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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15878.txt b/15878.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad77872 --- /dev/null +++ b/15878.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6419 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts, by Honore De Balzac + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts + +Author: Honore De Balzac + +Release Date: October 17, 2005 [EBook #15878] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STEPMOTHER *** + + + + +Produced by Dagny and John Bickers + + + + + + THE STEPMOTHER + A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS + + BY + + HONORE DE BALZAC + + + + Presented for the First Time in Paris + At the Theatre-Historique + May 25, 1848 + + + + PERSONS OF THE PLAY + +Comte de Grandchamp, a Napoleonic General +Eugene Ramel, a State's Attorney +Ferdinand Marcandal +Doctor Vernon +Godard +An Investigating Magistrate +Felix, servant to General de Grandchamp +Champagne, a foreman +Baudrillon, a druggist +Napoleon, son to General de Grandchamp by his second wife +Gertrude, second wife to General de Grandchamp +Pauline, daughter to General de Grandchamp by his first wife +Marguerite, maid to Pauline +Gendarmes, Sheriff's Officer, the Clergy + + + +SCENE: Chateau of the General de Grandchamp, near Louviers, Normandy + +TIME: 1829 + + + + + + THE STEPMOTHER + + + + + ACT I + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(A richly decorated drawing-room; on the walls are portraits of +Napoleon I. and his son. The entry is by a large double glass door, +which opens on a roofed veranda and leads by a short stairway to a +park. The door of Pauline's apartments are on the right; those of the +General and his wife are on the left. On the left side of the central +doorway is a table, and on the right is a cabinet. A vase full of +flowers stands by the entrance to Pauline's room. A richly carved +marble mantel, with a bronze clock and candelabras, faces these +apartments. In the front of the stage are two sofas, one on the left, +the other on the right. Gertrude enters, carrying the flowers which +she has just plucked, and puts them in the vase.) + +Gertrude and the General. + + +Gertrude +I assure you, my dear, that it would be unwise to defer any longer +giving your daughter in marriage. She is now twenty-two. Pauline has +been very slow in making her choice; and, in such a case, it is the +duty of parents to see that their children are settled. Moreover, I am +very much interested in her. + +The General +In what way? + +Gertrude +The position of stepmother is always open to suspicion; and for some +time it has been rumored in Louviers that I am the person who throws +obstacles in the way of Pauline's marriage. + +The General +That is merely the idle gossip of little towns. I should like to cut +out some of those silly tongues. And to think that they should attack +you of all people, Gertrude, who have been a real mother to +Pauline--whom you have educated most excellently! + +Gertrude +It is the way of the world! They will never forgive us for living so +close to the town, yet never entering it. The society of the place +revenges itself upon us for slighting it. Do you think that our +happiness can escape envy? Even our doctor-- + +The General +Do you mean Vernon? + +Gertrude +Yes, Vernon is very envious of you; he is vexed to think that he has +never been able to inspire any woman with such affection as I have for +you. Moreover, he pretends that I am merely playing a part,--as if I +could do it for twelve years! Rather unlikely, I should think. + +The General +No woman could keep up the pretence for twelve years without being +found out. The idea is absurd! And Vernon also is-- + +Gertrude +Oh, he is only joking! And so, as I told you before, you had better +see Godard. I am astonished that he has not yet arrived. He is so rich +that it would be folly to refuse him. He is in love with Pauline, and +although he has his faults, and is somewhat provincial, he is quite +able to make her happy. + +The General +I have left Pauline quite free to choose a husband for herself. + +Gertrude +There is no cause for anxiety. A girl so gentle, so well brought up, +so well behaved, is sure to do right. + +The General +Gentle, did you say? She is headstrong, like her father. + +Gertrude +She, headstrong? And you, come now, do you not always act as I wish? + +The General +You are no angel, and always wish what pleases me! By the bye, Vernon +takes dinner with us after his autopsy. + +Gertrude +Was it necessary to tell me that? + +The General +I only told you, in order that he might have his favorite wines. + +Felix (enters, announcing) +Monsieur de Rimonville! + +The General +Ask him in. + +Gertrude (making a sign to Felix to arrange the vase of flowers) +I will go to Pauline's room, while you are talking business. I should +like to superintend the arrangement of her toilet. Young people do not +always understand what is most becoming to them. + +The General +She has no expense spared her! During the last eighteen months her +dress has cost twice as much as it previously did; after all, poor +girl, it is the only amusement she has. + +Gertrude +How can you say it is her only amusement while she has the privilege +of living with us! If it were not my happy lot to be your wife, I +should like to be your daughter. I will never leave you, not I! Did +you say for the last eighteen months? That is singular! Well, when I +come to think of it, she has begun to care more about laces, jewels, +and other pretty things. + +The General +She is quite rich enough to indulge her tastes. + +Gertrude +And she is now of age. (Aside) Her fondness of dress is the smoke. Can +there be any fire? (Exit.) + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +The General (alone) +What a pearl among women! Thus I am made happy after twenty-six +campaigns, a dozen wounds, and the death of an angel, whose place she +has taken in my heart; truly a kind Providence owed me some such +recompense as this, if it were only to console me for the death of the +Emperor. + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +Godard and the General. + + +Godard (entering) +Well, General! + +The General +Ah! good day, Godard! I hope you are come to spend the day with us? + +Godard +I thought perhaps I might spend the week, General, if you should +regard favorably the request which I shall venture to make of you. + +The General +Go in and win! I know what request you mean--My wife is on your side. +Ah, Godard, you have attacked the fortress at its weak point! + +Godard +General, you are an old soldier, and have no taste for mere phrases. +In all your undertakings you go straight ahead, as you did when under +fire. + +The General +Straight and facing the whole battery. + +Godard +That suits me well, for I am rather timid. + +The General +You! I owe you, my dear friend, an apology; I took you for a man who +was too well aware of his own worth. + +Godard +You took me to be conceited! But General, as a matter of fact, I +intend to marry because I don't know how to pay any court to women. + +The General (aside) +What a civilian! (Aloud) How is this? You talk like an old man, and +--that is not the way to win my daughter. + +Godard +Do not misunderstand me. I have a warm heart; I wish only to feel sure +that I shall be accepted. + +The General +That means that you don't mind attacking unwalled towns. + +Godard +That is not it at all, General. You quite alarm me, with your banter. + +The General +What do you mean then? + +Godard +I understand nothing about the tricks of women. I know no more when +their yes means no, than when their no means yes; and when I am in +love, I wish to be loved in return. + +The General (aside) +With such ideas as those he has precious little chance. + +Godard +There are plenty of men like me, men who are supremely bored by this +little warfare of manners and whims. + +The General +But there is something also delightful in it,--I mean in the feminine +show of resistance, which gives one the pleasure of overcoming it. + +Godard +Thank you, nothing of that sort for me! When I am hungry, I do not +wish to coquette with my soup. I like to have things decided, and care +very little how the decision is arrived at, although I do come from +Normandy. In the world, I see coxcombs who creep into the favor of +women by saying to them, "Ah! madame, what a pretty frock you have on. +Your taste is perfect. You are the only person who could wear that," +and starting from such speeches as that they go on and on--and gain +their end. They are wonderful fellows, upon my honor! I don't see how +they reach success by such idle talk. I should beat about the bush +through all eternity before I could tell a pretty woman the effect she +had made on me. + +The General +The men of the Empire were not of that sort. + +Godard +It is on account of that, that I put on a bold face! This boldness +when backed by an income of forty thousand francs is accepted without +protest, and wins its way to the front. That is why you took me for a +good match. So long as there are no mortgages on the rich pasture +lands of the Auge Valley, so long as one possesses a fine chateau, +well furnished--for my wife need bring with her nothing but her +trousseau, since she will find there even the cashmeres and laces of +my late mother--when a man has all that, General, he has got all the +courage he need have. Besides, I am now Monsieur de Rimonville. + +The General +No, you're only Godard. + +Godard +Godard de Rimonville. + +The General +Godard for short. + +Godard +General, you are trying my patience. + +The General +As for me, it would try my patience to see a man, even if he were my +son-in-law, deny his father; and your father, a right honest man, used +himself to drive his beeves from Caen to Poissy, and all along the +road was known as Godard--Father Godard. + +Godard +He was highly thought of. + +The General +He was, in his own class. But I see what's the matter; as his cattle +provided you with an income of forty thousand francs, you are counting +upon other animals to give you the name of De Rimonville. + +Godard +Now come, General, you had better consult Mlle. Pauline; she belongs +to her own epoch--that she does. We are now in the year 1829 and +Charles X. is king. She would sooner hear the valet call out, as she +left a ballroom, "the carriage of Madame de Rimonville," than, "the +carriage of Madame Godard." + +The General +Well, if such silliness as this pleases my daughter, it makes no +difference to me. For, after all, you would be the one they'd poke fun +at, my dear Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +The General +Godard, you are a good fellow, you are young, you are rich, you say +that you won't pay your court to women, but that your wife shall be +the queen of your house. Well, if you gain her consent you can have +mine; for bear in mind, Pauline will only marry the man she loves, +rich or poor. There may be one exception, but that doesn't concern +you. I would prefer to attend her funeral rather than take her to the +registry office to marry a man who was a son, grandson, brother, +nephew, cousin or connection of one of the four or five wretches who +betrayed--you know what my religion is-- + +Godard +Betrayed the Emperor. Yes, everyone knows your creed, General. + +The General +God, first of all; then France or the Emperor--It is all the same to +me. Lastly, my wife and children! Whoever meddles with my gods becomes +my enemy; I would kill him like a hare, remorselessly. My catechism is +short, but it is good. Do you know why, in the year 1816, after their +cursed disbanding of the army of the Loire, I took my little +motherless child and came here, I, colonel of the Young Guard, wounded +at Waterloo, and became a cloth manufacturer of Louviers? + +Godard +I suppose you didn't wish to hold office under them. + +The General +No, because I did not wish to die as a murderer on the scaffold. + +Godard +What do you mean? + +The General +If I had met one of those traitors, I should have finished his +business for him. Even to-day, after some fifteen years, my blood +boils if I read their names in the newspaper or anyone mentions them +in my presence. And indeed, if I should meet one of them, nothing +would prevent me from springing at his throat, tearing him to pieces, +strangling him-- + +Godard +You would do right. (Aside) I must humor him. + +The General +Yes, sir, I would strangle him! And if my son-in-law were to ill-treat +my dear child, I would do the same to him. + +Godard +Ah! + +The General +I shouldn't wish him to be altogether under her thumb. A man ought to +be king in his own house, as I am here. + +Godard (aside) +Poor man! How he deceives himself! + +The General +Did you speak? + +Godard +I said, General, that your threat had no terrors for me! When one has +nothing but a wife to love, he loves her well. + +The General +Quite right, my dear Godard. And now with regard to the marriage +settlement? + +Godard +Oh, yes! + +The General +My daughter's portion consists of-- + +Godard +Consists of-- + +The General +It comprises her mother's fortune and the inheritance of her uncle +Boncoeur. It will be undivided, for I give up my rights to it. This +will amount to three hundred and fifty thousand francs and a year's +interest, for Pauline is twenty-two. + +Godard +This will make up three hundred and sixty-seven thousand five hundred +francs. + +The General +No. + +Godard +Why not? + +The General +It will be more! + +Godard +More? + +The General +Four hundred thousand francs. (Godard seems astonished.) I make up the +difference! But when I die there will be nothing more coming to her. +Do you understand? + +Godard +I do not understand. + +The General +I am very much attached to little Napoleon. + +Godard +You mean the young Duke of Reichstadt? + +The General +No, my son whom they would enter in the register only under the name +of Leon; but I had inscribed here (he places his hand upon his heart) +the name of Napoleon! Do you see I must provide for him and his +mother? + +Godard (aside) +Especially for his mother; she'll take care of that! + +The General +What are you saying? If you don't agree with me, out with it! + +Godard (aside) +If I did so, we should find ourselves in the law courts. (Aloud) I +agree, and will back you in everything, General. + +The General +Good for you! And I'll tell you why, my dear Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +The General +Godard, I prefer Godard. I'll tell you why. After having commanded the +grenadiers of the Young Guard, I, General Comte de Grandchamp, now +weave the cloth for their uniforms. + +Godard +This is very commendable! You should keep on storing up, General, so +that your widow may not be left without a fortune. + +The General +She is an angel, Godard! + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +The General +Godard, she is an angel, to whom you are indebted for the education of +your intended, whom she has moulded after her own image. Pauline is a +pearl, a jewel; she has never left this home; she is as pure and +innocent as she was in her cradle. + +Godard +General, let me admit that Mlle. Pauline is beautiful! + +The General +I am quite sure of that. + +Godard +She is very beautiful; but there are numbers of beautiful girls in +Normandy, some of them very rich, much richer than she is. Well now, +you'll scarcely believe how the mothers and fathers of these heiresses +run after me! It is scarcely decent. But it amuses me immensely; I +visit their chateaus; they overwhelm me with attentions-- + +The General +I said he was conceited! + +Godard +Oh, I am quite aware that it is not for my sake! I don't delude myself +as to that; it is for my unmortgaged pastures; for my savings, and for +my habit of living within my income. Do you know what it is that makes +me seek an alliance with you above all others? + +The General +No. + +Godard +There are certain rich would-be fathers-in-law who promise to obtain +from his Majesty a decree, by which I shall be created Comte de +Rimonville and Peer of France. + +The General +You? + +Godard +Yes, I. + +The General +Have you won any battles? Have you saved your country? Have you added +to its glory? This is pitiful! + +Godard +Pitiful? (Aside) What shall I say? (Aloud) We differ in our views on +this subject, but do you know why I prefer your adorable Pauline? + +The General +I suppose it is because you love her. + +Godard +That is a matter of course; but it is also on account of the harmony, +the tranquillity, the happiness which reign here! It is so delightful +to enter a family of high honor, of pure, sincere, patriarchal +manners! I am a man of observation. + +The General +That is to say, you are inquisitive. + +Godard +Curiosity, General, is the mother of observation. I know the seamy +side of the whole department. + +The General +Really? + +Godard +Yes, really! In all the families of which I have spoken to you, I have +seen some shabbiness or other. The public sees the decent exterior of +irreproachable mothers of family, of charming young persons, of good +fathers, of model uncles; they are admitted to the sacrament without +confession, they are entrusted with the investments of others. But +just learn their inner side, and it is enough to startle a police +magistrate. + +The General +Ah! That is the way you look at the world, is it? For my part, I try +to keep up the illusions in which I have lived. To peer into the inner +life of people in that way is the business of priests and magistrates; +I have no love for the black robed gentlemen, and I hope to die +without ever having seen them! But the sentiment which you express +with regard to my house is more pleasing to me than all your fortune. +Stick to that point, and you will win my esteem, something which I +lightly bestow on no one. + +Godard +Thank you, General. (Aside) I have won over the father-in-law at any +rate. + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +The same persons, Pauline and Gertrude. + + +The General (catching sight of Pauline) +Ah! Here you are, darling. + +Gertrude +Doesn't she look beautiful? + +Godard +Madame. + +Gertrude +Forgive me, sir. I had no eyes excepting for my handiwork. + +Godard +Mademoiselle is radiant! + +Gertrude +We have some people to dinner to-day, and I am something more than a +stepmother to her; I love to deck her out, for she is to me like my +own daughter. + +Godard (aside) +They were evidently expecting me! + +Gertrude (aside to Godard) +I am going to leave you alone with her. Now is the time for your +declaration. (To the General) My dear, let us go out on the veranda +and see if our friend the doctor is coming. + +The General +I am at your service, as usual. (To Pauline) Good-bye, my pet. (To +Godard) I shall see you later. + +(Gertrude and the General go to the veranda, but Gertrude keeps her +eye on Godard and Pauline. Ferdinand shows his head at the door of +Pauline's chamber, but at a quick sign from her, he hurriedly +withdraws it unobserved.) + +Godard (at the front of the stage) +Let me see, what fine and dainty speech can I make to her? Ah, I have +it! (To Pauline) It is a very fine day, mademoiselle. + +Pauline +It certainly is, sir. + +Godard +Mademoiselle-- + +Pauline +Sir? + +Godard +It is in your power to make the day still finer for me. + +Pauline +How can I do that? + +Godard +Don't you understand me? Has not Madame de Grandchamp said anything to +you about the subject nearest my heart? + +Pauline +While she was helping me to dress, an instant ago, she said a great +many complimentary things about you! + +Godard +And did you agree with her, even in the slightest way? + +Pauline +Oh, sir, I agreed with all she said! + +Godard (seating himself on a chair, aside) +So far so good. (Aloud) Did she commit a pardonable breach of +confidence by telling you that I was so much in love with you that I +wished to see you the mistress of Rimonville? + +Pauline +She gave me to understand by her hints that you were coming with the +intention of paying me a very great compliment. + +Godard (falling on his knees) +I love you madly, mademoiselle; I prefer you to Mlle. de Blondville, +to Mlle. de Clairville, to Mlle. de Verville, to Mlle. de +Pont-de-Ville--to-- + +Pauline +Oh, that is sufficient, sir, you throw me into confusion by these +proofs of a love which is quite unexpected! Your victims make up +almost a hecatomb. (Godard rises.) Your father was contented with +taking the victims to market! But you immolate them. + +Godard (aside) +I really believe she is making fun of me. But wait awhile! Wait +awhile! + +Pauline +I think at least we ought to wait awhile; and I must confess-- + +Godard +You do not wish to marry yet. You are happy with your parents, and you +are unwilling to leave your father. + +Pauline +That is it, exactly. + +Godard +In that case, there are some mothers who would agree that their +daughter was too young, but as your father admits that you are +twenty-two I thought that you might possibly have a desire to be +settled in life. + +Pauline +Sir! + +Godard +You are, I know, quite at liberty to decide both your own destiny and +mine; but in accordance with the wishes of your father and of your +second mother, who imagine that your heart is free, may I be permitted +still to have hope? + +Pauline +Sir, however flattering to me may be your intention in thus seeking me +out, that does not give you any right to question me so closely. + +Godard (aside) +Is it possible I have a rival? (Aloud) No one, mademoiselle, gives up +the prospect of happiness without a struggle. + +Pauline +Do you still continue in this strain? I must leave you, sir. + +Godard +Thank you, mademoiselle. (Aside) So much for your sarcasm. + +Pauline +Come sir, you are rich, and nature has given you a fine person; you +are so well educated and so witty that you will have no difficulty in +finding some young person richer and prettier than I am. + +Godard +How can that be when one is in love? + +Pauline +Well sir, that is the very point. + +Godard (aside) +She is in love with someone; I must find out who it is. (Aloud) +Mademoiselle, will you at least permit me to feel that I am not in +disgrace and that I may stay here a few days? + +Pauline +My father will answer you on that score. + +Gertrude (coming forward to Godard) +Well, how are things going? + +Godard +A blunt refusal, without even a hope of her relenting; her heart is +evidently already occupied. + +Gertrude (to Godard) +Her heart occupied? This child has been brought up by me, and I know +to the contrary; and besides that, no one ever comes here. (Aside) +This youth has roused in me suspicions which pierce my heart like a +dagger. (To Godard) Why don't you ask her if such is the case? + +Godard +How could I ask her anything? At my first word of jealous suspicion, +she resented my curiosity. + +Gertrude +Well, I shall have no hesitation in questioning her. + +The General +Ah, here comes the doctor! We shall now learn the truth concerning the +death of Champagne's wife. + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +The same persons and Dr. Vernon. + + +The General +Well, how are you? + +Vernon +I was quite sure of it. Ladies (he bows to them), as a general rule +when a man beats his wife, he takes care not to poison her; he would +lose too much by that. He doesn't want to be without a victim. + +The General (to Godard) +He is a charming fellow! + +Godard +Charming! + +The General (to the doctor, presenting Godard to him) +M. Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +Vernon (looking at Godard) +If he kills her, it is by mistake from having hit her a little too +hard; and he is overwhelmed with grief; while Champagne is innocently +delighted to have been made a widower by natural causes. As a matter +of fact, his wife died of cholera. It was a very rare case, but he who +has once seen Asiatic cholera cannot forget it, and I am glad that I +had that opportunity; for, since the campaign in Egypt, I have never +met with a case. If I had been called in time I could have saved her. + +Gertrude +How fortunate we are, for if a crime had been committed in this +establishment, which for twelve years has been so free from +disturbance, I should have been horrified. + +The General +Here you see the effect of all this tittle-tattle. But are you quite +sure, Vernon? + +Vernon +Am I certain? That's a fine question to put to a retired +surgeon-in-chief who has attended twelve French armies, from 1793 to +1815, and has practiced in Germany, in Spain, in Italy, in Russia, in +Poland, and in Egypt! + +The General (poking him in the ribs) +Away, you charlatan! I reckon you have killed more people than I have +in those countries. + +Godard +What is this talk that you are alluding to? + +Gertrude +This poor Champagne, our foreman, was supposed to have poisoned his +wife. + +Vernon +Unhappily, the night before she died, they had had an altercation +which ended in blows. Ah! they don't take example from their masters. + +Godard +Such happiness as reigns here ought to be contagious, but the virtues +which are exemplified in the countess are very rare. + +Gertrude +Is there any merit in loving an excellent husband and a daughter such +as these? + +The General +Come, Gertrude, say no more! Such words ought not to be spoken in +public. + +Vernon (aside) +Such things are always said in this way, when it is necessary to make +people believe them. + +The General (to Vernon) +What are you muttering about? + +Vernon +I was saying that I was sixty-seven years old, and that I was younger +than you are, and that I should wish to be loved like that. (Aside) If +only I could be sure that it was love. + +The General (to the doctor) +I see you are dubious! (to his wife) My dear child, there is no need +for me to bless the power of God on your behalf, but I think He must +have lent it me, in order that I might love you sufficiently. + +Vernon +You forget that I am a doctor, my dear friend. What you are saying to +Madame is only good for the burden of a ballad. + +Gertrude +The burdens of some ballads, doctor, are exceedingly true. + +The General +Doctor, if you continue teasing my wife, we shall quarrel; to doubt on +such a subject as that is an insult. + +Vernon +I have no doubt about it. (to the General) I would merely say, that +you have loved so many women with the powers of God, that I am in an +ecstasy as a doctor to see you still so good a Christian at seventy! + +(Gertrude glides softly towards the sofa, where the doctor is seated.) + +The General +Pshaw! The last passions, my friend, are always the strongest. + +Vernon +You are right. In youth, we love with all our strength which grows +weaker with age, while in age we love with all our weakness which is +ever on the increase. + +The General +Oh, vile philosophy! + +Gertrude (to Vernon) +Doctor, how is it that you, who are so good, try to infuse doubts into +the heart of Grandchamp? You know that he is so jealous that he would +kill a man on suspicion. I have such respect for his feelings that I +have concluded upon seeing no one, but you, the mayor and the cure. Do +you want me also to forego your society which is so pleasant, so +agreeable to us? Ah! Here is Napoleon. + +Vernon (aside) +I take this for a declaration of war. She has sent away everyone else, +she intends to dismiss me. + +Godard (to Vernon) +Doctor, you are an intimate friend of the house, tell me, pray, what +do you think of Mlle. Pauline? + +(The doctor rises from his seat, looks at the speaker, blows his nose, +and goes to the middle of the stage. The dinner bells sounds.) + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +The same persons, Napoleon and Felix. + + +Napoleon +Papa, papa, didn't you say I could ride Coco? + +The General +Certainly. + +Napoleon (to Felix) +Do you hear that? + +Gertrude (wiping her son's forehead) +He is quite warm! + +The General +But only on the condition that some one goes with you. + +Felix +You see I was right, Master Napoleon. General, the little rascal +wished to go on his pony alone into the country. + +Napoleon +He was frightened for me! Do you think I am afraid of anything? + +(Exit Felix. Dinner bell rings.) + +The General +Come and let me kiss you for that word. He is a little soldier and +belongs to the Young Guard. + +Vernon (with a glance at Gertrude) +He takes after his father! + +Gertrude (quickly) +As regards courage, he is his father's counterpart; but as to +physique, he resembles me. + +Felix +Dinner is served. + +Gertrude +Very well! But do you know where Ferdinand is? He is generally so +punctual. Here, Napoleon, go to the entrance of the factory and see if +he is coming. Tell him to hurry; the bell has rung. + +The General +We need not wait for Ferdinand. Godard, give your arm to Pauline. +(Vernon offers his arm to Gertrude.) Excuse me, Vernon, you ought to +be aware that I never permit anybody but myself to take my wife's arm. + +Vernon (aside) +Decidedly, he is incurable. + +Napoleon (running back) +I saw Ferdinand down in the main avenue. + +Vernon +Give me your hand, you little tyrant! + +Napoleon +Tyrant yourself! I'll bet I could tire you out. + +(Napoleon turns Vernon round and round. All leave, chatting gaily.) + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +Ferdinand (cautiously stealing from Pauline's room) +The youngster saved me, but I do not know how he happened to see me in +the avenue! One more piece of carelessness like this may ruin us! I +must extricate myself from this situation at any price. Here is +Pauline refusing Godard's proposal. The General, and especially +Gertrude, will try to find out the motives of her refusal! But I must +hasten to reach the veranda, so that I may have the appearance of +having come from the main avenue, as Leon said. I hope no one will +catch sight of me from the dining-room. (He meets Ramel.) What, Eugene +Ramel! + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +Ferdinand and Ramel. + + +Ramel +You here, Marcandal! + +Ferdinand +Hush! Don't pronounce that name in this place! If the General heard +that my name was Marcandal, he would kill me at once as if I were a +mad dog. + +Ramel +And why? + +Ferdinand +Because I am the son of General Marcandal. + +Ramel +A general to whom the Bourbons are in part indebted for their second +innings. + +Ferdinand +In the eyes of General Grandchamp, to leave Napoleon for service under +the Bourbons was treason against France. Alas! this was also my +father's opinion, for he died of grief. You must therefore remember to +call me by the name of Ferdinand Charny, my mother's maiden name. + +Ramel +And what are you doing here? + +Ferdinand +I am the manager, the cashier, the factotum of Grandchamp's factory. + +Ramel +How is this? Do you do it from necessity? + +Ferdinand +From dire necessity! My father spent everything, even the fortune of +my poor mother, who lived during her later years in Brittany on the +pension she received as widow of a lieutenant-general. + +Ramel +How is it that your father, who had command of the Royal Guard, a most +brilliant position, died without leaving you anything, not even a +patron? + +Ferdinand +Had he never betrayed his friends, and changed sides, without any +reason-- + +Ramel +Come, come, we won't talk any more about that. + +Ferdinand +My father was a gambler--that was the reason why he was so indulgent +to me. But may I ask what has brought you here? + +Ramel +A fortnight ago I was appointed king's attorney at Louviers. + +Ferdinand +I heard something about it. But the appointment was published under +another name. + +Ramel +De la Grandiere, I suppose. + +Ferdinand +That is it. + +Ramel +In order that I might marry Mlle. de Boudeville, I obtained permission +to assume my mother's name--as you have done. The Boudeville family +have given me their protection, and in a year's time I shall doubtless +be attorney-general at Rouen--a stepping-stone towards a position at +Paris. + +Ferdinand +And what brings you to our quiet factory? + +Ramel +I came to investigate a criminal case, a poisoning affair,--a fine +introduction into my office. + +(Felix enters.) + +Felix +Monsieur, Madame is worrying about you-- + +Ferdinand +Please ask her to excuse me for a few moments. (Exit Felix.) My dear +Eugene, in case the General--who like all retired troopers is very +inquisitive--should inquire how we happen to meet here, don't forget +to say that we came up the main avenue. It is important for me that +you should say so. But go on with your story. It is on account of the +wife of Champagne, our foreman, that you have come here; but he is +innocent as a new-born babe! + +Ramel +You believe so, do you? Well, the officers of justice are paid for +being incredulous. I see that you still remain, as I left you, the +noblest, the most enthusiastic fellow in the world; in short, a poet! +A poet who puts the poetry into his life instead of writing it, and +believes in the good and the beautiful! And that reminds me--that +angel of your dreams, that Gertrude of yours, whatever has become of +her? + +Ferdinand +Hush! Not only has the minister of justice sent you here, but some +celestial influence has sent to me at Louviers the friend whose help I +need in my terrible perplexity. Eugene, come here and listen to me a +while. I am going to appeal to you as my college friend, as the +confidant of my youth; you won't put on the airs of the prosecuting +attorney to me, will you? You will see from the nature of my +admissions that I impose upon you the secrecy of the confessional. + +Ramel +Is it anything criminal? + +Ferdinand +Oh, nonsense! My faults are such as the judges themselves would be +willing to commit. + +Ramel +Perhaps I had better not listen to you; or, if I do listen to you-- + +Ferdinand +Well! + +Ramel +I could demand a change of position. + +Ferdinand +You are always my best and kindest friend. Listen then! For over three +years I have been in love with Mlle. Pauline de Grandchamp, and she-- + +Ramel +You needn't go on; I understand. You have been reviving _Romeo and +Juliet_--in the heart of Normandy. + +Ferdinand +With this difference, that the hereditary hatred which stood between +the two lovers of the play was a mere trifle in comparison with the +loathing with which the Comte de Grandchamp contemplates the son of +the traitor Marcandal! + +Ramel +Let me see! Mlle. Pauline de Grandchamp will be free in three years; +she is rich in her own right--I know this from the Boudevilles. You +can easily take her to Switzerland and keep her there until the +General's wrath has had time to cool; and then you can make him the +respectful apologies required under the circumstances. + +Ferdinand +Do you think I would have asked your advice if the only difficulty lay +in the attainment of this trite and easy solution of the problem? + +Ramel +Ah! I see, my dear friend. You have already married your +Gertrude--your angel--who has become to you like all other angels, +after their metamorphoses into a lawful wives. + +Ferdinand +'Tis a hundred times worse than that! Gertrude, my dear sir, is now +Madame de Grandchamp. + +Ramel +Oh, dear! How is it you've thrust yourself into such a hornets' nest? + +Ferdinand +In the same way that people always thrust themselves into hornets' +nests; that is, with the hope of finding honey there. + +Ramel +Oh, oh! This is a very serious matter! Now, really, you must conceal +nothing from me. + +Ferdinand +Mlle. Gertrude de Meilhac, educated at St. Denis, without doubt loved +me first of all through ambition; she was glad to know that I was +rich, and did all she could to gain my attachment with a view to +marriage. + +Ramel +Such is the game of all these intriguing orphan girls. + +Ferdinand +But how came it about that Gertrude has ended by loving me so +sincerely? For her passion may be judged by its effects. I call it a +passion, but with her it is first love, sole and undivided love, which +dominates her whole life, and seems to consume her. When she found +that I was a ruined man, towards the close of the year 1816, and +knowing that I was like you, a poet, fond of luxury and art, of a soft +and happy life, in short, a mere spoilt child, she formed a plan at +once base and sublime, such a plan as disappointed passion suggests to +women who, for the sake of their love, do all that despots do for the +sake of their power; for them, the supreme law is that of their love-- + +Ramel +The facts, my dear fellow, give me the facts! You are making your +defence, recollect, and I am prosecuting attorney. + +Ferdinand +While I was settling my mother in Brittany, Gertrude met General de +Grandchamp, who was seeking a governess for his daughter. She saw +nothing in this battered warrior, then fifty-eight years old, but a +money-box. She expected that she would soon be left a widow, wealthy +and in circumstances to claim her lover and her slave. She said to +herself that her marriage would be merely a bad dream, followed +quickly by a happy awakening. You see the dream has lasted twelve +years! But you know how women reason. + +Ramel +They have a special jurisprudence of their own. + +Ferdinand +Gertrude is a woman of the fiercest jealousy. She wishes for fidelity +in her lover to recompense her for her infidelity to her husband, and +as she has suffered martyrdom, she says, she wishes-- + +Ramel +To have you in the same house with her, that she may keep watch over +you herself. + +Ferdinand +She has been successful in getting me here. For the last three years I +have been living in a small house near the factory. I should have left +the first week after my arrival, but that two days' acquaintance with +Pauline convinced me that I could not live without her. + +Ramel +Your love for Pauline, it seems to me as a magistrate, makes your +position here somewhat less distasteful. + +Ferdinand +My position? I assure you, it is intolerable, among the three +characters with whom I am cast. Pauline is daring, like all young +persons who are innocent, to whom love is a wholly ideal thing, and +who see no evil in anything, so long as it concerns a man whom they +intend to marry. The penetration of Gertrude is very acute, but we +manage to elude it through Pauline's terror lest my name should be +divulged; the sense of this danger gives her strength to dissemble! +But now Pauline has just refused Godard, and I do not know what may be +the consequences. + +Ramel +I know Godard; under a somewhat dull exterior he conceals great +sagacity, and he is the most inquisitive man in the department. Is he +here now? + +Ferdinand +He dines here to-day. + +Ramel +Do not trust him. + +Ferdinand +If two women, between whom there is no love lost, make the discovery +that they are rivals, one of them, I can't say which, is capable of +killing the other, for one is strong in innocence and lawful love; the +other, furious to see the fruit of so much dissimulation, so many +sacrifices, even crimes lost to her forever. + +(Enter Napoleon.) + +Ramel +You alarm me--me, the prosecuting attorney! Upon my word and honor, +women often cost more than they are worth. + +Napoleon +Dear friend! Papa and mamma are impatient about you; they send word +that you must leave your business, and Vernon says that your stomach +requires it. + +Ferdinand +You little rogue! You are come eavesdropping! + +Napoleon +Mamma whispered in my ear: "Go and see what your friend is doing." + +Ferdinand +Run away, you little scamp! Be off! I am coming. (To Ramel) You see +she makes this innocent child a spy over me. + +(Exit Napoleon.) + +Ramel +Is this the General's child? + +Ferdinand +Yes. + +Ramel +He is twelve years old? + +Ferdinand +About. + +Ramel +Have you anything more to tell me? + +Ferdinand +Really, I think I have told you enough. + +Ramel +Very well! Go and get your dinner. Say nothing of my arrival, nor of +my purpose here. Let them finish their dinner in peace. Now go at +once. + +(Exit Ferdinand.) + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +Ramel (alone) +Poor fellow! If all young people had studied the annals of the court, +as I have done in seven years of a magistrate's work, they would come +to the conclusion that marriage must be accepted as the sole romance +which is possible in life. But if passion could control itself it +would be virtue. + + +Curtain to First Act. + + + + + ACT II + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(Stage setting remains as in Act I.) + +Ramel and Marguerite; later, Felix. + + +(Ramel is buried in his reflections, reclining on the sofa in such a +way as to be almost out of sight. Marguerite brings in lights and +cards. Night is approaching.) + +Marguerite +Four card tables--that will be enough, even though the cure, the mayor +and his assistant come. (Felix lights the candles.) I'll wager +anything that my poor Pauline will not be married this time. Dear +child! If her late mother were to see that she was not queen of the +house, she would weep in her coffin! I only remain here in order to +comfort and to wait upon her. + +Felix (aside) +What is this old woman grumbling about? (Aloud) Whom are you +complaining of now, Marguerite? I'll bet it is the mistress. + +Marguerite +No, it is not; I am blaming the master. + +Felix +The General? You had better mind your own business. He is a saint, is +that man. + +Marguerite +Yes, a stone saint, for he is blind. + +Felix +You had better say that he has been blinded. + +Marguerite +You hit the nail on the head there. + +Felix +The General has but one fault--he is jealous. + +Marguerite +Yes, and obstinate, too. + +Felix +Yes, obstinate; it is the same thing. When once he suspects anything +he comes down like a hammer. That was the way he laid two men lifeless +at a blow. Between ourselves, there is only one way to treat a trooper +of that sort; you must stuff him with flattery. And the mistress +certainly does stuff him. Besides, she is clever enough to put +blinders on him, such as they put on shying horses; he can see neither +to the right nor to the left, and she says to him, "My dear, look +straight ahead!" So she does! + +Marguerite +Ah! You think with me that a woman of thirty-two does not love a man +of seventy without some object. She is scheming something. + +Ramel (aside) +Oh, these servants! whom we pay to spy over us! + +Felix +What can be her scheme? She never leaves the house, she never sees +anyone. + +Marguerite +She would skin a flint! She has taken away the keys from me--from me +who always had the confidence of the former mistress; do you know why +she did so? + +Felix +I suppose she is saving up her pile. + +Marguerite +Yes, out of the fortune of Mlle. Pauline, and the profits of the +factory. That is the reason why she puts off the marriage of the dear +child as long as she can, for she has to give up her fortune when she +marries her. + +Felix +Yes, that's the law. + +Marguerite +I would forgive her everything, if only she made Mademoiselle happy; +but I sometimes catch my pet in tears, and I ask her what is the +matter, and she says nothing but "Good Marguerite!" (Exit Felix.) Let +me see, have I done everything? Yes, here are the card tables--the +candles--the cards--Ah! the sofa. (She catches sight of Ramel) Good +Lord! A stranger! + +Ramel +Don't be startled, Marguerite. + +Marguerite +You must have heard all we said. + +Ramel +Don't be alarmed. My business is to keep secrets. I am the state's +attorney. + +Marguerite +Oh! + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +The same persons, Pauline, Godard, Vernon, Napoleon, Ferdinand, the +General, Madame de Grandchamp. + + +(Gertrude rushes to Marguerite and snatches the cushions from her +hands.) + +Gertrude +Marguerite, you know very well what pain you give me, by not allowing +me to do everything for your master; besides, I am the only one who +knows how to arrange the cushions to his liking. + +Marguerite (to Pauline) +What a to-do about nothing! + +Godard +Why, look! Here is the state's attorney! + +The General +The state's attorney at my house? + +Gertrude +I am surprised! + +The General (to Ramel) +Sir, what brings you here? + +Ramel +I asked my friend, M. Ferdinand Mar-- + +(Ferdinand checks him by a gesture. Gertrude and Pauline look at him +in alarm.) + +Gertrude (aside) +It is his friend, Eugene Ramel. + +Ramel +My friend, Ferdinand de Charny, to whom I have told the object of my +visit, to say nothing about it until you had finished your dinner. + +The General +Ferdinand then is your friend? + +Ramel +I have known him from childhood; and here we met in your avenue. On +meeting, after nine years of separation, we had so many things to talk +about, that I caused him to be late. + +The General +But, sir, to what circumstance am I to attribute your presence here? + +Ramel +I come in the matter of Jean Nicot, known as Champagne, your foreman, +who is charged with a crime. + +Gertrude +But, sir, our friend, Doctor Vernon, has declared that Champagne's +wife died a natural death. + +Vernon +Yes, sir, cholera. + +Ramel +Justice, sir, believes in nothing but investigations and convictions +of its own. You did wrong to proceed before my arrival. + +Felix +Madame, shall I bring in the coffee? + +Gertrude +Wait a while! (Aside) How changed this man is, this attorney. I +shouldn't have recognized him. He terrifies me. + +The General +But how could you be brought here by the crime of Champagne, an old +soldier for whom I would stand security? + +Ramel +You will earn that, on the arrival of the investigating magistrate. + +The General +Will you be pleased to take a seat? + +Ferdinand (to Ramel, pointing out Pauline) +That is she! + +Ramel +A man might lay down his life for such a lovely girl. + +Gertrude (to Ramel) +We do not know each other! You have never seen me, have you? You must +have pity on us! + +Ramel +You may depend upon me for that. + +The General (who sees Ramel and Gertrude talking together) +Is my wife to be called to this investigation? + +Ramel +Certainly, General. I came here myself because the countess had not +been notified that we required her presence. + +The General +My wife mixed up in such an affair? It is an outrage! + +Vernon +Keep cool, my friend. + +Felix (announcing) +Monsieur, the investigating magistrate! + +The General +Let him come in. + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +The same persons, the investigating magistrate, Champagne, Baudrillon +and a gendarme who is guarding Champagne. + + +The Magistrate (bowing to the company) +Monsieur the state's attorney, this is M. Baudrillon, the druggist. + +Ramel +Has M. Baudrillon seen the accused? + +The Magistrate +No, monsieur, the accused came in charge of a gendarme. + +Ramel +We shall soon learn the truth in this case! Let M. Baudrillon and the +accused approach. + +The Magistrate +Come forward, M. Baudrillon; (to Champagne) and you also. + +Ramel +M. Baudrillon, do you identify this man as the person who bought +arsenic from you two days ago? + +Baudrillon +Yes, that is the very man. + +Champagne +Didn't I tell you, M. Baudrillon, that it was for the mice that were +eating up everything, even in the house, and that I wanted it for +Madame? + +The Magistrate +Do you hear him, madame? This is his plea; he pretends that you +yourself sent him to get this stuff, and that he handed the package to +you just as he took it from M. Baudrillon. + +Gertrude +It is true, sir. + +Ramel +Did you make any use of the arsenic, madame? + +Gertrude +No, sir. + +The Magistrate +You can then show us the package sent by M. Baudrillon; it should have +his label, and if he acknowledges that it is entire and unbroken, the +serious charges made against your foreman will in part be disproved. +We shall then have nothing more to do than to receive the report of +the physician who held the autopsy. + +Gertrude +The package, sir, has never been taken from the desk in my bedroom. +(Exit.) + +Champagne +Ah! General, I am saved. + +The General +Poor old Champagne! + +Ramel +General, we shall be very happy if we have to announce the innocence +of your foreman; unlike you soldiers, we are always delighted to be +beaten. + +Gertrude (returning) +Here it is, gentlemen. + +(The Magistrate, Baudrillon and Ramel examine the package.) + +Baudrillon (putting on his glasses) +It is intact, gentlemen, perfectly intact. Here is my seal on it +unbroken. + +The Magistrate +Lock that up carefully, madame, for the assizes for sometime have had +to deal with nothing but poisoning cases. + +Gertrude +You see, sir, I have kept it in my desk, in which none but the General +and myself have access. + +(Gertrude returns to her bedroom.) + +Ramel +General, we will not wait for the report of the autopsy. The principal +charge, which you will agree with me was very serious, for all the +town was talking of it, has been disproved; and we have full +confidence in the skill and integrity of Doctor Vernon. (Gertrude +returns) Champagne, you are at liberty. (General expression of +satisfaction.) But you see, my friend, to what painful suspicions a +man exposes himself when his home has a bad name. + +Champagne +Ask the General, your Honor, if I am not mild as a lamb; but my wife, +God forgive her, was the worst that was ever made. An angel could not +have stood her. If I have sometimes tried to bring her to reason, the +anxious moments you have made me pass here, have been punishment +enough! To be taken up for a prisoner, and to know yourself innocent, +while you are in the hands of justice. (Weeps.) + +The General +Well! well! You are acquitted now! + +Napoleon +Papa, what is justice? + +The General +Gentlemen, justice ought not to commit errors of this kind. + +Gertrude +There seems to be always something fatal in this justice! And this +poor man will always bear a bad name from your arrival here. + +Ramel +Madame, for the innocent there is nothing fatal in criminal justice. +You see that Champagne has been promptly discharged. (Fixing his eyes +upon Gertrude.) Those who live without reproach, who indulge no +passions, save the noble and the lawful, have nothing to fear from +justice. + +Gertrude +Sir, you do not know the people of this country. Ten years from this +time they will say that Champagne poisoned his wife, that the officers +of justice came to investigate and, but for our protection-- + +The General +Say no more, Gertrude. These gentlemen have done only their duty. +(Felix prepares the coffee.) Gentlemen, can I offer you a cup of +coffee? + +The Magistrate +Thank you, General; the urgency of this affair called me away from +home rather suddenly, and my wife is waiting dinner for me at +Louviers. (He goes on the veranda to talk with the doctor.) + +The General (to Ramel) +You are a friend of Ferdinand's, I believe? + +Ramel +Yes, General, and you have in him the noblest heart, the most spotless +integrity, the most charming character that I have ever met. + +Pauline +This state's attorney seems to be a very kind man! + +Godard (aside) +And why does she say that? Is it because he praised M. Ferdinand? Ah! +there's something there! + +Gertrude (to Ramel) +Whenever you have any moments to spare, you must come to see M. de +Charny. (To the General) Would not that be nice, dear? + +The Magistrate (coming in from the veranda) +M. de la Grandiere, our physician, agrees with Doctor Vernon that this +death resulted from Asiatic cholera. We beg, therefore, that you, +countess, and you, count, will excuse us for having disturbed, even +for a moment, the tranquillity of your charming household. + +Ramel (to Gertrude in the front of the stage) +Take care! God never protects undertakings so rash as yours. I have +discovered all. Give up Ferdinand, leave his life free, and be +satisfied with the happiness of a wife. The path which you are +following leads to crime. + +Gertrude +I'll die before I give him up! + +Ramel (aside) +I must get Ferdinand away from this place. + +(Ramel beckons to Ferdinand, takes his arm, and goes out with him +after exchange of formal bows.) + +The General +At last we are rid of them! (To Gertrude) Let the coffee be handed +round. + +Gertrude +Pauline, kindly ring for the coffee. + +(Pauline rings.) + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +The same persons, excepting Ferdinand, Ramel, the Magistrate and +Baudrillon. + + +Godard (aside) +I shall find out presently whether Pauline loves Ferdinand. This +urchin, who wants to know about justice, seems to me pretty cute; I'll +make use of him. + +(Felix appears.) + +Gertrude +The coffee. + +(Felix brings in the tray.) + +Godard (who has taken Napoleon aside) +Would you like to play a nice trick on somebody? + +Napoleon +That I would. Do you know one? + +Godard +Come with me, and I'll tell you how you must do it. + +(Godard goes on the veranda with Napoleon.) + +The General +Pauline, my coffee. (Pauline brings it to him.) It isn't sweet enough. +(Pauline gives him some sugar.) Thank you, dear. + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville? + +The General +Godard? + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville? + +The General +Godard, my wife wants to know if you would like some coffee? + +Godard +Yes, thank you. + +(Godard places himself in such a way as to watch Pauline.) + +The General +It is pleasant to sit down and take a little coffee in quiet. + +Napoleon (running in) +Mamma, mamma! My good friend Ferdinand has just fallen down; he has +broken his leg and they are carrying him into the house. + +Vernon +That's dreadful! + +The General +How very unfortunate! + +Pauline +Oh! + +(Pauline falls back on her chair.) + +Gertrude +What is that you said? + +Napoleon +It is all a joke! I only wished to see if you all loved my good +friend. + +Gertrude +It is very naughty of you to act in that way; how did you come to +think of such a trick? + +Napoleon (whispering) +It was Godard. + +Godard (aside) +She loves him! She was nicely caught by my trap, which I have never +known to fail. + +Gertrude (to Godard, as she offers him some coffee) +Are you aware, sir, that you would make a very indifferent preceptor? +It is very bad of you to teach a child such mischievous tricks. + +Godard +You will come to the conclusion that I did pretty well, when you learn +that I have been enabled by this little stratagem to discover my +rival. + +(Godard points to Ferdinand who is entering the room.) + +Gertrude (letting fall the sugar basin) +He! + +Godard (aside) +She is in the same box! + +Gertrude (aloud) +You startled me. + +The General (who has risen from his seat) +What is the matter with you, my dear child? + +Gertrude +Nothing; it is Godard's nonsense; he told me that the public +prosecutor had come back. Felix, take away this sugar basin, and bring +me another one. + +Vernon +This is a day of surprises. + +Gertrude +M. Ferdinand, they are going to bring some sugar for you. (Aside) He +is not looking at her. (Aloud) How is it, Pauline, you did not put any +sugar in your father's coffee? + +Napoleon +Why, of course, it was because she was too scared; didn't you hear her +say "oh!"? + +Pauline +Won't you hold your tongue, you little story-teller! You are always +teasing me. + +(Pauline sits on her father's knee, and puts sugar in his cup.) + +Gertrude +Can it be true? And to think that I have taken such pains in dressing +her! (To Godard) If you are right, your marriage will take place in a +fortnight. (Aloud) M. Ferdinand, here is your coffee. + +Godard (aside) +It seems that I caught two in my mouse-trap! And all the time the +General is so calm, so tranquil, and this household is so peaceful! +Things are getting mixed up. I shan't go yet; I wish to have a game of +whist! Oh! I give up all thoughts of marriage for the present. +(Glancing at Ferdinand) There's a lucky fellow! He is loved by two +women--two charming, delightful creatures! He is indeed a factotum! +But how is it that he is more successful than I am, who have an income +of forty thousand? + +Gertrude +Pauline, my dear, offer the cards to the gentlemen for a game of +whist. It is almost nine o'clock. If they are going to have a game, +there is no time to be lost. (Pauline puts out the cards.) Come, +Napoleon, bid good-night to the gentlemen, let them see you are a good +boy, and don't try to stay up as you usually do. + +Napoleon +Good-night, papa. What is justice like? + +The General +Justice is blind! Good-night, my pet. + +Napoleon +Good-night, M. Vernon! What is justice made of? + +Vernon +It is made up of all our crimes. When you are naughty, they whip you; +that is justice. + +Napoleon +They never whip me. + +Vernon +Then they never do justice to you! + +Napoleon +Good-night, my good friend! Good-night, Pauline! Good-night M. Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +Napoleon +Have I been good? + +(Gertrude kisses Napoleon.) + +The General +I have the king. + +Vernon +And I, the queen. + +Ferdinand (to Godard) +Monsieur, we are partners. + +Gertrude (seeing Marguerite) +Be sure to say your prayers, and don't provoke Marguerite. Now, go to +bed, dear heart. + +Napoleon +Yes, dear heart! What is love made of? + +(Exit Napoleon.) + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +The same persons, except Napoleon. + + +The General +When that child begins to ask questions, he is an amusing youngster. + +Gertrude +It is often very embarrassing to answer him. (To Pauline) Come, +Pauline, let us go and finish our work. + +Vernon +It is your lead, General. + +The General +Mine? You ought to get married, and we could visit at your house, as +you visit here, and you would have all the happiness of a family. +Don't forget, Godard, that there is no one in the department happier +than I am. + +Vernon +When a man reaches sixty-seven without reaching happiness, it is +impossible to catch up. I shall die a bachelor. + +(The two women set to work at the same piece of embroidery.) + +Gertrude (seated with Pauline at the front of the stage) +How is this, my child! Godard tells me that you received his advances +very coldly; yet he is a very good match for you. + +Pauline +My father, madame, has given me leave to choose a husband for myself. + +Gertrude +Do you know what Godard will say? He will say that you refused him +because you had already made your choice. + +Pauline +If it were true, you and my father would know it. What reason have I +for not giving you my confidence? + +Gertrude +I cannot say, and I do not blame you. You see in matters of love women +keep their secret with heroic constancy, sometimes in the midst of the +most cruel torments. + +Pauline (aside, picking up the scissors, which she had let drop) +Ferdinand was wise in telling me to distrust her--she is so +insinuating! + +Gertrude +Perhaps you have in your heart a love like that. If such a misfortune +has befallen you, you may rely on my help--I love you, remember! I can +win your father's consent; he has confidence in me, and I can sway +both his mind and affections. Therefore, dear child, you may open your +heart to me. + +Pauline +You can read my heart, madame, for I am concealing nothing from you. + +The General +Vernon, what in the name of everything are you doing? + +(Faint murmurs are heard among the card players; Pauline casts a look +at them.) + +Gertrude (aside) +The question point-blank does not do with her. (Aloud) How happy you +make me! For this provincial joker, Godard, avers that you almost +fainted when he prompted Napoleon to declare that Ferdinand had broken +his leg. Ferdinand is a pleasant young fellow, our intimate friend for +some four years; what is more natural than your attachment for the +youth, whose birth and talents are both in his favor? + +Pauline +He is my father's clerk. + +Gertrude +Thank God, you are not in love with him; I was a little anxious for +the moment, for, my dear child, he is a married man. + +Pauline +What! He is married? Why then does he make a secret of it? (Aside) +Married? That would be outrageous. I will ask him this evening. I will +give him the signal on which we agreed to meet. + +Gertrude (aside) +Not a line of her face changed! Godard is wrong, or this child is more +self-possessed than I am. (Aloud) What is the matter with you, my pet? + +Pauline +Oh! nothing. + +Gertrude (touching Pauline's neck) +Why, you are quite hot! Do you feel so? (Aside) She loves him, that is +plain. But the question is, does he love her? I suffer the torments of +the damned! + +Pauline +I have been working too closely at this frame! And what, pray, is the +matter with you? + +Gertrude +Nothing. But you asked me why Ferdinand kept his marriage secret. + +Pauline +Ah! yes! + +Gertrude (rising, aside) +If she is in love, she has a will of iron. But where can they have +met? I never leave her in the daytime, and Champagne sees him all the +time at the factory. No! it is absurd. If she does love him, it is +without his knowledge, and she is like all other young girls, who +begin to love a man in secret. But if they have come to an +understanding, I have given her such a start that she will be sure to +communicate with him about it, if only through her eyes. I will keep +them both well in sight. + +Godard +We have had wonderful luck, M. Ferdinand! + +(Ferdinand leaves off playing and goes towards Gertrude.) + +Pauline (aside) +I did not know that it was possible to suffer so much and yet live on. + +Ferdinand (to Gertrude) +Madame, won't you take my place in the game? + +Gertrude +Pauline, will you go instead? (Aside) I can't tell him that he loves +Pauline, that would suggest what may be a new idea to him. What shall +I do? (to Ferdinand) She has confessed all. + +Ferdinand +Confessed what? + +Gertrude +Why, all! + +Ferdinand +I don't understand. Do you refer to Mlle. de Grandchamp? + +Gertrude +Yes. + +Ferdinand +And what has she been doing? + +Gertrude +You have not been false to me? You do not want to kill me? + +Ferdinand +Kill you? She? I? + +Gertrude +Am I the victim of one of Godard's jokes? + +Ferdinand +Gertrude, you are beside yourself! + +Godard (to Pauline) +Ah! Mademoiselle, that is bad play! + +Pauline +You lost a great deal by not taking my stepmother for a partner. + +Gertrude (to Ferdinand) +Ferdinand, I do not know whether I am rightly or wrongly informed; but +this I do know; I prefer death to the loss of our hopes. + +Ferdinand +Take care! The doctor has been watching us very keenly for the last +few days. + +Gertrude (aside) +She has not once looked back at him! (Aloud) She will marry Godard, +for her father will compel her to do so. + +Ferdinand +Godard would make an excellent match for any one. + +The General +I can't stay here any longer! My daughter plays vilely, and you, +Vernon, have trumped my king! + +Vernon +My dear General, it was a finesse. + +The General +You stupid! Come, it is ten o'clock, and time to go to sleep instead +of playing cards. Ferdinand, be good enough to take Godard to his +room. As for you, Vernon, you deserve to sleep on the floor as a +punishment, for trumping my king. + +Godard +It is, after all, merely a matter of five francs, General. + +The General +It is also a matter of honor. (To Vernon) Come, now, although you have +played so badly, let me hand you your hat and cane. + +(Pauline takes a flower from the vase and plays with it.) + +Gertrude (aside) +A signal! I will watch her this night, even though my husband should +afterwards kill me for it! + +Ferdinand (taking a candlestick from Felix) +M. de Rimonville, I am at your service. + +Godard +I wish you good-night, madame. My respects to you, mademoiselle. +General, good-night. + +The General +Good-night, Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville--Doctor, I-- + +Vernon (looking at him and blowing his nose) +Good-bye, my friend. + +The General (attending the doctor on his way out) +Good-bye till to-morrow, Vernon, but come early. + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +Gertrude, Pauline and the General. + + +Gertrude +My dear, Pauline refuses Godard. + +The General +And what are your reasons, my daughter? + +Pauline +I do not like him sufficiently to take him for a husband. + +The General +Well, never mind! We will look out some one else for you; but it is +time for this to end, for you are now twenty-two, and people will +begin to talk about you, my wife and me unless you make an early +choice. + +Pauline +May I not be permitted, if I choose, to remain single? + +Gertrude +She has made her choice, but probably wishes to tell you by yourself. +I will leave you, and she will confess it. (To Pauline) Good-night, my +child; talk freely with your father. (Aside) I will listen. + +(Gertrude enters her chamber and proceeds to close the door.) + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +The General and Pauline. + + +The General (aside) +Act as my daughter's confessor! I am utterly unfitted for such a task! +She might rather act as confessor to me. (Aloud) Pauline, come here. +(He takes her on his knee) Now, do you really think, my pet, that an +old trooper like me doesn't understand your resolution to remain +single? Why, of course, that means, in every language in which it has +ever been uttered, that a young person is in a special hurry to be +married--to some one that she is in love with. + +Pauline +Papa, I would like to tell you something, but I cannot have confidence +in you. + +The General +And why not, mademoiselle? + +Pauline +Because you tell everything to your wife. + +The General +And you mean to tell me that you have a secret of such a kind that it +cannot be revealed to an angel, to the woman who has educated you--to +your second mother! + +Pauline +Oh! If you are going to be vexed, I shall get off to bed. I used to +think that a father's heart would be a place of unfailing refuge for a +daughter. + +The General +You silly child! Come, I am going to be in a good humor. + +Pauline +How kind you are! But listen! Suppose I were in love with the son of +one of those whom you detest? + +The General (rising abruptly to his feet and repulsing her) +I should detest you! + +Pauline +And this is what you call being good humored? + +(Gertrude appears.) + +The General +My child, there are feelings in my heart that you should never rouse +in me; you ought to know this. They are my very life. Do you wish to +be the death of your father? + +Pauline +Oh! + +The General +Dear child! I have had my day. My lot, with you and Gertrude at my +side, is an enviable one. But, however sweet and charming is my life, +I would quit it without regret, if by that means I could render you +happy; for happiness is a debt we owe to those who owe to us their +existence. + +Pauline (noticing the door ajar, aside) +Ah! she is listening. (Aloud) Father, I didn't mean what I said, but +suppose I felt a love of that kind and it was so violent that I was +likely to die of it? + +The General +It would be best for you to tell me nothing about it, and wait for +your happiness until my death. And yet, since there is nothing more +sacred, nothing more dear next to God and country, than children to +their parents, children in their turn ought to hold sacred their +parents' wishes and never to disobey them, even after their death. If +you do not remain faithful to this hatred of mine, I think I should +come forth from my grave to curse you! + +Pauline (kissing her father) +Oh! you bad, bad man! At any rate, I shall now find out whether you +can keep a secret or not. Swear to me on your honor that you'll not +repeat a syllable of what I told you. + +The General +I promise you that. But what reason have you for distrusting Gertrude? + +Pauline +If I told you, you would not believe it. + +The General +Are you trying to torture your father? + +Pauline +No. But which do you place first,--this hatred for traitors, or your +own honor? + +The General +They are both first with me, for they are based upon a common +principle. + +Pauline +Very well; if you throw away your honor by violating your oath, you +may as well throw away your hatred. That is all I wanted to find out. + +The General +If women are angelic, they have in them also something of the +diabolical. Tell me, who has filled the head of such an innocent girl +as you are with ideas like these? This is the way they lead us by +the-- + +Pauline (interrupting him) +Good-night, father. + +The General +You naughty child! + +Pauline +Keep my secret, or I will bring you a son-in-law that will drive you +wild. + +(Pauline enters her own apartment.) + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +The General (alone) +There must certainly be some key to this enigma! It must be +discovered! Yes, and Gertrude shall discover it! + + +(Scene curtain.) + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +(Pauline's chamber; a small plain room with a bed in the centre and a +round table at the left; the entrance is at the right, but there is a +secret entrance on the left.) + + +Pauline +At last I am alone! At last I can be natural! Married? My Ferdinand +married? If this is so, he is the falsest, foulest, vilest of men! And +I could kill him! Kill him? But I myself could not survive one hour +the knowledge that he was actually married. My stepmother I detest! +And if she becomes my enemy, there will be war between us, and war in +earnest. It would be terrible, for I should tell my father all I know. +(She looks at her watch.) Half-past eleven, and he cannot come before +midnight, when the whole household is asleep. Poor Ferdinand! He has +to risk his life for a few minutes' chat with her he loves! That is +what I call true love! Such perils men will not undergo for every +woman! But what would I not undergo for him! If my father surprised +us, I would be the one to take the first blow. Oh! To suspect the man +you love is to suffer greater torment than to lose him! If he dies, +you can follow him in death; but doubt--is the cruelest of +separations!--Ah! I hear him. + + + + SCENE TENTH + + +Ferdinand and Pauline (who locks the door). + + +Pauline +Are you married? + +Ferdinand +What a joke! Wouldn't I have told you? + +Pauline +Ah! (She sinks back on a chair, then falls upon her knees.) Holy +Virgin, what vows shall I make to thee? (She kisses Ferdinand's hand.) +And you, a thousand blessings on your head! + +Ferdinand +Who could have told you such a foolish thing? + +Pauline +My stepmother. + +Ferdinand +Why, she knows all about me, and if she did not, she would set spies +to discover all; for suspicion with such women as that is certitude! +Listen, Pauline, moments now are precious. It was Madame de Grandchamp +who brought me into this house. + +Pauline +And why? + +Ferdinand +Because she is in love with me. + +Pauline +How horrible! And what of my father? + +Ferdinand +She was in love with me before her marriage. + +Pauline +She is in love with you; but you, are you in love with her? + +Ferdinand +Do you think if I were, I should have remained in this house? + +Pauline +And she is still in love with you? + +Ferdinand +Yes, unhappily she is! I ought to tell you that she was at one time +beloved by me; but to-day I hate her from the bottom of my heart, and +I sometimes ask myself why. Is it because I am in love with you, and +every genuine and pure love is by nature exclusive? Is it because the +contrast between an angel of purity, such as you, and a devil like her +excites in me just as much hatred towards her as it rouses love +towards you, my joy, my bliss, my beauteous treasure? I cannot say. +But I hate her, and I love you so much that I should not regret dying +if your father killed me; for one talk with you, one hour spent in +this chamber by your side, seems, even when it is passed away, a whole +lifetime to me. + +Pauline +Oh, say those dear words again! For they bring back my confidence once +more. After hearing you speak thus, I forgive you the wrong you have +done me in telling that I am not your first and only love, as you are +mine. It is but a lost illusion, that is all! Do not be vexed with me. +Young girls are foolish, they have no ambition but in their love, and +they would fain rule over the past as they rule over the future of +their beloved! But you hate her! And in that word, you give me more +proof of love than you have given me for the two years that we have +loved. If only you knew with what cruelty this stepmother has put me +on the rack, by her questions! But I will be avenged! + +Ferdinand +You must be very careful! She is a very dangerous woman! She rules +your father. She is a woman who will fight to the death! + +Pauline +To the death! That is as I wish it! + +Ferdinand +Be prudent, dear Pauline! We are going to act in harmony, are we not? +Well, my love, the prosecuting attorney is of opinion that if we would +triumph over the difficulties that prevent our union, we must have +fortitude enough to part for some time. + +Pauline +Oh! Give me two days and I will win over my father! + +Ferdinand +But you do not know Madame de Grandchamp. She has gone too far to +leave off without ruining you, and to do that she will go to any +lengths. But I will not go away without giving you what may prove most +effective weapons against her. + +Pauline +Oh, give them, give them to me! + +Ferdinand +Not yet. And you must promise me not to make use of them, unless your +life is in danger; for what I am doing is certainly a breach of +confidence. But it is for your sake I do it. + +Pauline +Tell me what it is? + +Ferdinand +To-morrow I shall put into your hands the letters which she wrote to +me, some of them before, some of them after her marriage. Pauline, do +not read them! Swear this to me, in the name of our love, in the name +of our happiness! It will be sufficient, should it ever become +absolutely necessary, that she knows that they are in your possession; +at that moment you will see her trembling and groveling at your feet, +for all her machinations then are foiled. But do not use them +excepting as a last resort, and keep them well concealed. + +Pauline +What a terrible duel it will be! + +Ferdinand +Terrible! But, Pauline be courageous, as you have so far been, in +keeping the secret of our love; do not acknowledge it, until you find +it no longer possible to deny it. + +Pauline +Oh, why did your father betray the Emperor? If fathers knew how their +children would be punished for the sins of their parents, there would +be none but good men! + +Ferdinand +Perhaps this sad interview will prove the last moment of happiness we +shall have! + +Pauline (aside) +I will rejoin him, if he leaves me--(Aloud) See, I no longer weep, I +am full of courage! But tell me, will your friend know the place where +you are hiding? + +Ferdinand +Eugene will be our confidential friend. + +Pauline +And the letters? + +Ferdinand +To-morrow! To-morrow! But where will you conceal them? + +Pauline +I shall keep them about me. + +Ferdinand +Good! Farewell! + +Pauline +Oh no, not yet! + +Ferdinand +A moment more may ruin us. + +Pauline +Or unite us for life. Come, let me show you out, I shall not rest +until I see you in the garden. Come! + +Ferdinand +Let me take one more glance at this maiden chamber, in which you will +think of me--where all things speak of you. + + +(Scene curtain.) + + + + SCENE ELEVENTH + + +(The drawing-room before described.) + +Pauline on the veranda; Gertrude at the door of the room. + + +Gertrude +She is seeing him out! He has been deceiving me! So has she! (Taking +Pauline by the hand, she leads her to the front of the stage.) Will +you dare tell me, now, mademoiselle, that you do not love him? + +Pauline +Madame, I am deceiving no one. + +Gertrude +You are deceiving your father. + +Pauline +And you, madame? + +Gertrude +So both of you are against me--Oh, I shall-- + +Pauline +You shall do nothing, either against me or against him. + +Gertrude +Do not compel me to show my power! You must be obedient to your +father, and--he is obedient to me. + +Pauline +We shall see! + +Gertrude (aside) +Her coolness makes my blood boil. My brain reels! (Aloud) Do you know +that I would rather die than live without him? + +Pauline +And so would I, madame. But I am free. I have not sworn as you have to +be faithful to a husband--And your husband is my father! + +Gertrude (kneeling before Pauline) +What have I done to you? I have loved you, I have educated you, I have +been a good mother to you. + +Pauline +Be a faithful wife, and I will say no more. + +Gertrude +Nay! Speak! Say all you like--Ah! the struggle has begun. + + + + SCENE TWELFTH + + +The same persons and the General. + + +The General +How is this? What is going on here? + +Gertrude (to Pauline) +You must feign sickness. Come lie down. (She makes her lie down.) I +happened, my dear, to hear moans. Our dear child was calling for help; +she was almost suffocated by the flowers in her bedroom. + +Pauline +Yes, papa, Marguerite had forgotten to take away the vase of flowers, +and I almost died. + +Gertrude +Come, my daughter, come into the open air. + +(Gertrude and Pauline go towards the door.) + +The General +Stay a moment. What have you done with the flowers. + +Pauline +I do not know where Madame has put them. + +Gertrude +I threw them into the garden. + +(The General abruptly rushes out, after setting his candle on the card +table.) + + + + SCENE THIRTEENTH + + +Pauline and Gertrude; later, the General. + + +Gertrude +Go back to your room, lock yourself in! I'll take all the blame. +(Pauline goes to her room.) I will wait for him here. + +(Gertrude goes back into her room.) + +The General (coming in from the garden) +I can find the vase of flowers nowhere. There is some mystery in all +these things. Gertrude?--There is no one here! Ah! Madame de +Grandchamp, you will have to tell me!--It is a nice thing that I +should be deceived by both wife and daughter! + + +Curtain to the Second Act. + + + + + ACT III + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(Same stage-setting. Morning.) + +Gertrude; then Champagne. + + +Gertrude (brings a flower vase from the garden and puts it down on the +table) +What trouble I had to allay his suspicions! One or two more scenes +like that and I shall lose control of him. But I have gained a moment +of liberty now--provided Pauline does not come to trouble me! She must +be asleep--she went to bed so late!--would it be possible to lock her +in her room? (She goes to the door of Pauline's chamber, but cannot +find the key.) I am afraid not. + +Champagne (coming in) +M. Ferdinand is coming, madame. + +Gertrude +Thank you, Champagne. He went to bed very late, did he not? + +Champagne +M. Ferdinand makes his rounds, as you know, every night, and he came +in at half-past one o'clock. I sleep over him, and I heard him. + +Gertrude +Does he ever go to bed later than that? + +Champagne +Sometimes he does, but that is according to the time he makes his +rounds. + +Gertrude +Very good. Thank you, Champagne. (Exit Champagne.) As the reward for a +sacrifice which has lasted for twelve years, and whose agonies can +only be understood by women,--for what man can guess at such +tortures!--what have I asked? Very little! Merely to know that he is +here, near to me, without any satisfaction saving, from time to time, +a furtive glance at him. I wished only to feel sure that he would wait +for me. To feel sure of this is enough for us, us for whom a pure, a +heavenly love is something never to be realized. Men never believe +that they are loved by us, until they have brought us down into the +mire! And this is how he has rewarded me! He makes nocturnal +assignations with this stupid girl! Ah! He may as well pronounce my +sentence of death; and if he has the courage to do so, I shall have +the courage at once to bring about their eternal separation; I can do +it! But here he comes! I feel faint! My God! Why hast Thou made me +love with such desperate devotion him who no longer loves me! + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +Ferdinand and Gertrude. + + +Gertrude +Yesterday you deceived me. You came here last night, through this +room, entering by means of a false key, to see Pauline, at the risk of +being killed by M. de Grandchamp! Oh! you needn't lie about it. I saw +you, and I came upon Pauline just as you concluded your nocturnal +promenade. You have made a choice upon which I cannot offer you my +congratulations. If only you had heard us discussing the matter, on +this very spot! If you had seen the boldness of this girl, the +effrontery with which she denied everything to me, you would have +trembled for your future, that future which belongs to me, and for +which I have sold myself, body and soul. + +Ferdinand (aside) +What an avalanche of reproach! (Aloud) Let us try, Gertrude, both of +us, to behave wisely in this matter. Above all things, let us try to +avoid base accusations. I shall never forget what you have been to me; +I still entertain towards you a friendship which is sincere, +unalterable and absolute; but I no longer love you. + +Gertrude +That is, since eighteen months ago. + +Ferdinand +No. Since three years ago. + +Gertrude +You must admit then that I have the right to detest and make war upon +your love for Pauline; for this love has rendered you a traitor and +criminal towards me. + +Ferdinand +Madame! + +Gertrude +Yes, you have deceived me. In standing as you did between us two, you +made me assume a character which is not mine. I am violent as you +know. Violence is frankness, and I am living a life of outrageous +duplicity. Tell me, do you know what it is to have to invent new lies, +on the spur of the moment, every day,--to live with a dagger at your +heart? Oh! This lying! But for us, it is the Nemesis of happiness. It +is disgraceful, when it succeeds; it is death, when it fails. And you, +other men envy you because you make women love you. You will be +applauded, while I shall be despised. And you do not wish me to defend +myself! You have nothing but bitter words for a woman who has hidden +from you everything--her remorse--her tears! I have suffered alone and +without you the wrath of heaven; alone and without you I have +descended into my soul's abyss, an abyss which has been opened by the +earthquake of sorrow; and, while repentance was gnawing at my heart, I +had for you nothing but looks of tenderness, and smiles of gaiety! +Come, Ferdinand, do not despise a slave who lies in such utter +subjection to your will! + +Ferdinand (aside) +I must put an end to this. (Aloud) Listen to me, Gertrude. When first +we met it was youth alone united us in love. I then yielded, you may +say, to an impulse of that egotism which lies at the bottom of every +man's heart, though he knows it not, concealed under the flowers of +youthful passion. There is so much turbulence in our sentiments at +twenty-two! The infatuation which may seize us then, permits us not to +reflect either upon life as it really is, or upon the seriousness of +its issues-- + +Gertrude (aside) +How calmly he reasons upon it all! Ah! It is infamous! + +Ferdinand +And at that time I loved you freely, with entire devotion; but +afterwards--afterwards, life changed its aspect for both of us. If you +ask why I remained under a roof which I should never have approached, +it is because I chose in Pauline the only women with whom it was +possible for me to end my days. Come, Gertrude, do not break yourself +to pieces against the barrier raised by heaven. Do not torture two +beings who ask you to yield to them happiness, and who will ever love +you dearly. + +Gertrude +Ah, I see! You are the martyr--and I--I am the executioner! Would not +I have been your wife to-day, if I had not set your happiness above +the satisfaction of my love? + +Ferdinand +Very well! Do the same thing to-day, by giving me my liberty. + +Gertrude +You mean the liberty of loving some one else. That is not the way you +spoke twelve years ago. Now it will cost my life. + +Ferdinand +It is only in romance that people die of love. In real life they seek +consolation. + +Gertrude +Do not you men die for your outraged honor, for a word, for a gesture? +Well, there are women who die for their love, that is, when their love +is a treasure which has become their all, which is their very life! +And I am one of those women. Since you have been under this roof, +Ferdinand, I have feared a catastrophe every moment. Yes. And I always +carry about me something which will enable me to quit this life, the +very moment that misfortune falls on us. See! (She shows him a phial.) +Now you know that life that I have lived! + +Ferdinand +Ah! you weep! + +Gertrude +I swore that I would keep back these tears, but they are strangling +me! For you--While you speak to me with that cold politeness which +is your last insult,--your last insult to a love which you +repudiate!--you show not the least sympathy towards me! You would like +to see me dead, for then you would be unhampered by me. But, Ferdinand, +you do not know me! I am willing to confess everything to the General, +whom I would not deceive. This lying fills me with disgust! I shall take +my child, I shall come to your house, we will flee together. But no more +of Pauline! + +Ferdinand +If you did this, I would kill myself. + +Gertrude +And I, too, would kill myself! Then we should be united in death, and +you would never be hers! + +Ferdinand (aside) +What an infernal creature! + +Gertrude +And there is this consideration. What would you do if the barrier +which separates you from Pauline were never broken down? + +Ferdinand +Pauline will be able to maintain her own independence. + +Gertrude +But if her father should marry her to some one else? + +Ferdinand +It would be my death. + +Gertrude +People die of love in romance. In real life they console themselves +with some one else, and a man only does his duty by being true to her +with whom he has plighted troth. + +The General (outside) +Gertrude! Gertrude! + +Gertrude +I hear the general calling. (The General appears.) You will then +finish your business as quickly as you can, M. Ferdinand, and return +promptly; I shall wait for you here. + +(Exit Ferdinand.) + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +The General, Gertrude, then Pauline. + +The General +This is rather early in the morning for you to be holding a conference +with Ferdinand! What were you discussing? The factory? + +Gertrude +What were we discussing? I will tell you; for you are exactly like +your son; when once you begin to ask questions, you must have a direct +answer. I had an impression that Ferdinand had something to do with +Pauline's refusal to marry Godard. + +The General +When I come to think of it, you were perhaps right. + +Gertrude +I got M. Ferdinand to come here for the purpose of clearing up my +suspicions, and you interrupted us at the very moment when I seemed +likely to gain some information. + +(Pauline pushes the door ajar unseen.) + +The General +But if my daughter is in love with M. Ferdinand-- + +Pauline (aside) +I must listen. + +The General +I do not see why, when I questioned her yesterday in a paternal manner +and with absolute kindness, she should have concealed it from me, for +I left her perfectly free, and her feeling for him would be absolutely +natural. + +Gertrude +She probably misunderstood you or you questioned her before she had +made up her mind. The heart of a young girl, as you ought to know, is +full of contradictions. + +The General +And why should there not be something between them? This young man +toils with the courage of a lion, he is the soul of honor, he is +probably of good family. + +Pauline (aside) +I understand the situation now. + +(Pauline withdraws.) + +The General +He will give us information on this point. He is above all things +trustworthy; but you ought to know his family, for it was you who +discovered this treasure for us. + +Gertrude +I proposed him to you on the recommendation of old Madame Morin. + +The General +But she is dead! + +Gertrude (aside) +It is very lucky that I quoted her then! (Aloud) She told me that his +mother was Madame de Charny to whom he is devoted; she lives in +Brittany and belongs to the Charnys, an old family of that country. + +The General +The Charnys. Then if he is in love with Pauline, and Pauline with him, +I, for my part, would prefer him to Godard in spite of Godard's +fortune. Ferdinand understands the business of the factory, he could +buy the whole establishment with the dowry of Pauline. That would be +understood. All he has to do is to tell us where he comes from, who he +is, and who his father was. But we will see his mother. + +Gertrude +Madame Charny? + +The General +Yes, Madame Charny. Doesn't she live near Saint-Melo? That is by no +means at the other end of the world. + +Gertrude +Just use a little tact, some of the manoeuvres of an old soldier, and +be very gentle, and you will soon learn whether this child-- + +The General +Why should I worry about it? Here comes Pauline herself. + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +The same persons, Marguerite, then Pauline. + + +The General +Ah! It is you, Marguerite. You came near causing the death of my +daughter last night by your carelessness. You forgot-- + +Marguerite +I, General, cause the death of my child! + +The General +You forgot to take away the vase containing flowers of a strong scent, +and she was almost suffocated. + +Marguerite +Impossible! I took away the vase before the arrival of M. Godard, and +Madame must have seen that it was not there while we were dressing +Mademoiselle-- + +Gertrude +You are mistaken. It was there. + +Marguerite (aside) +She's a hard one. (Aloud) Does not Madame remember that she wished to +put some natural flowers in Mademoiselle's hair, and that she remarked +about the vase being gone? + +Gertrude +You are inventing a story. But where did you carry it? + +Marguerite +To the foot of the veranda. + +Gertrude (to the General) +Did you find it there last night? + +The General +No. + +Gertrude +I took it from the chamber myself last night, and put it where it now +stands. (Points to the vase of flowers on the veranda.) + +Marguerite +Sir, I swear to you by my eternal salvation-- + +Gertrude +Do not swear. (Calling.) Pauline! + +The General +Pauline! + +(Pauline appears.) + +Gertrude +Was the vase of flowers in your room last night? + +Pauline +Yes. Marguerite, my dear old friend, you must have forgotten it. + +Marguerite +Why don't you say, Mademoiselle, that some one put it there on purpose +to make you ill! + +Gertrude +Whom do you mean by some one? + +The General +You old fool, if your memory failed you, it is unnecessary for you, at +any rate, to accuse anybody else. + +Pauline (aside to Marguerite) +Keep silence! (Aloud) Marguerite, it was there! You forgot it. + +Marguerite +It is true, sir, I was thinking of the day before yesterday. + +The General (aside) +She has been in my service for twenty years. Strange that she should +be so persistent! (Takes Marguerite aside.) Come! What did you say +about the flowers for my daughter's hair? + +Marguerite (while Pauline makes signs to her) +I said that, sir--I am so old that my memory is treacherous. + +The General +But even then, why did you suppose that any one in the house had an +evil thought towards-- + +Pauline +Say no more, father! She has so much affection for me, dear +Marguerite, that she is sometimes distracted by it. + +Marguerite (aside) +I am quite sure I took away the flowers. + +The General (aside) +Why should my wife and my daughter deceive me? An old trooper like me +doesn't permit himself to be caught between two fires, and there is +something decidedly crooked-- + +Gertrude +Marguerite, we will take tea in this room when M. Godard comes down. +Tell Felix to bring in all the newspapers. + +Marguerite +Very good, madame. + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +Gertrude, the General and Pauline. + + +The General (kissing his daughter) +You've not even said good-morning to me, you unnatural child. + +Pauline (kissing him) +But, you began by scolding about nothing. I declare, father, I am +going to undertake your education. It is quite time for you, at your +age, to control yourself a little,--a young man would not be so quick +as you are! You have terrified Marguerite, and when women are in fear, +they tell little falsehoods, and you can get nothing out of them. + +The General (aside) +I'm in for it now! (Aloud) Your conduct, young lady, does not do much +towards promoting my self-control. I wish you to marry, and I propose +a man who is young-- + +Pauline +Handsome and well educated! + +The General +Please keep silence, when your father addresses you, mademoiselle. A +man who possesses a magnificent fortune, at least six times as much as +yours, and you refuse him. You are well able to do so, because I leave +you free in the matter; but if you do not care for Godard, tell me who +it is you choose, if I do not already know. + +Pauline +Ah, father, you are much more clear-sighted than I am. Tell me who he +is? + +The General +He is a man from thirty to thirty-five years old, who pleases me much +more than Godard does, although he is without fortune. He is already a +member of our family. + +Pauline +I don't see any of our relations here. + +The General +I wonder what you can have against this poor Ferdinand, that you +should be unwilling-- + +Pauline +Ah! Who has been telling you this story? I'll warrant that it is +Madame de Grandchamp. + +The General +A story? I suppose, you will deny the truth of it! Have you never +thought of this fine young fellow? + +Pauline +Never! + +Gertrude (to the General) +She is lying! Just look at her. + +Pauline +Madame de Grandchamp has doubtless her reasons for supposing that I +have an attachment for my father's clerk. Oh! I see how it is, she +wishes you to say: "If your heart, my daughter, has no preference for +any one, marry Godard." (In a low voice to Gertrude) This, madame, is +an atrocious move! To make me abjure my love in my father's presence! +But I will have my revenge. + +Gertrude (aside to Pauline) +As you choose about that; but marry Godard you shall! + +The General (aside) +Can it be possible that these two are at variance? I must question +Ferdinand. (Aloud) What were you saying to each other? + +Gertrude +Your daughter, my dear, did not like my idea that she was taken with a +subordinate; she is deeply humiliated at the thought. + +The General +Am I to understand, then, my daughter, that you are not in love with +him? + +Pauline +Father, I--I do not ask you to marry me to any one! I am perfectly +happy! The only thing which God has given us women, as our very own, +is our heart. I do not understand why Madame de Grandchamp, who is not +my mother, should interfere with my feelings. + +Gertrude +My child, I desire nothing but your happiness. I am merely your +stepmother, I know, but if you had been in love with Ferdinand, I +should have-- + +The General (kissing Gertrude's hand) +How good you are! + +Pauline (aside) +I feel as if I were strangled! Ah! If I could only undo her! + +Gertrude +Yes, I should have thrown myself at your father's feet, to win his +consent, if he had refused it. + +The General +Here comes Ferdinand. (Aside) I shall question him at my discretion; +and then perhaps the mystery will be cleared up. + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +The same persons and Ferdinand. + + +The General (to Ferdinand) +Come here, my friend. You have been with us over three years now, and +I am indebted to you for the power of sleeping soundly amid all the +cares of an extensive business. You are almost as much as I am the +master of my factory. You have been satisfied with a salary, pretty +large it is true, but scarcely proportionate perhaps to the services +rendered by you. I think at last I understand the motive of your +disinterestedness. + +Ferdinand +It is my duty, General. + +The General +Granted; but does not the heart count for a good deal in this? Come +now, Ferdinand, you know my way of considering the different ranks of +society, and the distinctions pertaining to them. We are all the sons +of our own works. I have been a soldier. You may therefore have full +confidence in me. They have told me all; how you love a certain young +person, here present. If you desire it, she shall be yours. My wife +had pleaded your cause, and I must acknowledge that she has gained it +before the tribunal of my heart. + +Ferdinand +General, can this be true? Madame de Grandchamp has pleaded my cause? +Ah, madame! (He falls on his knees before her.) I acknowledge in this +your greatness of heart! You are sublime, you are an angel! (Rising +and rushing forward to Pauline.) Pauline, my Pauline! + +Gertrude (to the General) +I guessed aright; he is in love with Pauline. + +Pauline +Sir, have I ever given you the right, by a single look, or by a single +word, to utter my name in this way? No one could be more astonished +than I am to find that I have inspired you with sentiments which might +flatter others, but which I can never reciprocate; I have a higher +ambition. + +The General +Pauline, my child, you are more than severe. Come, tell me, is there +not some misunderstanding here? Ferdinand, come here, come close to +me. + +Ferdinand +How is it, mademoiselle, when your stepmother, and your father agree? + +Pauline (in a low voice to Ferdinand) +We are lost! + +The General +Now I am going to act the tyrant. Tell me, Ferdinand, of course your +family is an honorable one? + +Pauline (to Ferdinand) +You hear that! + +The General +Your father must certainly have been a man of as honorable a +profession as mine was; my father was sergeant of the watch. + +Gertrude (aside) +They are now separated forever. + +Ferdinand +Ah! (To Gertrude) I understand your move. (To the General) General, I +do not deny that once in a dream, long ago, in a sweet dream, in which +it was delicious for a man poor and without family to indulge +in--dreams we are told are all the fortune that ever comes to the +unfortunate--I do not deny that I once regarded it as a piece of +overwhelming happiness to become a member of your family; but the +reception which mademoiselle accords to those natural hopes of mine, +and which you have been cruel enough to make me reveal, is such that +at the present moment they have left my heart, never again to return! +I have been rudely awakened from that dream, General. The poor man has +his pride, which it is as ungenerous in the rich man to wound, as it +would be for any one to insult--mark what I say--your attachment to +Napoleon. (In a low voice to Gertrude) You are playing a terrible +part! + +Gertrude (aside to Ferdinand) +She shall marry Godard. + +The General +Poor young man! (To Pauline) He is everything that is good! He +inspires me with affection. (He takes Ferdinand aside.) If I were in +your place, and at your age, I would have--No, no, what the devil am I +saying?--After all she is my daughter! + +Ferdinand +General, I make an appeal to your honor; swear that you will keep, as +the most profound secret, what I am going to confide to you; and this +secrecy must extend so far even as to Madame de Grandchamp. + +The General (aside) +What is this? He also, like my daughter, seems to distrust my wife. +But, by heaven, I will learn what it means! (Aloud) I consent; you +have the word of a man who has never once broken a promise given. + +Ferdinand +After having forced me to reveal that which I had buried in the +recesses of my heart, and after I have been thunderstruck, for that is +the only word in which to express it, by the disdain of Mademoiselle +Pauline, it is impossible for me to remain here any longer. I shall +therefore put my accounts in order; this evening I shall quit this +place, and to-morrow will leave France for America, if I can find a +ship sailing from Havre. + +The General (aside) +It is as well that he should leave, for he will be sure to return. (To +Ferdinand) May I tell this to my daughter? + +Ferdinand +Yes, but to no one else. + +The General (aside to Pauline) +Pauline! My daughter, you have so cruelly humiliated this poor youth, +that the factory is on the point of losing its manager; Ferdinand is +to leave this evening for America. + +Pauline (to the General) +He is right, father. He is doing of his own accord, what you doubtless +would have advised him to do. + +Gertrude (to Ferdinand) +She shall marry Godard. + +Ferdinand (to Gertrude) +If I do not punish you for your atrocious conduct, God Himself will! + +The General (to Pauline) +America is a long way off and the climate is deadly. + +Pauline (to the General) +Many a fortune is made there. + +The General (aside) +She does not love him. (To Ferdinand) Ferdinand, you must not leave +before I have put in your hands sufficient to start you on the road to +fortune. + +Ferdinand +I thank you, General; but what is due me will be sufficient. Moreover, +I shall not be missed in your factory, for I have trained Champagne so +thoroughly as a foreman, that he is skillful enough to become my +successor; and if you will go with me to the factory, you will see-- + +The General +I will gladly accompany you. (Aside) Everything is in such a +muddle here, that I must go and look for Vernon. The advice and +clear-sightedness of my old friend, the doctor, will be of service in +ferreting out what it is that disturbs this household, for there is +something or other. Ferdinand, I will follow you. Ladies, we will be +soon be back again. (Aside) There is something or other! + +(The General follows Ferdinand out.) + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +Gertrude and Pauline. + + +Pauline (locking the door) +Madame, do you consider that a pure love, a love which comprises and +enhances all human happiness, which makes us understand that happiness +which is divine,--do you consider such a love to be dearer and more +precious to us than life? + +Gertrude +You have been reading the _Nouvelle Heloise_, my dear. What you say is +rather stilted in diction, but it is nevertheless true. + +Pauline +Well, madame, you have just caused me to commit suicide. + +Gertrude +The very act you would have been happy to see me commit; and if you +had succeeded in forcing me to it, you would have felt in your heart +the joy which fills mine at present. + +Pauline +According to my father, war between civilized nations has its laws; +but the war which you wage against me, madame, is that of savages. + +Gertrude +You may do as I do, if you can--but you can do nothing! You shall +marry Godard. He is a very good match for you; you will be very happy, +I assure you, for he has fine qualities. + +Pauline +And you think that I will quietly let you marry Ferdinand? + +Gertrude +After the few words which we have exchanged this evening, why should +we now indulge in the language of hypocrisy? I was in love with +Ferdinand, my dear Pauline, when you were but eight years old. + +Pauline +But now you are more than thirty--and I am still young. Moreover, he +hates you, he abhors you! He has told me so, and he wishes to have +nothing to do with a woman capable of the black treachery with which +you have acted towards my father. + +Gertrude +In the eyes of Ferdinand, my love will serve as my vindication. + +Pauline +He shares the feelings which I have for you; he despises you, madame. + +Gertrude +Do you really believe it? Well, if it is so, my dear, I have one more +reason for the position I take, for if he refuses to become my +husband, to gratify his love, Pauline, you will force me to marry him +for the sake of satisfying my revenge. When he came to this house, was +he not aware that I was here? + +Pauline +You probably caught him by some such snare as you have just set for +us, and into which both of us have fallen. + +Gertrude +Now, my child, a single word more will put an end to everything +between us. Have you not said a hundred times, a thousand times, in +moments when you were all feeling, all soul, that you would make the +greatest sacrifices for Ferdinand? + +Pauline +Yes, madame. + +Gertrude +You said you would leave your father, would flee from France; you +would give your life, your honor, your salvation for Ferdinand? + +Pauline +Yes, and if there is anything else that I can offer besides +myself--this world and heaven! + +Gertrude +Let me tell you, then, that all that you have wished to do, I have +done! It is enough therefore to assure you that nothing, not even +death itself, can arrest my course. + +Pauline +In saying this, you give me the right to defend myself before my +father. (Aside) O Ferdinand! Our love, (Gertrude takes a seat on the +sofa during the soliloquy of Pauline) as she has said, is greater than +life. (To Gertrude) Madame, you must repair all the evil that you have +done to me; the sole difficulties which lie in the way of my marriage +with Ferdinand, you must overcome. Yes, you who have complete control +over my father, you must make him forego his hatred of the son of +General Marcandal. + +Gertrude +And do you really mean that? + +Pauline +Yes, madame. + +Gertrude +And what means do you possess formidable enough to compel me to do so? + +Pauline +Are we not carrying on a warfare of savages? + +Gertrude +Say rather, of women, which is even more terrible! Savages torment +the body alone; while we direct our arrows against the heart, the +self-love, the pride, the soul of those whom we attack in the very midst +of their happiness. + +Pauline +That is truly said. It is the whole woman-nature that I attack. +Therefore, my dear and truly honored stepmother, you must eliminate by +to-morrow, and not later, all the obstacles that stand between me and +Ferdinand; or you may be sure my father shall learn from me the whole +course of your conduct, both before and after your marriage. + +Gertrude +Ah! That is the way you are going to do it! Poor child! He will never +believe you. + +Pauline +Oh, I know the domination you exercise over my father; but I have +proofs. + +Gertrude +Proofs! Proofs! + +Pauline +I went to Ferdinand's house--I am very inquisitive--and I found there +your letters, madame; I took from among them those which would +convince even the blindness of my father, for they will prove to him-- + +Gertrude +What will they prove? + +Pauline +Everything! + +Gertrude +But this will be, unhappy child, both theft and murder! For think of +his age. + +Pauline +And have not you accomplished the murder of my happiness? Have you not +forced me to deny, both to my father and to Ferdinand, my love, my +glory, my life? + +Gertrude (aside) +This is a mere trick; she knows nothing. (Aloud) This is a clever +stratagem, but I never wrote a single line. What you say is not true. +It is impossible. Where are the letters? + +Pauline +They are in my possession. + +Gertrude +In your room? + +Pauline +They are where you can never reach them. + +Gertrude (aside) +Madness with its wildest dreams spins through my brain! My fingers +itch for murder. It is in such moments as this that men kill each +other! How gladly would I kill her! My God! Do not forsake me! Leave +me my reason! (Aloud) Wait a moment. + +Pauline (aside) +My thanks to you, Ferdinand! I see how much you love me; I have been +able to pay back to her all the wrongs she did us a short time +ago--and--she shall save us from all we feared! + +Gertrude (aside) +She must have them about her,--but how can I be sure of that? Ah! +(Aloud) Pauline! If you have had those letters for long, you must have +known that I was in love with Ferdinand. You can only lately have +received them. + +Pauline +They came into my hands this morning. + +Gertrude +You have not read them all? + +Pauline +Enough to find out that they would ruin you. + +Gertrude +Pauline, life is just beginning for you. (A knock is heard.) Ferdinand +is the first man, young, well educated and distinguished, for he is +distinguished, by whom you have been attracted; but there are many +others in the world such as he is. Ferdinand has been in a certain +sense under the same roof with you, and you have seen him every day; +the first impulses of your heart have therefore directed you to him. I +understand this, and it is quite natural. Had I been in your place I +should doubtless have experienced the same feelings. But, my dear, you +know not the ways either of the world or of society. And if, like so +many other women, you have been deceiving yourself--for we women, ah, +how often are we thus deceived!--you still can make another choice. +But for me the deed has been done, I have no other choice to make. +Ferdinand is all I have, for I have passed my thirtieth year, and I +have sacrificed to him what I should have kept unsullied--the honor of +an aged man. The field is clear for you, you may yet love some other +man more ardently than you can love to-day--this is my experience. +Pauline, child, give him up, and you will learn what a devoted slave +you will have in me! You will have more than a mother, more than a +friend, you will have the unstinted help of a soul that is lost! Oh! +listen to me! (She kneels, and raises her hands to Pauline's corsage.) +Behold me at your feet, acknowledging you my rival! Is this sufficient +humiliation for me? Oh, if you only knew what this costs a woman to +undergo! Relent! Relent, and save me. (A loud knocking is heard, she +takes advantage of Pauline's confusion to feel for the letters.) Give +back my life to me! (Aside) She has them! + +Pauline +Oh, leave me, madame! Will you force me to call for some one? + +(Pauline pushes Gertrude away, and proceeds to open the door.) + +Gertrude (aside) +I was not deceived, she has them about her; but I must not leave them +with her one single hour. + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +The same persons, the General and Vernon. + + +The General +You two, locked in together! Why did you call out, Pauline? + +Vernon +How pale you are, my child! Let me feel your pulse. + +The General (to Gertrude) +And you also seem to be very much excited. + +Gertrude +There was a joke between us and we were indulging in a laugh; weren't +we, Pauline? You were laughing, my pet? + +Pauline +Yes, papa. Dear mamma and I were in a gale of laughter. + +Vernon (in a low voice to Pauline) +That's a pretty big lie! + +The General +Didn't you hear us knocking? + +Pauline +We heard quite plainly, papa; but we didn't know it was you. + +The General (in a low voice to Vernon) +They seem to be leagued against me. (Aloud) But what was it all about? + +Gertrude +Dear husband, you always want to know everything! We were speaking for +the moment about the tenants, about some acquaintance of ours. But let +me go and ring for tea. + +The General +But tell me all about it? + +Gertrude +Why this is sheer tyranny! To tell the truth, we locked ourselves in +so that no one would disturb us. Is that plain enough? + +Vernon +I should think it quite plain. + +Gertrude (whispering to the General) +I wished to worm her secrets out of your daughter, for it is evident +that she has some secrets! And you come interrupting us, while I am +working in your service--for Pauline is not my daughter; you arrive, +as if you were charging a hostile squadron, and interrupt us, at the +very moment I was going to learn something. + +The General +Madame the Countess of Grandchamp, ever since the arrival of Godard-- + +Gertrude +Ah! yes, Godard. Well! he is still here. + +The General +Do not ridicule my words! Ever since yesterday nothing has gone as +usual! By God! I'd like to know-- + +Gertrude +Sir, this oath is the first I have ever heard from you. Felix, bring +in the tea. (To the General) You are tired, it seems, of twelve years +of happiness? + +The General +I am not, and never will be a tyrant. A little time ago I came +unexpectedly upon you and Ferdinand engaged in conversation, and I +felt I was in the way. Again, I come home and you are locked in with +my daughter, and my appearance seemed to put you out. And to cap all, +last night-- + +Vernon +Come, General, you can quarrel with Madame as much as you like, but +not before other people. (Godard is heard approaching.) I hear Godard. +(Whispers to the General) Is this keeping your promise to me? In +treating with women--I am bound as a doctor to admit it--you must +leave them to betray themselves; while at the same time you watch them +carefully; otherwise your violence draws forth their tears, and when +once the hydraulic machinery begins to play, they drown a man as if +they had the strength of a triple Hercules! + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +The same persons and Godard. + + +Godard +Ladies, I came once before to present my compliments and respects to +you, but I found the door closed. General, I wish you good-day. (The +General takes up a newspaper and waves his hand in greeting.) Ah! Here +is my adversary of yesterday's game. Have you come to take your +revenge, doctor? + +Vernon +No, I came to take some tea. + +Godard +Ah! I see you keep up the custom of the English, Russians and Chinese. + +Pauline +Would you prefer some coffee? + +Godard +No, no; allow me to have some tea; I will, for once, deviate from my +every-day custom. Moreover, you have your luncheon at noon, I see, and +a cup of coffee with cream would take away my appetite for that meal. +And then the English, the Russians and the Chinese are not entirely +incorrect in taste. + +Vernon +Tea, sir, is an excellent thing. + +Godard +Yes, when it is good. + +Pauline +This is caravan tea. + +Gertrude +Doctor, have you seen the papers? (To Pauline) Go and talk to M. de +Rimonville, my daughter, I, myself, will make tea. + +Godard +Perhaps Mlle. De Grandchamp likes my conversation no better than my +person? + +Pauline +You are mistaken, sir. + +The General +Godard-- + +Pauline +Should you do me the favor of no longer seeking me in marriage, you +would still possess in my eyes qualities of sufficient brilliancy to +captivate the young ladies Boudeville, Clinville, Derville, etc. + +Godard +That is enough, mademoiselle. Ah! How you do ridicule an unfortunate +lover, in spite of his income of forty thousand francs! The longer I +stay here, the more I regret it. What a lucky fellow M. Ferdinand de +Charny is! + +Pauline +Lucky? Why is he lucky? Poor fellow! Does his good fortune consist in +the fact that he is my father's clerk? + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville-- + +The General +Godard-- + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville-- + +The General +Godard, my wife is speaking to you. + +Gertrude +Do you like much or little sugar? + +Godard +A moderate quality. + +Gertrude +Not much cream, I suppose? + +Godard +On the contrary, plenty of cream, countess. (To Pauline) Ah, M. +Ferdinand is not then, after all the man who--whom you have +distinguished by your favor? I can at least assure you that he is very +much to the taste of your stepmother. + +Pauline (aside) +How annoying these inquisitive provincials are! + +Godard (aside) +It is fair that I should amuse myself a little at her expense before I +take leave. I must get something out of this visit. + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville, if you desire anything solid, there are sandwiches +here. + +Godard +Thank you, madame. + +Gertrude (whispering to Godard) +Your cause is not wholly lost. + +Godard +O madame! I have thought a great deal over my rejection by Mlle. de +Grandchamp. + +Gertrude +Ah! (To the doctor) Doctor, you will take yours as usual, I suppose? + +Vernon +If you please, madame. + +Godard (to Pauline) +Did you say, "poor fellow," mademoiselle? For M. Ferdinand is not so +poor as you think him. He is richer than I am! + +Pauline +How do you know that? + +Godard +I am certain of it, and I will tell you why. This M. Ferdinand, whom +you think you know, is an exceedingly crafty fellow-- + +Pauline (aside) +Can he possibly know his real name? + +Gertrude (aside) +A few drops of opium in her tea will put her to sleep, and I shall be +saved. + +Godard (to Pauline) +You cannot deny the authority of him who has put me on the track. + +Pauline +Oh, sir! Kindly tell-- + +Godard +It was the prosecuting attorney. I remembered that at the house of the +Boudevilles it was said that your clerk-- + +Pauline (aside) +He is putting me on the rack. + +Gertrude (offering a cup to Pauline) +Here, Pauline. + +Vernon (aside) +Am I dreaming? I thought I saw her put something into Pauline's cup. + +Pauline (to Godard) +And what did they say? + +Godard +Ah! Ah! How attentive you are! I should have been exceedingly +flattered to think that you put on that air when any one was talking +about me, as I am now talking about M. Ferdinand de Charny. + +Pauline +What a strange taste this tea has! You find yours good? + +Godard +You talk about the tea in order to distract my attention from the +interest you take in what I am telling you. I see through it all! +Well, come now, I am going to astonish you. You must know that M. +Ferdinand is-- + +Pauline +Is--? + +Godard +A millionaire. + +Pauline +You are joking, M. Godard. + +Godard +On my word of honor, mademoiselle, he possesses a treasure. (Aside) +She is madly in love with him. + +Pauline (aside) +How this fool startled me. + +(Pauline rises from her seat and Vernon takes the teacup from her +hand.) + +Vernon +Let me take it, my child. + +The General (to his wife) +What ails you, dearest? You seem-- + +Vernon (who has retained Pauline's cup and returned his own in its +place to Gertrude. Aside) +It is laudanum; fortunately the dose is light; but it is very certain +that something is about to happen. (To Godard) M. Godard, you are a +crafty fox. (Godard takes out his handkerchief as if to blow his +nose.) Ah! + +Godard +Doctor, I bear no ill-will. + +Vernon +Listen! Do you think that you could carry off the General to the +factory and keep him there for an hour. + +Godard +I would like to have that youngster to help me. + +Vernon +He is at school until dinner-time. + +Godard +Why do you wish me to do this? + +Vernon +Now I beg of you, for you are a good fellow, to do as I bid you; it is +necessary. Do you love Pauline? + +Godard +I did love her yesterday, but this morning-- (Aside) I must find out +what he is concealing from me. (To Vernon) It shall be done! I will go +on to the veranda and come back again with a message that Ferdinand +sends for the General. You may rely upon me. Ah! Here is Ferdinand +himself, that is all right! + +(Godard goes on the veranda.) + +Pauline +'Tis peculiar, how drowsy I feel. + +(Pauline lies down on the divan; Ferdinand appears and talks with +Godard.) + + + + SCENE TENTH + + +The same persons and Ferdinand. + + +Ferdinand +General, it will be necessary for you to come to the office and the +factory in order to verify my accounts. + +The General +That is only just to you. + +Pauline (drowsily) +Ferdinand! + +Godard +Ah, General, I'll take advantage of this occasion to visit your +establishment with you, for I have never seen it. + +The General +Very good, come along, Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +Gertrude (aside) +If they go away, fortune will favor me indeed. + +Vernon (who has overheard her, aside) +Fortune, in this case, is represented by me-- + + + + SCENE ELEVENTH + + +Gertrude, Vernon, Pauline, and later Marguerite. + + +Gertrude +Doctor, would you like another cup of tea? + +Vernon +Thank you, but I am so deep in the election returns that I have not +yet finished my first cup. + +Gertrude (pointing to Pauline) +Poor child, you see she is sleeping? + +Vernon +How is this? She is sleeping? + +Gertrude +It is no wonder. Imagine, doctor, she did not go to sleep until three +o'clock in this morning. We were greatly disturbed last night. + +Vernon +Let me assist you to carry her to her room. + +Gertrude +It is not necessary. Marguerite, help me put this poor child to bed. +She will be more comfortable there. + +(Marguerite comes forward and assists Gertrude to carry Pauline away.) + + + + SCENE TWELFTH + + +Vernon, Felix (who enters at this juncture) and Marguerite later. + + +Vernon +Felix! + +Felix +Is there anything I can do for you, sir? + +Vernon +Is there a closet anywhere here in which I can lock up something? + +Felix (pointing to the closet) +Here is a place, sir. + +Vernon +Good! Felix, don't say a word of this to a single soul. (Aside) He +will be sure to remember it. (Aloud) I am playing a trick on the +General, and the trick will fail if you say anything. + +Felix +I will be as dumb as a fish. + +(The doctor takes from him the key of the closet.) + +Vernon +And now leave me alone with your mistress, who is coming back here, +and be on the watch that no one interrupts us for a moment. + +Felix (going out) +Marguerite was right; there is something in the wind, that's certain. + +Marguerite (returning) +There is nothing the matter. Mademoiselle is sleeping quietly. + +(Exit Marguerite.) + + + + SCENE THIRTEENTH + + +Vernon (alone) +What can have set by the ears two women who have hitherto lived in +peace? All doctors, little though they be philosophers, can tell. The +poor General, who all his life has had no other idea excepting that of +escaping the common lot! Yet I see no one here likely to cause him +jealousy, but myself and Ferdinand. It is not probable that I am the +man; but Ferdinand--Yet I have so far noticed nothing--I hear her +coming! Now for the tug-of-war! + + + + SCENE FOURTEENTH + + +Vernon and Gertrude. + + +Gertrude (aside) +I have them!