Tender Hegenheim.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Brilliant Langeac.
Roderick takes from his portfolio a little jacket of very fine transparent skin, eight inches long and closed at one end, and which by way of a pouch string at its open end, has a narrow pink ribbon.
He displays it to her, she looks at it, and laughs.
LANGEAC
I will put in on you myself.
She puts it on, out of shot.
LANGEAC
There you are, dressed by my hand. It is nearly the same thing; but despite the fineness and transparency of the skin, the little fellow pleases me less well in costume. It seems that this covering degrades him, or degrades me -- one of the other.
RODERICK
Both, my angel. It was Love who invented these little jackets: for he had to ally himself with Precaution.
Roderick making love to the Countess von Trotha. Enter the Count, in the uniform of a Colonel.
COUNT
I entered here, monsieur, at a bad moment for you; it seems that you love this lady.
RODERICK
Certainly, monseigneur, does not Your Excellency consider her worthy of love?
COUNT
Perfectly so; and what is more, I will tell you that I love her, and that I am not of a humor to put up with rivals.
RODERICK
Very well! Now that I know it, I will no longer love her.
COUNT
Then you yield to me.
RODERICK
On the instant. Everyone must yield to such a nobleman as you.
COUNT
Very well; but a man who yields takes to his legs.
RODERICK
That is a trifle strong.
COUNT
Take to your legs, low Irish dog. Roderick smiles at him.
RODERICK
Your Excellency has wantonly insulted me. That being so, I conclude that you hate me, Monseigneur, and that hence you would be glad to remove me from the number of the living. In this wish, I can and will satisfy Your Excellency.
Roderick's sword duel with the Count. Details to be worked out. INT. BILLIARD ROOM - NIGHT
Roderick watches the Chevalier play with a Prussian officer, Lieutenant Dascher.
RODERICK (V.O.)
It was my unrivaled skill with sword and pistol, and readiness to use them, that maintained the reputation of the firm.
Towards the end of the game, Dascher, seeing that he is losing, makes an unfair stroke, so obvious that the marker tells him so to his face.
Lieutenant Dascher, for whom the stroke wins the game, takes the money which is in the stake bag, and puts it in his pocket, paying no attention to the marker's adjurations, or to Roderick's.
Roderick, who is without his sword, reaches for a billiard cue and swings it at Dascher's face.
He wards off the blow with his arm, drawing his sword and runs at Roderick, who is unarmed.
The marker, a sturdy young man, catches Dascher around the waist and prevents murder.
DASCHER
I see that you are without your sword, but I believe you are a man of mettle. Will you give me satisfaction?
RODERICK
I shall be delighted; but you have lost and you must pay me the money before we meet, for, after all, you cannot pay me when you are dead.
ANOTHER OFFICER
I will undertake to pay you the 2 0 louis, but only tomorrow morning at the meeting.
On the field, there are six people waiting with Dascher, and his seconds. Dascher takes 20 louis from his pocket and hands them to Roderick, saying: