RODERICK
What is the service, sir?
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
There is lately come to Berlin a gentleman in the service of the Empress Queen, who calls himself the Chevalier de Belle Fast, and wears the red riband and star of the pope's order of the Spur. He is made for good society, polished, obliging, a libertine, without prejudices, fond of women, of good food, of high play, prudent and discreet.
The Captain smiles at Roderick.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
He speaks Italian and French indifferently; but we have some reason to fancy this Monsieur de Belle Fast is a native of your country of Ireland, and that he has come here as a spy.
The Captain rises and begins to pace back and forth.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
Naturally, your knowledge of English makes you an ideal choice to go into his service. Of course, you will not know a word of English; and if the Chevalier asks as to the particularity of your accent, say you are Hungarian. The servant who came with him will be turned away today, and the person to whom he has applied for a faithful fellow will recommend you.
Roderick nods.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
You are a Hungarian; you served in the army, and left on account of weakness in the loins. He gambles a great deal, and wins. Do you know the cards well?
RODERICK
Only a very little, as soldiers do.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
I had thought you more expert. You must find out if the Chevalier cheats. He sees the English and Austrian envoys continually, and the young men of either ministry sup repeatedly at his house. Find out what they talk of, for how much each plays, especially if any of them play on parole. If you are able to, read his private letters, though about those which go to the post, you need not trouble yourself -- we look at them there. But never see him write a note without finding out to whom it goes, and by what channel or messenger. He sleeps with the keys of his dispatch-box with a string around his neck -- twenty frederics, if you get an impression of the keys.
MINISTER GALGENSTEIN
Does this assignment interest you?
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.
Roderick and the Chevalier walking.
CHEVALIER
My lad, I have been in every service; and, between ourselves, owe money in every capital in Europe. I have been a rolling stone. Play -play has been my ruin! That and beauty. The women have made a fool of me, my dear boy. I am a softhearted creature, and this minute, at sixty-two, have no more command of myself than when Peggy O'Dwyer made a fool of me at sixteen.
Roderick and the Chevalier walking along the bank.
CHEVALIER
The cards are now my only livelihood. Sometimes I am in luck, and then I lay out my money in these trinkets you see. It's property, look you, and the only way I have found of keeping a little about me. When the luck goes against me, why, my dear, my diamonds go to the pawnbrokers and I wear paste. Do you understand the cards?
RODERICK
I can play as soldiers do, but have no great skill.
CHEVALIER
We will practice in the mornings, my boy, and I'll put you up to a thing or two worth knowing.
Quick cuts -- Roderick being taught the profession of cards and the dice-box.
Roderick, Minister Galgenstein, and Captain Galgenstein.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I carried my little reports to Captain Galgenstein at the Garden house outside the town where he gave me rendezvous. These reports, of course, were arranged between me and the Chevalier beforehand. I was instructed, and it is always the best way, to tell as much truth as my story would possible bear. Dialogue comes up from under voice over.