Action and cuts as voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I had rings on my fingers, watches in both my fobs, trinkets, and snuff-boxes, of all sorts, and each outvying the other in elegance.
As described.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I had the finest natural taste for lace and china of any man I ever knew.
Buying horses.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I could judge a horse as well as any dealer in Germany. I could not spell, but I could speak German and French cleverly.
Roderick being fitted for clothes.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I had at least twelve suits of clothes; three richly embroidered with gold, two laced with silver; one of French grey, silver-laced and lined with chinchilla. I had damask morning robes, to which a peacock's tail is as sober as a Quaker's drab skirt.
Action as voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I took lessons on the guitar, and sang French catches exquisitely. Where, in fact, was there a more accomplished gentleman than Roderick James?
Action as per voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
How have we had the best blood, and the brightest eyes, too, of Europe throbbing round the table as I and the Chevalier have held the cards and the bank against some terrible player, who was matching some thousands out of his millions against our all which was there on the baize!
Roderick dealing a faro bank.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Our principles were: play grandly, honorably. Be not, of course, cast down at losing; but, above all, be not eager at winning, as mean souls are.
Action as voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
When the Duke of Courland brought fourteen lackeys each with bags of florins, and challenged our bank to play against the sealed bags, what did we ask?
CHEVALIER
Sir, we have but eighty thousand florins in bank, or two hundred thousand at three months; if your highness' bags do not contain more than eight thousand, we will meet you.
Playing.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And we did, and after eleven hours play, in which our bank was at one time reduced to two hundred and three ducats, we won seventeen thousand florins off him.
Four crowned heads look on at the game, and an imperial princess, when Roderick turns up the ace of hearts, bursts into tears.
Roderick and a girl.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Nor need I mention my successes among the fairer portion of the creation. One of the most accomplished, the tallest, the most athletic, and the handsomest gentleman in Europe, as I was then, a young fellow of my figure could not fail of having advantages, which a person of my spirit knew very well how to us.
Making love to a masked lady.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Charming Schuvaloff.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Black-eyed Sczortarska.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Dark Valdez.
RODERICK
Do you expect me to believe that your lover brought you here tonight?
VALDEZ
Yes. He brought me in his carriage, and he will call for me at midnight.
RODERICK
And he doesn't care about me?
VALDEZ
He is only curious to know who you are.
RODERICK
If his love were like mine, he would not permit you to come here.
VALDEZ
He loves me, as I love you.
RODERICK
Will he wish to know the details of this night?
VALDEZ
He will believe that it will please me if he asks about it, and I shall tell him everything except some circumstances which might humiliate him.
RODERICK (V.O.)
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.