--I am going to burn them in my chamber. (She meets +Vernon.) Ah! + +Vernon +Madame, I have sent everybody away. + +Gertrude +May I ask you why? + +Vernon +In order that we may have our explanation without witnesses. + +Gertrude +Explanation! By what right do you--you, the parasite of the house, +pretend to have an explanation with the Comtesse de Grandchamp? + +Vernon +I, a parasite? Madame! I have an income of ten thousand francs, +besides my pension; I have the rank of general, and my fortune will be +bequeathed to the children of my old friend! A parasite indeed! You +forget that I am not only here as a friend but as a doctor, and--you +poured certain drops of laudanum into Pauline's tea. + +Gertrude +I? + +Vernon +I saw you do it, and I have the cup. + +Gertrude +You have the cup? Why, I washed it myself! + +Vernon +Yes, you washed mine, which I gave you in exchange for that of +Pauline! I was not reading the newspaper, I was watching you. + +Gertrude +Oh! sir, how unworthy of you! + +Vernon +You must confess that what I did then is of great service to you, for +if you had by the effect of that draught brought Pauline to the brink +of the grave, you would have been very glad of my services. + +Gertrude +The brink of the grave--why, doctor, I put in only a very few drops. + +Vernon +You admit, then, that you put opium in her tea? + +Gertrude +Doctor--this is outrageous! + +Vernon +That I have obtained a confession from you? Every woman under the same +circumstances would have said the same thing. I know it by experience. +But that is not all. You have several others things to confide in me. + +Gertrude (aside) +He is a spy! The only thing I can do is to make him my accomplice. +(Aloud) Doctor, you are too useful to me to admit of our quarreling. +In a moment, if you will wait here, I will return and speak frankly to +you. + +(Gertrude goes into her chamber and locks the door.) + +Vernon +She has turned the key! I am caught, tricked! I cannot after all +resort to violence. What is she doing? She is going to hide her flask +of opium. A man is always wrong when he undertakes to discharge for a +friend the offices which my old friend, this poor General, expects of +me. She is going to entangle me--Ah! Here she comes. + +Gertrude (aside) +I have burnt them! There is not a trace left--I am saved! (Aloud) +Doctor! + +Vernon +Madame? + +Gertrude +My stepdaughter Pauline, whom you believed to be an innocent girl, an +angel, had carried off furtively and criminally something whose +discovery would have compromised the honor and the life of four +persons. + +Vernon +Four! (Aside) That is herself, the General--Ah! her son, perhaps--and +the unknown. + +Gertrude +This secret, concerning which she is forced to keep silence, even +though it imperilled her life to do so-- + +Vernon +I don't quite catch your meaning. + +Gertrude +In short, the proofs of this secret are now destroyed! And you, +doctor, who love us all, you would be as base, as infamous as she +is--even more so, because you are a man, and have not the insensate +passions of a woman!--You would be a monster if you were to take +another step along the path on which you have now started-- + +Vernon +You mean that for intimidation? Madame, since civilized society first +sprang into being, the seed which you are sowing has produced a crop +whose name is crime. + +Gertrude +But there are four lives at stake; remember that. (Aside) He is giving +way. (Aloud) In spite of this danger I demand that you will assist me +in maintaining peace here, and that you will immediately go and get +something by which Pauline may be roused from her slumber. And you +will explain, if necessary, her drowsiness to the General. Further, +you will give me back the cup, for I am sure you intend to do so, and +each step that we take together in this affair shall be fully +explained to you. + +Vernon +Madame! + +Gertrude +We must separate now, for the General will soon be back. + +Vernon (aside) +I shall still look after you! I have now a weapon that I can use and-- + +(Exit Vernon.) + + + + SCENE FIFTEENTH + + +Gertrude (alone, leaning against the closet in which the cup is locked +up) +Where can he have hidden that cup? + + +Curtain to the Third Act. + + + + + ACT IV + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(Pauline's chamber.) + +Gertrude and Pauline (the latter sleeping on a large armchair on the +left). + + +Gertrude (cautiously entering) +She is sleeping, and the doctor said that she would wake up at once. +Her slumber alarms me. This then is the girl that he is in love with. +I do not find her pretty at all. Oh, yes, after all, she is beautiful! +But how is it that men do not see that beauty is nothing but a +promise, and that love is the--(someone knocks). How is this; there +are people coming. + +Vernon (outside) +May I come in, Pauline? + +Gertrude +It is the doctor. + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +The same persons and Vernon. + + +Gertrude +You told me that she would soon awake. + +Vernon +Don't be alarmed. (Calling aloud) Pauline! Pauline! + +Pauline (awakening) +O M. Vernon! Where am I? Ah! In my own room. What has happened to me? + +Vernon +My child, you fell asleep while you were taking your tea. Madame de +Grandchamp feared as I did that this was the beginning of a sickness; +but it is no such thing. It is altogether, as it seems to me, the +consequence of a night without sleep. + +Gertrude +And now, Pauline, how do you feel? + +Pauline +I have been sleeping--and madame was here while I slept! (She starts +up; puts her hand upon her bosom.) Ah! It is outrageous! (To Vernon) +Doctor, can you have been an accomplice? + +Gertrude +An accomplice in what? What were you going to say? + +Vernon +I! my child! Could you suppose that I was the accomplice of an evil +action wrought against you, whom I love as if you were my daughter? +Don't speak of such a thing as that! But come, tell me? + +Pauline +There is nothing, doctor, nothing to say! + +Gertrude +Let me speak a few words to her. + +Vernon (aside) +What possible motive can there be for a young child to keep silence, +when she is the victim of such an act of treachery as this? + +Gertrude (in a low voice to Pauline) +So you see, Pauline, you didn't long keep in your possession the +proofs which you intended taking to your father in your ridiculous +accusation of me! + +Pauline +I understand all; you gave me a narcotic in order to deprive me of +them. + +Gertrude +We are equally inquisitive. I have done to you what you did to me in +Ferdinand's apartments. + +Pauline +You are triumphant now, madame, but it will soon be my turn. + +Gertrude +The war, then, is to continue? + +Pauline +War, madame? Call it a duel! One or the other of us must go. + +Gertrude +You are tragic. + +Vernon (aside) +There appears to be no outbreak between them, nor the least +misunderstanding!--But stay, an idea strikes me; suppose I go and look +for Ferdinand? + +(Vernon prepares to go out.) + +Gertrude +Doctor! + +Vernon +Madame? + +Gertrude +We must have a talk together. (Whispering) I shall not leave you until +you have given me back-- + +Vernon +I stated to you the sole condition-- + +Pauline +Doctor! + +Vernon (going to her) +My child? + +Pauline +Are you aware that my sleep just now was not a natural one? + +Vernon +Yes, you were put to sleep by your stepmother. I have proof of it. But +do you know the reason why? + +Pauline +Oh! doctor, it is-- + +Gertrude +Doctor! + +Pauline +Later on, I will tell you all. + +Vernon +Already from each of them I have learned something of what lies +beneath. Ah! poor General! + +Gertrude +I am waiting, doctor. + +(Vernon bows and escorts Gertrude out.) + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +Pauline (alone; she rings) +Yes, the only alternative left me is to flee with him; if we continue +this conflict, my stepmother and I, it can but result in my father's +dishonor. Would it not be better to disobey him? Then I will write to +him--I will be generous, because, my triumph over her will be +complete--I will let my father still believe in her, and will explain +my flight by attributing it to the hatred which he bears to the name +of Marcandal and to my love for Ferdinand. + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +Pauline and Marguerite. + + +Marguerite +Does mademoiselle feel well again? + +Pauline +Yes, I am well enough in body; but in mind--Oh, I am in despair! My +poor Marguerite, unfortunate is the girl who has lost her mother-- + +Marguerite +And whose father has for his second wife such a woman as Madame de +Grandchamp. But tell me, mademoiselle, am I not to you a humble and +devoted mother? My affection for you as a nurse has grown in +proportion to the hate with which this stepmother regards you. + +Pauline +Yes, Marguerite, you may believe it, but you delude yourself. Your +love can never be as great as her hatred. + +Marguerite +Oh! mademoiselle! If you would only put me to the proof! + +Pauline +Really?--Would you leave France for me? + +Marguerite +To be with you, I would travel to the Indies. + +Pauline +And would you start at once? + +Marguerite +At once!--My baggage is not heavy. + +Pauline +Well, Marguerite, we will start to-night, and secretly. + +Marguerite +But why is this? + +Pauline +You ask me why? Do you not know that Madame de Grandchamp put me to +sleep with opium? + +Marguerite +I know it, mademoiselle, and Doctor Vernon knows it also, for Felix +told me that he put under lock and key your teacup.--But why did she +do it? + +Pauline +Say not a word about it, if you love me! And if you are as devoted to +me as you profess to be, go to your room and gather together all that +you possess, so quietly that none shall suspect that you are preparing +for a journey. We will start after midnight. You must now take from me +here, and carry to your room, my jewels and all that I shall need for +a long journey. Use the utmost caution; for if my stepmother had the +least idea of what we are doing, I should be ruined. + +Marguerite +Ruined!--But, mademoiselle, what is come over you? Think seriously +before you leave your home. + +Pauline +Do you wish to see me die? + +Marguerite +Die!--Oh, mademoiselle, I will at once obey your wishes. + +Pauline +Marguerite, tell M. Ferdinand to bring me my year's allowance; bid him +come this moment. + +Marguerite +He was under your windows when I came in. + +Pauline (aside) +Under my windows!--doubtless he thought that he would never see me +again.--Poor Ferdinand! + +(Exit Marguerite.) + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +Pauline (alone) +When I think of leaving my father's house, it at once comes home to me +that my father will seek me many a day, far and wide. With what +treasures love ought to repay me, for such sacrifices, for I abandon +to follow Ferdinand my country, my father, and my home! But at any +rate, this shameless woman will lose him without hope of restoration! +Moreover, I shall return! The doctor and M. Ramel will win for me +forgiveness from my father. I think I hear the step of Ferdinand! +--Yes, it is actually he! + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +Pauline and Ferdinand. + + +Pauline +Oh, my love, my Ferdinand! + +Ferdinand +And I thought that I should never see you again! Marguerite, I see, +knows all. + +Pauline +She knows nothing yet; but this night she shall learn of our flight, +for we shall be free; and you shall take your wife with you. + +Ferdinand +Oh, Pauline, do not deceive me! + +Pauline +I was making arrangements to rejoin you in your place of exile; but +this odious woman has hurried on my resolution. There is no merit in +what I am doing, it is a question of life and death to me. + +Ferdinand +Of life and death! Tell me what has she been doing? + +Pauline +She almost poisoned me; she drugged me, in order to take the letters I +carried about me! By what she has dared to do, in order to keep you +for herself, I judge what she yet may do. If therefore we wish to be +united, our only hope lies in flight. Therefore let us not say +farewell! This night we must find some refuge or other--But where? +That lies with you. + +Ferdinand +Ah! These words,--how wild with joy they make me! + +Pauline +Ferdinand! Take every precaution; hurry to Louviers, go to the house +of your friend, the prosecuting attorney; secure our passports, and a +carriage with fast horses. I fear that my father, urged on by this +stepmother, may try to overtake us! May he fail to do so; he would +kill us, for I am telling him in this letter the fatal secret of your +birth which compels me thus to leave him. + +Ferdinand +Dismiss your fears. Eugene completed his preparations for my departure +yesterday. Here is the sum of money which your father owed me. (He +shows her a pocket-book.) Give me your receipt. (He puts down some +money on the table.) I have only to give in my balance sheet in order +to be free. We shall reach Rouen in three hours, and at Havre we shall +take an American ship. Eugene has sent a trusty man to secure me a +passage on board. The officers of the vessel will think it only +natural that a man should take his wife abroad with him, so we shall +meet with no obstacle-- + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +The same persons and Gertrude. + + +Gertrude +Excepting me. + +Pauline +We are lost! + +Gertrude +So you are going to start without telling me, Ferdinand? Oh, indeed! +But I have heard it all. + +Ferdinand (to Pauline) +Mademoiselle, have the goodness to give me your receipt, it is +indispensable in completing the account which I must give to your +father before leaving. (To Gertrude) Madame, you may be able, perhaps, +to prevent mademoiselle from going away; but I can no longer remain +here, and I must absolutely start to-night. + +Gertrude +You must stay here, and you shall stay here, sir! + +Ferdinand +Against my will? + +Gertrude +What mademoiselle wishes to do, I myself will do, and without fear. I +will make M. de Grandchamp come into this very room, and you will at +once see that he will compel you to leave, but--with me and my child. +(Felix appears.) Beg M. de Grandchamp to come here. + +Ferdinand (to Pauline) +I see her object. Detain her here, while I overtake Felix, and prevent +him from speaking to the General! Eugene will tell you how you must +act after my departure. When once we have left this place, Gertrude +will be powerless to oppose us. (To Gertrude) Farewell, madame. You +lately made an attack on Pauline's life, and by this act have broken +the last ties that bound me to your friendship. + +Gertrude +You have nothing but accusations for me! But you do not know what +mademoiselle intended telling her father concerning you and me. + +Ferdinand +I love her, and will love her all my life; I shall be able to defend +her against you, and I prize her high enough to suffer banishment in +order to obtain her. Farewell. + +Pauline +Dear, dear Ferdinand! + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +Gertrude and Pauline. + + +Gertrude +Now that we are alone, do you know why I have summoned your father? It +is in order to tell him the name and family of Ferdinand. + +Pauline +Madame, what are you going to do? My father, as soon as he learns that +the son of General Marcandal has won the love of his daughter, will +get to Havre as quickly as Ferdinand does. He will come up with him, +and then-- + +Gertrude +I would sooner see Ferdinand dead than united to any one but myself, +especially when I feel in my heart as much hatred for that other one +as I have love for him. Such is my final word in our mortal duel. + +Pauline +Madame, I am now at your feet, as you but now were at mine. Let us +slay each other if you like, but let us not murder him! Let his life +be spared, though it be at the cost of mine! + +Gertrude +Will you give him up? + +Pauline +I will, madame. + +Gertrude (she lets her handkerchief fall in the excitement of her +passionate speech) +You are deceiving me! You tell me this, because he loves you, because +he has already insulted me by avowing it, and because you believe that +he will not love me any longer. Now this will not do, Pauline, you +must give me some pledge of your sincerity. + +Pauline (aside) +Her handkerchief! Ah! I see with it the key of her desk. It is there +that the poison is locked up! (Aloud) Did you say pledges of my +sincerity? I will give them to you. What do you demand? + +Gertrude +Really, I do not care for more than one proof that you mean what you +say, and that is, that you should marry the other suitor. + +Pauline +I will marry him. + +Gertrude +And you must, at this very moment, plight your troth with him. + +Pauline +Go to him yourself, madame, and tell him; and then come here with my +father, and-- + +Gertrude +And what? + +Pauline +And I will give him my word; even though this be to give away my life. + +Gertrude (aside) +In what a tone she uttered that. With what resolution! And without +tears--I feel sure she is keeping something back! (Aloud) And so you +are quite resigned to this? + +Pauline +I am. + +Gertrude (aside) +I hope she is. (To Pauline) If you are sincere-- + +Pauline +You are mendacity itself, and you always see a lie in other's +words--Oh! Leave me, madame, you make me shudder. + +Gertrude (aside) +Well, she is candid at any rate. (Aloud) I am going to tell Ferdinand +of your resolution--(Pauline nods in acquiescence.) But he will not +believe me. Suppose you write a word to him? + +Pauline +Yes, I will write to him, and tell him not to go away. (Sits down and +writes.) Here is the letter, madame. + +Gertrude (reads) +"I am going to marry M. de Rimonville--so that you may remain here. +Pauline." (Aside) I do not quite understand this--I fear that there is +some trick in it. I am going to let him leave; he will learn of the +marriage when he is far away from this. + +(Exit Gertrude.) + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +Pauline (alone) +Ferdinand is utterly lost to me now--I have always expected it; the +world is either a paradise or a prison cell; and I, a young girl, have +dreamed only of the paradise. But anyway I have the key of the desk, +and I can return it after having taken out something which may serve +to put an end to this terrible situation. Yes, that is what I will do! + + + + SCENE TENTH + + +Pauline and Marguerite. + + +Marguerite +Mademoiselle, my trunks are all packed. I am now going to begin +packing here. + +Pauline +Yes. (Aside) It is best to let her do so. (Aloud) Come here, +Marguerite, take this gold and conceal it among your things. + +Marguerite +You are sure that your reasons for starting away are very urgent? + +Pauline +My poor Marguerite, who knows whether I shall be able to get away! But +come, go on with your work. + +(Exit Pauline.) + + + + SCENE ELEVENTH + + +Marguerite (alone) +And to think that I believed this fury was unwilling that mademoiselle +should marry! Is it possible that mademoiselle should have concealed +from me that her real love was being opposed? Yet her father is so +good to her! He leaves her free to choose--Suppose I were to speak to +the General--Oh! no, I would not run the risk of injuring my child. + + + + SCENE TWELFTH + + +Marguerite and Pauline. + + +Pauline +No one has seen me. Listen, Marguerite, first of all, take away the +money that I gave you, and then let me think about the resolution +which I have taken. + +Marguerite +If I were in your place, mademoiselle, I would tell everything to the +General. + +Pauline +To my father? Unhappy woman, do not betray me! And let both of us +respect the illusions, in the midst of which he lives. + +Marguerite +Ah! Illusions! That is the very word. + +Pauline +You may leave me now. + +(Exit Marguerite.) + + + + SCENE THIRTEENTH + + +Pauline, then Vernon. + + +Pauline (holding in her hand the parcel of poison, which was shown in +the first act) +Here stands death before me! The doctor told us yesterday, in +reference to Champagne's wife, that this terrible substance required +some hours, almost a whole night, to produce its deadly effects, and +that it was possible, during the first hours, to nullify these +effects; if the doctor remains at the house, he will provide this +antidote. + +(Some one knocks.) + +Vernon (from without) +It is I. + +Pauline +Come in, doctor! (Aside) Curiosity brings him to see me, curiosity +will take him away. + +Vernon +I see, my child, that between you and your stepmother, there are +secrets of life and death? + +Pauline +Yes, and, above all, death. + +Vernon +I was afraid so! And that, of course, I must attend to. But tell +me--You must have had some terrible quarrel with your stepmother. + +Pauline +Let me hear no more of that creature. She deceives my father. + +Vernon +I know it. + +Pauline +She never loved him. + +Vernon +I was quite sure of that! + +Pauline +She has sworn to ruin me. + +Vernon +How? Is it in an affair of your heart that she wishes to do you harm? + +Pauline +Rather say, it is my life she threatens. + +Vernon +What a horrible suspicion! Pauline, my child, I love you well, you +know I do. Tell me, can nothing save you? + +Pauline +In order to change my fate, it would be necessary that my father +change his ideas. Listen; I am in love with M. Ferdinand. + +Vernon +I already know that. But who would hinder you from marrying