes, Minister, I am interested in any work in which I can be of service to Captain Galgenstein.
The Minister studies Roderick, coldly.
Roderick, now dressed in civilian clothes, admires a beautiful carriage, waiting at the door. Then he enters.
CHEVALIER
You are the young man who M. de Seebach recommended?
RODERICK
Yes, sir. Here is my letter.
Roderick bows, and hands him a letter from that gentleman, with which the Captain had taken care to provide him.
As the Chevalier reads the letter, Roderick has the leisure to examine him.
He is a man of sixty years of age, dressed superbly, wearing rings, diamonds and laces.
One of his eyes is closed with a black patch, and he wears a little white and red paint, and a pair of moustachios, which fall over his lip.
The Chevalier is seated at a table near the window to read the letter.
CHEVALIER
Your name is Lazlo Zilagyi?
RODERICK
Yes, sir.
CHEVALIER
You come highly recommended by Herr Seebach.
RODERICK
Herr Seebach was a very kind employer.
CHEVALIER
For whom else have you worked?
RODERICK
No one, sir. Before that I served in the army but had to leave due to weakness of the loins.
CHEVALIER
Who else can give me information about you?
RODERICK
Only the agency of servants.
The Chevalier puts the letter down, looks at Roderick for a few seconds, and then smiles.
CHEVALIER
You will do. I will give you 30... a day. I do not provide your clothing; you will sleep at home, and you will be at my orders every morning at seven o'clock.
He notices Roderick begin to tremble and look peculiar.
CHEVALIER
Is there something wrong? He goes up to Roderick.
RODERICK (V.O.)
It was very imprudent of me; but when I saw the splendor of his appearance, the nobleness of his manner, I felt it impossible to keep disguise with him. You, who have never been out of your country know little what it is to hear a friendly voice in captivity; and there's a many a man that will understand the cause of the burst of feeling which was about to take place.
The Chevalier takes Roderick by the shoulder.
RODERICK
(as he speaks, bursting into tears)
Sir, I have a confession to make. I am an Irishman, and my name is Roderick James. I was abducted into the Prussian army two years ago, and now I have been put into your service by my Captain and his uncle, the Minister of Police, to serve as a watch upon your actions, of which I am to give information to the same quarter. For this odious service, I have been promised my discharge, and a hundred guineas.
Sobbing, Roderick falls into his arms.
CHEVALIER
The rascals! They think to catch me, do they? Why, young man, my chief conspiracy is a faro-bank. But the king is so jealous, that he will see a spy in every person who comes to his miserable capital, in the great sandy desert here.
Roderick and the Chevalier walking.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And I think he was as much affected as I was at thus finding one of his kindred; for he, too, was an exile from home, and a friendly voice, a look, brought the old country back to his memory again, and the old days of his boyhood.
CHEVALIER
I'd give five years of my life to see the old country again, the greenfields, and the river, and the old round tower, and the burying place.