18J26.] Horce Poloniat. 3uj 



Vin. To Trieste, where I met a savant, who travelled lor the f»oo<l of liis fellow- 

 rreatiires, just u fortnight before he omburkeil. He perceived that I hiid some inclina- 

 tion for srientifif ^nnsuits. I liad the good fortune to please him, and I became tlie 

 companion of his journey. 



Mrs. K. In wliat capacity ? 



Fin. I wius ilia secretary ; and my mind profited not a little by what my hand copied 

 from his lips. 



Mrs. K. (nside) I wonder has he made any thing ! ( To him) I am impatient to know 

 every thing that ha;ipencd to you since we parted. 



Vin. A week would not siilhce for the relation of my adventures. I have been a 

 slave at Morocco ; I was once cast away on a desart island ; twice was I lost in the 

 sands of Tartary ; I have had to fight for my life with the elements, with wild beasts, 

 with nature ! 



Mrs. K. You make me shudder ! And where was your savant all this time? 



Vin. Exposed to the same dangers. We lost one another, and met again. In short, 

 1 left him in a town in Asia to return to my own country. 



Mrs. K. Why did you leave him ? 



Vin. Do you ask? Do you not know, Mrs. Kriwdine, that there existed here an 

 object whose recollection was dear to me, and that I had no happiness where I did 

 not see her? Any one else in my jilace would have died a hundred times from the 

 evils which I suffered ; but I, thanks to heaven ! have survived, and here I am ! 



Mrs. K. You afflict me. I hope such voyages were not unattended with profit ; you 

 have of course brought with you the recompense of your cruel toils ? 



Vin. Yes, I can recompense your constancy in a worthy manner — for I have kept 

 my faith. 



Mrs. K. I never ceased thinking of you ! 



Vin. I bring witli me possessions of inestimable value— a real trcasurC! 



Mrs. K. A treasure ! Poor Vincent, I am enchanted to sec you. Vthy do you 

 not come into the house ? The day is closing — come in I beg. 



Vin. Let us remain for a while where we are — the weather is delightful ! 



Mrs. K. A treasure ! You must come and take up your abode in my house. 



Vin. So I intend. 



Mrs. K. My worthy friend, who has returned from such a distance -. you must be 

 overwhelmed with fatigue ! 



Vin- On the contrary, exercise is my element ; the more I travel the better I am. 



Mrs. K. (aside) He never looked so handsjme ! ( To him) You have then amassed 

 a great deal of money ? 



Vin. I ! I have no money ! 



Mrs. K. It is in bills then, I suppose ? 



Fin. No, faith ! 



Mrs. K. Oh, I see, it is in goods, jewels, &e. 



Fin. I have neither bill, nor money, nor jewels ; but if to carry about you all 

 you possess is a proof of being a philosopher, I am the greatest philosopher in the 

 world. 



Mrs. K. {cooUy) Where then is the treasure of which you were speaking ? 



Vin. (puts his hand to his forehead) There. 



Mrs. K. I don't imderstand you! 



Fin. Your lover returns with a head furnished with useful truths and philosophical 

 knowledge. ( The stage darkens.) 



Mrs. K. These then are all your riches? 



Vin. What riches can be more real, less perishable, than these ! 



Mrs. K. (aside) I see he is a beggarman, I must get rid of him before he grows 

 troublesome. ( To him) It is getting late, Mr. Vincent ! 



Fin. True ! the night is drawing in ; come into your house. My appetite is getting 

 ravenous. At table I shall tell you surprising adventures. ( Goes towards the house. ) 



Mrs. K. (catches him by the coat) Mr. Vincent ! 



Vi7i. (going fonvard) With what joy I re\'isit this dwelling, where my first trans- 

 ports — 



Mrs. K. (puUs him hack) Don't think of it, Mr. Vincent, you can't go in ! 



Fin. (stops) I can't go in ! 



Mrs. K. At my house — 



Vin. Well ! at your house ? 



Mrs. K. Yes — at my house — there's a sort of confusion— the furniture is not in 

 order ! 



FjVi. Wiiat do I care for the order or disorder of furniture ? Can I see any thing 



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