him? + +Pauline +Can you keep a secret? Well, he is the son of General Marcandal! + +Vernon +My God! You may rely on my keeping that secret! Why, your father would +fight with him to the death, if for nothing else, because he has had +him under his roof for three years. + +Pauline +You will then see very plainly that there is no hope for me. + +(Pauline sinks back overwhelmed with emotion in an armchair.) + +Vernon +Poor child! I fear she is going to faint. (He rings and calls) +Marguerite! Marguerite! + + + + SCENE FOURTEENTH + + +The same persons, Gertrude, Marguerite and the General. + + +Marguerite (running in) +What is it, sir? + +Vernon +Get me a tea-urn of boiling water, into which you must drop some +orange leaves. + +(Exit Marguerite.) + +Gertrude +What is the matter with you, Pauline? + +The General +Dear child, do tell us? + +Gertrude +Oh, it is nothing! We can understand her feelings. It is because she +sees her lot in life decided-- + +Vernon (to the General) +Her lot decided? And in what way? + +The General +She is going to marry Godard! (Aside) It seems to me as if she were +giving up some love affair of which she did not wish to tell me. As +far as I can understand from what my wife has told me, the unknown one +is ineligible, and Pauline did not discover his unworthiness until +yesterday. + +Vernon +And you believe this? Do not precipitate matters, General. We will +talk it over this evening. (Aside) Before then I am going to have a +few words with Madame de Grandchamp. + +Pauline (to Gertrude) +The doctor knows all! + +Gertrude +Ah! + +Pauline (she puts back into the pocket of Gertrude the handkerchief +and the key, while the latter is looking at Vernon, who converses with +the General) +Keep him away, for he is capable of telling all he knows to the +General. We must at least protect Ferdinand. + +Gertrude (aside) +She is right. (Aloud) Doctor, I have just been informed that Francis, +one of our best workmen, is sick; he hasn't appeared this morning, and +you might go and visit him. + +The General +Francis? Oh! Vernon, you had better go and see him-- + +Vernon +Doesn't he live at Pre-l'Eveque? (Aside) More than three leagues away. + +The General +Are you alarmed about Pauline? + +Vernon +It is simply an attack of nerves. + +Gertrude +I can take your place here, doctor, if that is so, can't I? + +Vernon +Yes. (To the General) I'll undertake to say that Francis is about as +sick as I am! The fact of it is, I see rather too much and my presence +is not desired-- + +The General (in a rage) +What are you talking about? To whom do you refer? + +Vernon +Are you going to fly into a passion again? Do calm yourself, my old +friend, or you will cause yourself eternal remorse. + +The General +Remorse? + +Vernon +Just keep these people talking, till I return. + +The General +But-- + +Gertrude (to Pauline) +Tell me, how do you feel now, my sweet angel? + +The General +Just look at them. + +Vernon +Ah! Well, women stab each other with a smile and a kiss. + + + + SCENE FIFTEENTH + + +The same persons (except Vernon) and Marguerite. + + +Gertrude (to the General, who seems as if he were bewildered by the +last words of Vernon) +What is the matter with you? + +The General (passing before Gertrude to the side of Pauline) +Nothing, nothing! Tell me, my little Pauline, is your engagement with +Godard to be quite voluntary? + +Pauline +Quite voluntary. + +Gertrude (aside) +Ah! + +The General +He will be here soon. + +Pauline +I am expecting him. + +The General (aside) +There is a tremendous amount of bitterness in her tone. + +(Marguerite appears with a tea-cup.) + +Gertrude +It is too soon, Marguerite, the infusion can't yet be strong enough! +(She tastes it.) I must go and prepare it myself. + +Marguerite +I have always been in the habit of waiting upon Mlle. Pauline. + +Gertrude +What do you mean by speaking to me in this tone? + +Marguerite +But--madame-- + +The General +Marguerite, if you say another word, we shall fall out. + +Pauline +Marguerite, you may just as well let Madame de Grandchamp have her +way. + +(Gertrude goes out with Marguerite.) + +The General +And so my little girl has not much confidence in the father who loves +her so? Come now! Tell me why you so distinctly refused Godard +yesterday, and yet, accept him to-day? + +Pauline +I suppose it is a young girl's whim. + +The General +Are you in love with anybody else? + +Pauline +It is because I am not in love with anybody else that I consent to +marry your friend M. Godard! + +(Gertrude comes in with Marguerite.) + +The General +Ah! + +Gertrude +Take this, my darling, but be careful, for it is a little hot. + +Pauline +Thank you, mother! + +The General +Mother! Truly, this is enough to drive one crazy with perplexity! + +Pauline +Marguerite, bring me the sugar basin! + +(While Marguerite goes out and Gertrude talks with the General, +Pauline drops the poison into the cup and lets fall the paper which +contained it.) + +Gertrude (to the General) +You seem to be indisposed? + +The General +My dear, I cannot understand women; I am like Godard. + +(Marguerite comes back.) + +Gertrude +You are like all other men. + +Pauline (hurriedly drinking the poisoned cup) +Ah! + +Gertrude +How are you now, my child? + +Pauline +I am better. + +Gertrude +I am going to prepare another cup for you. + +Pauline +Oh, no, madame, this will be quite enough! I would sooner wait for the +doctor. + +(Pauline sets down the empty cup on the table.) + + + + SCENE SIXTEENTH + + +The same persons and Felix, then Godard. + + +Felix (looking inquiringly at Pauline) +M. Godard asks if you will see him? + +Pauline +Certainly. + +Gertrude (leaving the room) +What do you intend saying to him. + +Pauline +Wait and see. + +Godard (entering) +I am sorry that mademoiselle is indisposed. I did not know it. I will +not intrude. (They offer him a chair.) Mademoiselle, allow me to thank +you above all for the kindness you have shown in receiving me in this +sanctuary of innocence. Madame de Grandchamp and your father have just +informed me of something which would have overwhelmed me with +happiness yesterday, but rather astonishes me to-day. + +The General +That is to say, M. Godard-- + +Pauline +Do not be hasty, father, M. Godard is right. You do not know all I +said to him yesterday. + +Godard +You are far too clever, mademoiselle, not to consider as quite natural +the curiosity of an honorable young man, who has an income of forty +thousand francs, besides his savings, to learn of the reason why he +should be accepted after a lapse of twenty-four hours from his +rejection--For, yesterday, it was at this very hour--(He pulls out his +watch) Half-past five-- + +The General +What do you mean by all this? It looks as if you are not as much in +love as you said you were. You have come here to complain of a +charming girl at the very moment when she has told you-- + +Godard +I would not complain, if the subject were not marriage. Marriage, +General, is at once the cause and the effect of sentiment. + +The General +Pardon me, Godard, I am a little hasty, as you know. + +Pauline (to Godard) +Sir--(Aside) Oh, how I suffer! (Aloud) Sir, why should poor young +girls-- + +Godard +Poor? No, no, mademoiselle; you are not poor. You have four hundred +thousand francs. + +Pauline +Why should weak young girls-- + +Godard +Weak? + +Pauline +Well, then, innocent young persons--be so very fastidious about the +character of the man who presents himself as their lord and master? If +you love me, will you punish yourself--will you punish me--because +your love has been submitted to a test? + +Godard +Of course, from that point of view-- + +The General +Oh! These women! These women! + +Godard +You may just as well say, "These daughters." + +The General +Yes, for I am quite sure that mine has more brains than I have. + + + + SCENE SEVENTEENTH + + +The same persons, Gertrude and then Napoleon. + + +Gertrude +How has it turned out, M. Godard? + +Godard +Ah, Madame! General! My happiness is complete, and my dream fulfilled. +For now I am to be admitted into a family like yours. To think that I +--Ah! Madame! General! (Aside) I'd like to find out the mystery, for +she has precious little love for me. + +Napoleon (entering) +Papa, I have won the school medal--Good-day, mamma--and where is +Pauline? And so you are sick? Poor little sister! I'll tell you +something--I have found out where justice comes from. + +Gertrude +And who told you? Ah! see what a lovely boy he is! + +Napoleon +The master told me that justice comes from God. + +Godard +It is very plain that your master was not born in Normandy. + +Pauline (in a low voice to Marguerite) +O Marguerite! Dear Marguerite! Do send them all away. + +Marguerite +Gentlemen, Mlle. Pauline desires to take a little nap. + +The General +Just so, Pauline, we will leave you, and you need not get up till +dinner time. + +Pauline +I will certainly get up then if I can. Father, kiss me before you go. + +The General (kissing her) +My darling child! (To Napoleon) Come, my boy. + +(They all go out, except Pauline, Marguerite and Napoleon.) + +Napoleon (to Pauline) +And how is it you do not kiss me? Tell me what ails you? + +Pauline +Oh! I am dying! + +Napoleon +Do people die? Pauline, what is death made of? + +Pauline +Death--is made--like this-- + +(Pauline falls back into Marguerite's arms.) + +Marguerite +Oh! My God! Help! Help! + +Napoleon +Oh! Pauline, you frighten me! (Running away.) Mamma! Mamma! + + +Curtain to the Fourth Act. + + + + + ACT V + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(The chamber of Pauline as before.) + +Pauline, Ferdinand and Vernon. + + +(Pauline lies stretched upon her bed. Ferdinand holds her hand in an +attitude of profound grief and despair. It is just before dawn and a +lamp is burning.) + +Vernon (seated near the table) +I have seen thousands of dead men on the field of battle and in the +ambulances, yet the death of this young girl under her father's roof +moves me more profoundly than all those heroic sufferings. Death is +perhaps a thing foreseen on the field of battle--it is even expected +there; while here, it is not only the passing away of a single person, +but a whole family is plunged in tears and fond hopes vanish. Here is +this child, of whom I was so fond, murdered, poisoned--and by whom? +Marguerite has rightly guessed the secret of this struggle between two +rivals. It was impossible to refrain from communicating at once with +the authorities. In the meantime, God knows I have used every effort +to snatch this young life from the grave. (Ferdinand raises his head +and listens to the doctor) I have even brought this poison, which may +act as an antidote to the other; but the princes of medical science +should have been present to witness the experiment! No man ought to +venture upon such a throw of the dice. + +Ferdinand (rises and approaches the doctor) +Doctor, when the magistrates arrive, will you explain this experiment +of yours; they will be sure to sanction it; and you may be sure that +God, yes God, will hear me. He will work some miracle, He will give +her back to me! + +Vernon +I should have ventured upon it before the action of the poison had +wrought its full effects. If I did so now, I should be looked upon as +the poisoner. No (he places a little flask upon the table), it would +be useless now, and to give it with the most disinterested motives +would be looked upon as a crime. + +Ferdinand (after holding a mirror before Pauline's lips) +Anything, everything is yet possible; she still breathes. + +Vernon +She will not live till daylight. + +Pauline +Ferdinand! + +Ferdinand +She has just uttered my name. + +Vernon +The vitality of a girl of twenty-two is very tenacious! Moreover, she +will preserve consciousness, even to her last gasp. She might possibly +rise from her bed and talk with us, although the sufferings caused by +this terrible poison are inconceivable. + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +The same persons and the General. + + +The General (outside) +Vernon! + +Vernon (to Ferdinand) +It is the General. (Ferdinand, overcome with grief, falls back on the +armchair, where he is concealed by the curtains of the bed.) What do +you want? + +The General +I want to see Pauline! + +Vernon +If you take my advice, you will wait awhile; she is very much worse. + +The General (entering) +For that reason I shall come in. + +Vernon +Do not come in, General. Listen to me! + +The General +No, no! Ah, how motionless, how cold she is, Vernon! + +Vernon +Listen! General! (Aside) We must get him away somehow. (Aloud) There +is but a faint hope of saving her. + +The General +You told me--You must have been deceiving me! + +Vernon +My friend, we have to look this catastrophe in the face, as we had to +look towards the batteries through a shower of bullets! On such +occasions, when I hesitated, you always went forward. (Aside) That is +a good idea! (Aloud) You had better bring to her the consolations of +religion. + +The General +Vernon, I wish to see her, to give her my last kiss. + +Vernon +Be careful! + +The General (kissing her) +Oh! How icy cold she is! + +Vernon +That is a peculiarity of her sickness, General. Hurry to the priest's +house, for in case my remedies fail, it is not right that your +daughter, who has been reared as a Christian, should be forgotten by +the Church. + +The General +Ah! yes. I will go. + +(The General moves towards the bed.) + +Vernon (pointing towards the door) +This way! + +The General +I quite lose my head; I am distracted--O Vernon, work a miracle for +us! You have saved so many people--and here you cannot save the life +of my child! + +Vernon +Come, come, be off. (Aside) I must go with him, for if he meets the +magistrates there will be more trouble still. + +(Exit the General and Vernon.) + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +Pauline and Ferdinand. + + +Pauline +Ferdinand! + +Ferdinand +Ah! My God! Can this be her last sigh? Pauline, you are my very life; +if Vernon does not save you, I will follow you, and we shall still be +united. + +Pauline +I shall expire, then, without a single regret. + +Ferdinand (takes up the flask) +That which would have saved you, if the doctor had arrived earlier, +shall deliver me from life. + +Pauline +No, for you may still be happy. + +Ferdinand +Never, without you. + +Pauline +Your words revive me. + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +The same persons and Vernon. + + +Ferdinand +She speaks; her eyes once more are open. + +Vernon +Poor child! There she falls asleep again. What shall the waking be? + +(Ferdinand sits down again and takes the hand of Pauline.) + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +The same persons, Ramel, the Investigating Magistrate, a Doctor, a +Corporal of Police and Marguerite. + + +Marguerite +M. Vernon, the magistrates are here. M. Ferdinand, you must leave the +room. + +(Exit Ferdinand.) + +Ramel +Take care, corporal, that all the entrances of this house are guarded, +and observe our orders! Doctor, can we remain here a few moments +without danger to the sick lady? + +Vernon +She is asleep, sir; and it is her last slumber. + +Marguerite +Here is the cup into which the infusion was poured and which still has +traces of arsenic; I perceived it there as soon as I took hold of it. + +The Doctor (examining the cup and tasting the contents) +It is evident that the liquid contains some poisonous substance. + +The Magistrate +Please to make an analysis of it. (He sees Marguerite picking up a +small piece of paper from the ground.) What paper is that? + +Marguerite +Oh, it is nothing. + +Ramel +In such cases as these, nothing is insignificant in the eyes of +magistrates! Yes, gentlemen, we shall have to examine this paper +later. What can have delayed M. de Grandchamp? + +Vernon +He is at the priest's house, but he will not stay there long. + +The Magistrate (to the doctor) +Have you made your examination yet, sir? + +(The two physicians converse together at the head of the bed.) + +Ramel (to the magistrate) +If the General returns, we must deal with him according to the +circumstances. + +(Marguerite is weeping, kneeling at the foot of the bed; the two +physicians, the judge and Ramel are grouped in the front of the +stage.) + +Ramel (to the doctor) +It is therefore of your opinion, sir, that the illness of Mlle. de +Grandchamp, whom we saw two days ago full of health, and even of +happiness, is the result of a crime? + +The Doctor +The symptoms of poisoning are undeniable. + +Ramel +And are the remains of the poison contained in this cup so +discernible, and present in such a quantity, as to furnish legal +proof? + +The Doctor +Yes, sir. + +The Magistrate (to Vernon) +This woman alleges, sir, that yesterday, at four o'clock, you +prescribed for Mlle. de Grandchamp an infusion of orange leaves, as a +soothing draught for the nervous excitement which followed upon an +interview between the stepmother and her stepdaughter; she says, +moreover, that Madame de Grandchamp, who had despatched you on an +empty errand to a place four leagues away, had insisted upon preparing +and giving everything to her daughter herself; is this true? + +Vernon +Yes, sir. + +Marguerite +When I persisted in my purpose of attending myself upon my young +mistress, my poor master was incensed to the point of reproaching me. + +Ramel (to Vernon) +Where did Madame de Grandchamp send you? + +Vernon +Everything is ominous in this mysterious affair. Madame de Grandchamp +was so anxious to get me out of the way that she sent me three leagues +to visit a sick man, who, I found when I reached his home, was +drinking in the inn. I blamed Champagne for deceiving Madame de +Grandchamp, and Champagne positively told me that the workman had not +appeared at the factory, but that he himself knows nothing about his +alleged sickness. + +Felix +Gentlemen, the clergy are here. + +Ramel +We can continue our proceedings in the drawing-room. + +Vernon +This way, gentlemen, this way. + + +(Scene curtain.) + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +(The drawing-room.) + +Ramel, the Magistrate, the Sheriff's Officer and Vernon. + + +Ramel +Here, then, is the result so far of our inquiry, in accordance with +the evidence of Felix and Marguerite. Madame de Grandchamp, in the +first place, administered to her stepdaughter a dose of opium, and +you, M. Vernon, who were present and saw the criminal attempt, managed +to secure and lock up the cup. + +Vernon +It is true, gentlemen, but-- + +Ramel +How is it, M. Vernon, that when you witnessed this criminal attempt, +you did not check Madame de Grandchamp in the fatal course which she +was then pursuing? + +Vernon +Believe me, gentlemen, I did everything which I thought could be done +with prudence, and all that my long experience suggested was attempted +by me. + +The Magistrate +Your conduct, sir, was peculiar, and you will be called upon to +explain it. You did your duty yesterday in preserving the cup as +evidence; but why did you not go further? + +Ramel +Pardon me, M. Cordier, this gentleman is advanced in years; he is an +honest and trustworthy man. (He takes Vernon aside) You have found +out, I suppose, the cause of this crime. + +Vernon +It springs from a rivalry between two women, who have been urged on to +the most violent extremes by their reckless passions. And I was +obliged to keep silence on the subject. + +Ramel +I know the whole business. + +Vernon +You! sir? + +Ramel +Yes, and, like you, I have done everything to prevent this +catastrophe; for Ferdinand was to leave this very night. I knew Mlle. +Gertrude de Meilhac in former years, having met her at the house of my +friend. + +Vernon +Oh! sir, show clemency! Have pity on an old soldier, crippled with +wounds, and enslaved by delusions. He is in danger of losing both his +daughter and his wife. Heaven grant he may not lose his honor also! + +Ramel +We understand each other. So long as Gertrude does not make such +admissions as force us to see the real situation, I shall endeavor to +persuade the investigating magistrate--who is an extremely sagacious +and honest man of ten years' experience--I shall try to make him +believe that cupidity alone has influenced Madame de Grandchamp. You +must assist me. (The magistrate approaches; Ramel nods to Vernon and +puts on an expression of severity.) Why did Madame de Grandchamp wish +to drug her stepdaughter? You, who are the friend of the household, +ought to know this. + +Vernon +Pauline was about to confide her secrets to me. Her stepmother thought +that I was learning certain things which her interest required should +be concealed; and that, sir, is doubtless the reason why she sent me +to treat a workman who was in good health, and not to prevent help +from being brought to Pauline, for Louviers is not so far off. + +The Magistrate +What forethought she has! She won't be able to escape if we find the +proofs of crime in her desk. She does not expect us here; she will be +thunderstruck. + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +The same persons, Gertrude and Marguerite. + + +Gertrude +I hear the strains of church music! What, is there another trial going +on here? What can be happening? (She goes to the door of Pauline's +chamber and starts back terrified, on the appearance of Marguerite.) +Ah! + +Marguerite +They are offering prayers over the body of your victim! + +Gertrude +Pauline! Pauline! Dead! + +The Magistrate +And it is you, madame, who have poisoned her. + +Gertrude +I! I! I! Ah! what is this? Am I asleep or awake? (To Ramel) Ah! How +extremely fortunate for me in this meeting! For you know the whole +affair, don't you? Do you believe me capable of a crime like this? +What! Am I actually accused of it? Do you think that I would have made +an attack upon her life? I, the mother of a child, before whom I would +not wish to be disgraced? Justice will vindicate me--Marguerite, let +no one leave the room. Gentlemen, tell me what has taken place since +yesterday evening, when I left Pauline slightly indisposed? + +The Magistrate +Madame, collect yourself! You stand before the tribunal of your +country. + +Gertrude +You chill me with such words-- + +The Magistrate +The administration of justice in France is the most perfect of +criminal procedures. No traps are set, for justice proceeds, acts, and +speaks with open face, for she is solely intent upon her mission, +which is, the discovery of the truth. At the present moment, you are +merely inculpated, and in me you must see your protector. But tell the +truth, whatever it may be; the final result will be decided at a +higher tribunal. + +Gertrude +Ah! sir, take me into her chamber, and in presence of Pauline I will +cry out, what I cry out before you--I am guiltless of her death! + +The Magistrate +Madame! + +Gertrude +Sir, let us have none of those long phrases, with which you blind the +eyes of people. I suffer pains unheard of! I weep for Pauline as +though she were my child, and--I forgive her everything! What do you +want with me? Proceed, and I will answer you. + +Ramel +What is it that you will forgive her? + +Gertrude +I mean-- + +Ramel (in a low voice) +Be cautious in your replies. + +Gertrude +You are right, for precipices yawn on every side! + +The Magistrate (to the sheriff's officer) +Names and titles may be taken later; now write down the notes of the +investigation, and the inquiry. (To Gertrude) Did you yesterday +forenoon put opium into the tea of Mlle. de Grandchamp? + +Gertrude +Ah! doctor--this is you. + +Ramel +Do not accuse the doctor. He has already too seriously compromised +himself for you! Answer the magistrate! + +Gertrude +It is true. + +The Magistrate +Madame recognizes the cup and admits that she put opium in it. That +will be enough for the present, at this stage of the inquiry. + +Gertrude +Do you accuse me then of something further? What is it? + +The Magistrate +Madame, if you cannot free yourself from blame with regard to a later +event, you may be charged with the crime of poisoning. We must now +proceed to seek proofs either of your innocence or of your guilt. + +Gertrude +Where will you seek them? + +The Magistrate +From you! Yesterday you gave Mlle. de Grandchamp an infusion of orange +leaves, in another cup which contained arsenic. + +Gertrude +Can it be possible! + +The Magistrate +The day before yesterday you declared that the key of your desk, in +which the arsenic was locked, never left your possession. + +Gertrude +It is in my dress pocket. + +The Magistrate +Have you ever made any use of that arsenic? + +Gertrude +No; you will find the parcel still sealed. + +Ramel +Ah! madame, I sincerely hope so. + +The Magistrate +I very much doubt it; this is one of those audacious criminals-- + +Gertrude +The chamber is in disorder, permit me-- + +The Magistrate +No, no! All three of us will enter it. + +Ramel +Your innocence is now at stake. + +Gertrude +Gentlemen, let us go in together. + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +Vernon (alone) +My poor General! He kneels by the bed of his daughter; he weeps, he +prays! Alas! God alone can give her back to him. + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +Vernon, Gertrude, Ramel, the Magistrate and the Sheriff's Officer. + + +Gertrude +I scarce can believe my senses; I am dreaming--I am-- + +Ramel +You are ruined, madame. + +Gertrude +Yes, sir--But by whom? + +The Magistrate (to the sheriff's officer) +Write down that Madame de Grandchamp having herself unlocked for us +the desk in her bedchamber and having herself given into our hands the +parcel sealed by M. Baudrillon, this parcel which two days ago was +intact is found unsealed and from it has been taken a dose, more than +sufficient to produce death. + +Gertrude +Death!