Minna von Barnhelm [22]
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! Mademoiselle, que je voudrais n'avoir jamais vu ce pays-ci! Had one left me in de service of de States General, should I be now at least colonel. But here always to remain capitaine, and now also a discharged capitaine.
MIN. That is ill luck.
RIC. Oui, Mademoiselle, me voila reforme, et par la mis sur le pave!
MIN. I am very sorry for you.
RIC. Vous etes bien bonne, Mademoiselle. . . . No, merit have no reward here. Reformer a man, like me! A man who also have ruin himself in dis service! I have lost in it so much as twenty thousand livres. What have I now? Tranchons le mot; je n'ai pas le sou, et me voila exactement vis-a-vis de rien.
MIN. I am exceedingly sorry.
RIC. Vous etes bien bonne, Mademoiselle, But as one say--misfortune never come alone! qu'un malheur ne vient jamais seul: so it arrive with me. What ressource rests for an honnete homme of my extraction, but play? Now, I always played with luck, so long I not need her. Now I very much need her, je joue avec un guignon, Mademoiselle, que surpasse toute croyance. For fifteen days, not one is passed, dat I always am broke. Yesterday, I was broke dree times. Je sais bien, qu'il y avait quelque chose de plus que le jeu. Car parmi mes pontes se trouvaient certaines dames. I will not speak more. One must be very galant to les dames. Dey have invite me again to-day, to give me revanche; mais-- vous m'entendez, Mademoiselle,--one must first have to live, before one can have to play.
MIN. I hope, sir--
RIC. Vous etes bien bonne, Mademoiselle.
MIN. (Takes Franziska aside.) Franziska, I really feel for the man. Would he take it ill, if I offer him something?
FRAN. He does not look to me like a man who would.
MIN. Very well! Sir, I perceive that--you play, that you keep the bank; doubtless in places where something is to be won. I must also confess that I . . . am very fond of play.
RIC. Tant mieux, Mademoiselle, tant mieux! Tous les gens d'esprit aiment le jeu a la fureur.
MIN. That I am very fond of winning; that I like to trust my money to a man, who--knows how to play. Are you inclined, sir, to let me join you? To let me have a share in your bank?
RIC. Comment, Mademoiselle, vous voulez etre de moitie avec moi? De tout mon coeur.
MIN. At first, only with a trifle. (Opens her desk and takes out some money.)
RIC. Ah! Mademoiselle, que vous etes charmante!
MIN. Here is what I won a short time back; only ten pistoles. I am ashamed, so little--
RIC. Donnez toujours, Mademoiselle, donnez. (Takes it.)
MIN. Without doubt, your bank, sir, is very considerable.
RIC. Oh! yes, vary considerable. Ten pistoles! You shall have, Madame, an interest in my bank for one third, pour le tiers. Yes, one third part it shall be--something more. With a beautiful lady one must not be too exac. I rejoice myself, to make by that a liaison with Madame, et de ce moment je recommence a bien augurer de ma fortune.
MIN. But I cannot be present, sir, when you play.
RIC. For why it necessaire dat you be present? We other players
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! Mademoiselle, que je voudrais n'avoir jamais vu ce pays-ci! Had one left me in de service of de States General, should I be now at least colonel. But here always to remain capitaine, and now also a discharged capitaine.
MIN. That is ill luck.
RIC. Oui, Mademoiselle, me voila reforme, et par la mis sur le pave!
MIN. I am very sorry for you.
RIC. Vous etes bien bonne, Mademoiselle. . . . No, merit have no reward here. Reformer a man, like me! A man who also have ruin himself in dis service! I have lost in it so much as twenty thousand livres. What have I now? Tranchons le mot; je n'ai pas le sou, et me voila exactement vis-a-vis de rien.
MIN. I am exceedingly sorry.
RIC. Vous etes bien bonne, Mademoiselle, But as one say--misfortune never come alone! qu'un malheur ne vient jamais seul: so it arrive with me. What ressource rests for an honnete homme of my extraction, but play? Now, I always played with luck, so long I not need her. Now I very much need her, je joue avec un guignon, Mademoiselle, que surpasse toute croyance. For fifteen days, not one is passed, dat I always am broke. Yesterday, I was broke dree times. Je sais bien, qu'il y avait quelque chose de plus que le jeu. Car parmi mes pontes se trouvaient certaines dames. I will not speak more. One must be very galant to les dames. Dey have invite me again to-day, to give me revanche; mais-- vous m'entendez, Mademoiselle,--one must first have to live, before one can have to play.
MIN. I hope, sir--
RIC. Vous etes bien bonne, Mademoiselle.
MIN. (Takes Franziska aside.) Franziska, I really feel for the man. Would he take it ill, if I offer him something?
FRAN. He does not look to me like a man who would.
MIN. Very well! Sir, I perceive that--you play, that you keep the bank; doubtless in places where something is to be won. I must also confess that I . . . am very fond of play.
RIC. Tant mieux, Mademoiselle, tant mieux! Tous les gens d'esprit aiment le jeu a la fureur.
MIN. That I am very fond of winning; that I like to trust my money to a man, who--knows how to play. Are you inclined, sir, to let me join you? To let me have a share in your bank?
RIC. Comment, Mademoiselle, vous voulez etre de moitie avec moi? De tout mon coeur.
MIN. At first, only with a trifle. (Opens her desk and takes out some money.)
RIC. Ah! Mademoiselle, que vous etes charmante!
MIN. Here is what I won a short time back; only ten pistoles. I am ashamed, so little--
RIC. Donnez toujours, Mademoiselle, donnez. (Takes it.)
MIN. Without doubt, your bank, sir, is very considerable.
RIC. Oh! yes, vary considerable. Ten pistoles! You shall have, Madame, an interest in my bank for one third, pour le tiers. Yes, one third part it shall be--something more. With a beautiful lady one must not be too exac. I rejoice myself, to make by that a liaison with Madame, et de ce moment je recommence a bien augurer de ma fortune.
MIN. But I cannot be present, sir, when you play.
RIC. For why it necessaire dat you be present? We other players