--And I? + +The Magistrate +Madame, it was not without reason that I took from your desk this torn +piece of paper. We have also picked up in Mlle. de Grandchamp's +chamber a piece of paper, which exactly fits to it; and this proves +that when you reached your desk, in that confusion which crime always +brings upon criminals, you took up this paper to wrap up the dose, +which you intended to mix with the infusion. + +Gertrude +You said that you were my protector! And there, see now-- + +The Magistrate +Give me your attention, madame. In face of such suspicions, I feel I +shall have to change the writ of summons into a writ of bail or +imprisonment. (He signs the document.) And now, madame, you must +consider yourself under arrest. + +Gertrude +Of course, I will do all that you wish! But you told me that your +mission was to search for the truth--Ah! Let us search for it +here--Let us search for it here! + +The Magistrate +Certainly, madame. + +Gertrude (to Ramel; she is weeping) +O M. Ramel! + +Ramel +Have you anything to say in your defence which would lead us to cancel +this terrible sentence? + +Gertrude +Gentlemen, I am innocent of the crime of poisoning, and yet all is +against me! I implore you, give my your help instead of torturing me! +And listen to me--Some one must have taken my key,--can you not +understand? Some one must have come into my room--Ah! I see it all +now-- (To Ramel) Pauline loved as I loved; she has poisoned herself! + +Ramel +For the sake of your honor, do not say that, without the most +convincing proofs, otherwise-- + +The Magistrate +Madame, is it true that, yesterday, you, knowing Doctor Vernon was to +dine with you, sent him-- + +Gertrude +Oh! you,--your questions are so many daggers at my heart! And yet you +go on, you still go on. + +The Magistrate +Did you send him away to attend a workman at Pre-l'Eveque? + +Gertrude +I did, sir. + +The Magistrate +This workman, madame, was found in a tavern, and in excellent help. + +Gertrude +Champagne had told me that he was sick. + +The Magistrate +We have questioned Champagne, and he denies this, averring that he +said nothing about sickness. The fact of it was, you wished to +preclude the possibility of medical aid. + +Gertrude (aside) +It was Pauline! It was she who made me send away Vernon! O Pauline! +You have dragged me down with yourself into the tomb, to which I sink +bearing the name of criminal! No! No! No! (To Ramel) Sir, I have but +one avenue of escape. (To Vernon) Is Pauline still alive? + +Vernon (pointing to the General) +Here is my answer. + + + + SCENE TENTH + + +The same persons and the General. + + +The General (to Vernon) +She is dying, my friend! If I lose her, I shall never survive it. + +Vernon +My friend! + +The General +It seems to me that there are a great many people here--What must be +done? Oh, try to save her! I wonder where Gertrude is. + +(They give the General a seat.) + +Gertrude (sinking at the feet of the General) +My friend! Poor father! I would this instant I might be killed without +a trial. (She rises.) No, Pauline has wrapped me in her shroud, I feel +her icy hands about my neck. And yet I was resigned. Yes, I would have +buried with me the secret of this terrible drama, which every woman +should understand! But I am weary of this struggle with a corpse that +holds me tight, and communicates to me the coldness and the stiffness +of death! I have made up my mind that my innocence of this crime shall +come forth victorious at the expense of somebody's honor; for never, +never could I become a vile and cowardly poisoner. Yes, I shall tell +the whole, dark tale. + +The General (rising from his seat and coming forward) +Ah! so you are going to say in the face of justice all that for two +days you have concealed by such obstinate silence--vile and ungrateful +creature, fawning liar!--you have killed my daughter. Are you going to +kill me also? + +Gertrude +Ought I to keep silence?--Ought I to speak? + +Ramel +General, be kind enough to retire. The law commands. + +The General +The law? You represent the justice of men, I represent the justice of +God, and am higher than you all! I am at once accuser, tribunal, +sentence and executioner--Come, madame, tell us what you have to say? + +Gertrude (at the General's feet) +Forgive me, sir--Yes--I am-- + +Ramel +Oh, poor wretch! + +Gertrude (aside) +I cannot say it! Oh! for his honor's sake, may he never know the +truth. (Aloud) I am guilty before all the world, but to you I say, and +will repeat it to my last breath, I am innocent! And some future day +the truth shall speak from out two tombs, the cruel truth, which will +show to you that you also are not free from reproach, but from the +very blindness of your hate are culpable in all. + +The General +I? I? Am I losing my senses? Do you dare to accuse me? (Perceiving +Pauline.) Ah! Ah! My God! + + + + SCENE ELEVENTH + + +The same persons, and Pauline (supported by Ferdinand). + + +Pauline +They have told me all! This woman is innocent of the crime whereof she +is accused. Religion has at last taught me that pardon cannot be +obtained on high except by those who leave it behind them here below. +I took from Madame the key of her desk, I myself sought the poison. I +myself tore off the paper to wrap it up, for I wished to die. + +Gertrude +O Pauline! Take my life, take all I love--Oh, doctor, save her! + +The Magistrate +Is this the truth, mademoiselle? + +Pauline +The truth, yes, for the dying alone speak it-- + +The Magistrate +We know then actually nothing about this business. + +Pauline (to Gertrude) +Do you know why I came to draw you from the abyss which had engulfed +you? It is because Ferdinand spoke to me a word which brought me back +from the tomb. He has so great a horror of being left with you in life +that he follows me, and will follow me to the grave, where we shall +rest together, wedded in death. + +Gertrude +Ferdinand! Ah, my God! At what a price have I been saved! + +The General +But unhappy child, wherefore must you die? Am I not, have I ceased for +one moment to be a good father? And yet they say that I am culpable. + +Ferdinand +Yes, General, I alone can give the answer to the riddle, and can +explain to you your guilt. + +The General +You, Ferdinand, you to whom I offered my daughter, you who loved her-- + +Ferdinand +My name is Ferdinand Comte de Marcandal, son of General Marcandal. Do +you understand? + +The General +Ah! son of a traitor! What could you bring to my home but death and +treachery! Defend yourself! + +Ferdinand +Would you fight, General, with the dead? + +(Ferdinand falls.) + +Gertrude (rushes to Ferdinand with a cry) +Oh! (She recoils before the General, and approaches his daughter, then +draws forth a phial, but immediately flings it away.) I will condemn +myself to live for this old man! (The General kneels beside his dying +daughter.) Doctor, what will become of him? Is he likely to lose his +reason? + +The General (stammering like a man who has lost his speech) +I--I--I-- + + +Vernon +General, what is it? + +The General +I--I am trying--to pray--for my daughter! + + +Final curtain. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts +by Honore De Balzac + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STEPMOTHER *** + +***** This file should be named 15878.txt or 15878.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/8/7/15878/ + +Produced by Dagny and John Bickers + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net + + +Title: The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts + +Author: Honore De Balzac + +Release Date: May 23, 2005 [EBook #15878] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STEPMOTHER *** + + + + +Produced by Dagny and John Bickers + + + + + + THE STEPMOTHER + A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS + + BY + + HONORE DE BALZAC + + + + Presented for the First Time in Paris + At the Theatre-Historique + May 25, 1848 + + + + PERSONS OF THE PLAY + +Comte de Grandchamp, a Napoleonic General +Eugene Ramel, a State's Attorney +Ferdinand Marcandal +Doctor Vernon +Godard +An Investigating Magistrate +Felix, servant to General de Grandchamp +Champagne, a foreman +Baudrillon, a druggist +Napoleon, son to General de Grandchamp by his second wife +Gertrude, second wife to General de Grandchamp +Pauline, daughter to General de Grandchamp by his first wife +Marguerite, maid to Pauline +Gendarmes, Sheriff's Officer, the Clergy + + + +SCENE: Chateau of the General de Grandchamp, near Louviers, Normandy + +TIME: 1829 + + + + + + THE STEPMOTHER + + + + + ACT I + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(A richly decorated drawing-room; on the walls are portraits of +Napoleon I. and his son. The entry is by a large double glass door, +which opens on a roofed veranda and leads by a short stairway to a +park. The door of Pauline's apartments are on the right; those of the +General and his wife are on the left. On the left side of the central +doorway is a table, and on the right is a cabinet. A vase full of +flowers stands by the entrance to Pauline's room. A richly carved +marble mantel, with a bronze clock and candelabras, faces these +apartments. In the front of the stage are two sofas, one on the left, +the other on the right. Gertrude enters, carrying the flowers which +she has just plucked, and puts them in the vase.) + +Gertrude and the General. + + +Gertrude +I assure you, my dear, that it would be unwise to defer any longer +giving your daughter in marriage. She is now twenty-two. Pauline has +been very slow in making her choice; and, in such a case, it is the +duty of parents to see that their children are settled. Moreover, I am +very much interested in her. + +The General +In what way? + +Gertrude +The position of stepmother is always open to suspicion; and for some +time it has been rumored in Louviers that I am the person who throws +obstacles in the way of Pauline's marriage. + +The General +That is merely the idle gossip of little towns. I should like to cut +out some of those silly tongues. And to think that they should attack +you of all people, Gertrude, who have been a real mother to +Pauline--whom you have educated most excellently! + +Gertrude +It is the way of the world! They will never forgive us for living so +close to the town, yet never entering it. The society of the place +revenges itself upon us for slighting it. Do you think that our +happiness can escape envy? Even our doctor-- + +The General +Do you mean Vernon? + +Gertrude +Yes, Vernon is very envious of you; he is vexed to think that he has +never been able to inspire any woman with such affection as I have for +you. Moreover, he pretends that I am merely playing a part,--as if I +could do it for twelve years! Rather unlikely, I should think. + +The General +No woman could keep up the pretence for twelve years without being +found out. The idea is absurd! And Vernon also is-- + +Gertrude +Oh, he is only joking! And so, as I told you before, you had better +see Godard. I am astonished that he has not yet arrived. He is so rich +that it would be folly to refuse him. He is in love with Pauline, and +although he has his faults, and is somewhat provincial, he is quite +able to make her happy. + +The General +I have left Pauline quite free to choose a husband for herself. + +Gertrude +There is no cause for anxiety. A girl so gentle, so well brought up, +so well behaved, is sure to do right. + +The General +Gentle, did you say? She is headstrong, like her father. + +Gertrude +She, headstrong? And you, come now, do you not always act as I wish? + +The General +You are no angel, and always wish what pleases me! By the bye, Vernon +takes dinner with us after his autopsy. + +Gertrude +Was it necessary to tell me that? + +The General +I only told you, in order that he might have his favorite wines. + +Felix (enters, announcing) +Monsieur de Rimonville! + +The General +Ask him in. + +Gertrude (making a sign to Felix to arrange the vase of flowers) +I will go to Pauline's room, while you are talking business. I should +like to superintend the arrangement of her toilet. Young people do not +always understand what is most becoming to them. + +The General +She has no expense spared her! During the last eighteen months her +dress has cost twice as much as it previously did; after all, poor +girl, it is the only amusement she has. + +Gertrude +How can you say it is her only amusement while she has the privilege +of living with us! If it were not my happy lot to be your wife, I +should like to be your daughter. I will never leave you, not I! Did +you say for the last eighteen months? That is singular! Well, when I +come to think of it, she has begun to care more about laces, jewels, +and other pretty things. + +The General +She is quite rich enough to indulge her tastes. + +Gertrude +And she is now of age. (Aside) Her fondness of dress is the smoke. Can +there be any fire? (Exit.) + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +The General (alone) +What a pearl among women! Thus I am made happy after twenty-six +campaigns, a dozen wounds, and the death of an angel, whose place she +has taken in my heart; truly a kind Providence owed me some such +recompense as this, if it were only to console me for the death of the +Emperor. + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +Godard and the General. + + +Godard (entering) +Well, General! + +The General +Ah! good day, Godard! I hope you are come to spend the day with us? + +Godard +I thought perhaps I might spend the week, General, if you should +regard favorably the request which I shall venture to make of you. + +The General +Go in and win! I know what request you mean--My wife is on your side. +Ah, Godard, you have attacked the fortress at its weak point! + +Godard +General, you are an old soldier, and have no taste for mere phrases. +In all your undertakings you go straight ahead, as you did when under +fire. + +The General +Straight and facing the whole battery. + +Godard +That suits me well, for I am rather timid. + +The General +You! I owe you, my dear friend, an apology; I took you for a man who +was too well aware of his own worth. + +Godard +You took me to be conceited! But General, as a matter of fact, I +intend to marry because I don't know how to pay any court to women. + +The General (aside) +What a civilian! (Aloud) How is this? You talk like an old man, and-- +that is not the way to win my daughter. + +Godard +Do not misunderstand me. I have a warm heart; I wish only to feel sure +that I shall be accepted. + +The General +That means that you don't mind attacking unwalled towns. + +Godard +That is not it at all, General. You quite alarm me, with your banter. + +The General +What do you mean then? + +Godard +I understand nothing about the tricks of women. I know no more when +their yes means no, than when their no means yes; and when I am in +love, I wish to be loved in return. + +The General (aside) +With such ideas as those he has precious little chance. + +Godard +There are plenty of men like me, men who are supremely bored by this +little warfare of manners and whims. + +The General +But there is something also delightful in it,--I mean in the feminine +show of resistance, which gives one the pleasure of overcoming it. + +Godard +Thank you, nothing of that sort for me! When I am hungry, I do not +wish to coquette with my soup. I like to have things decided, and care +very little how the decision is arrived at, although I do come from +Normandy. In the world, I see coxcombs who creep into the favor of +women by saying to them, "Ah! madame, what a pretty frock you have on. +Your taste is perfect. You are the only person who could wear that," +and starting from such speeches as that they go on and on--and gain +their end. They are wonderful fellows, upon my honor! I don't see how +they reach success by such idle talk. I should beat about the bush +through all eternity before I could tell a pretty woman the effect she +had made on me. + +The General +The men of the Empire were not of that sort. + +Godard +It is on account of that, that I put on a bold face! This boldness +when backed by an income of forty thousand francs is accepted without +protest, and wins its way to the front. That is why you took me for a +good match. So long as there are no mortgages on the rich pasture +lands of the Auge Valley, so long as one possesses a fine chateau, +well furnished--for my wife need bring with her nothing but her +trousseau, since she will find there even the cashmeres and laces of +my late mother--when a man has all that, General, he has got all the +courage he need have. Besides, I am now Monsieur de Rimonville. + +The General +No, you're only Godard. + +Godard +Godard de Rimonville. + +The General +Godard for short. + +Godard +General, you are trying my patience. + +The General +As for me, it would try my patience to see a man, even if he were my +son-in-law, deny his father; and your father, a right honest man, used +himself to drive his beeves from Caen to Poissy, and all along the +road was known as Godard--Father Godard. + +Godard +He was highly thought of. + +The General +He was, in his own class. But I see what's the matter; as his cattle +provided you with an income of forty thousand francs, you are counting +upon other animals to give you the name of De Rimonville. + +Godard +Now come, General, you had better consult Mlle. Pauline; she belongs +to her own epoch--that she does. We are now in the year 1829 and +Charles X. is king. She would sooner hear the valet call out, as she +left a ballroom, "the carriage of Madame de Rimonville," than, "the +carriage of Madame Godard." + +The General +Well, if such silliness as this pleases my daughter, it makes no +difference to me. For, after all, you would be the one they'd poke fun +at, my dear Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +The General +Godard, you are a good fellow, you are young, you are rich, you say +that you won't pay your court to women, but that your wife shall be +the queen of your house. Well, if you gain her consent you can have +mine; for bear in mind, Pauline will only marry the man she loves, +rich or poor. There may be one exception, but that doesn't concern +you. I would prefer to attend her funeral rather than take her to the +registry office to marry a man who was a son, grandson, brother, +nephew, cousin or connection of one of the four or five wretches who +betrayed--you know what my religion is-- + +Godard +Betrayed the Emperor. Yes, everyone knows your creed, General. + +The General +God, first of all; then France or the Emperor--It is all the same to +me. Lastly, my wife and children! Whoever meddles with my gods becomes +my enemy; I would kill him like a hare, remorselessly. My catechism is +short, but it is good. Do you know why, in the year 1816, after their +cursed disbanding of the army of the Loire, I took my little +motherless child and came here, I, colonel of the Young Guard, wounded +at Waterloo, and became a cloth manufacturer of Louviers? + +Godard +I suppose you didn't wish to hold office under them. + +The General +No, because I did not wish to die as a murderer on the scaffold. + +Godard +What do you mean? + +The General +If I had met one of those traitors, I should have finished his +business for him. Even to-day, after some fifteen years, my blood +boils if I read their names in the newspaper or anyone mentions them +in my presence. And indeed, if I should meet one of them, nothing +would prevent me from springing at his throat, tearing him to pieces, +strangling him-- + +Godard +You would do right. (Aside) I must humor him. + +The General +Yes, sir, I would strangle him! And if my son-in-law were to ill-treat +my dear child, I would do the same to him. + +Godard +Ah! + +The General +I shouldn't wish him to be altogether under her thumb. A man ought to +be king in his own house, as I am here. + +Godard (aside) +Poor man! How he deceives himself! + +The General +Did you speak? + +Godard +I said, General, that your threat had no terrors for me! When one has +nothing but a wife to love, he loves her well. + +The General +Quite right, my dear Godard. And now with regard to the marriage +settlement? + +Godard +Oh, yes! + +The General +My daughter's portion consists of-- + +Godard +Consists of-- + +The General +It comprises her mother's fortune and the inheritance of her uncle +Boncoeur. It will be undivided, for I give up my rights to it. This +will amount to three hundred and fifty thousand francs and a year's +interest, for Pauline is twenty-two. + +Godard +This will make up three hundred and sixty-seven thousand five hundred +francs. + +The General +No. + +Godard +Why not? + +The General +It will be more! + +Godard +More? + +The General +Four hundred thousand francs. (Godard seems astonished.) I make up the +difference! But when I die there will be nothing more coming to her. +Do you understand? + +Godard +I do not understand. + +The General +I am very much attached to little Napoleon. + +Godard +You mean the young Duke of Reichstadt? + +The General +No, my son whom they would enter in the register only under the name +of Leon; but I had inscribed here (he places his hand upon his heart) +the name of Napoleon! Do you see I must provide for him and his +mother? + +Godard (aside) +Especially for his mother; she'll take care of that! + +The General +What are you saying? If you don't agree with me, out with it! + +Godard (aside) +If I did so, we should find ourselves in the law courts. (Aloud) I +agree, and will back you in everything, General. + +The General +Good for you! And I'll tell you why, my dear Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +The General +Godard, I prefer Godard. I'll tell you why. After having commanded the +grenadiers of the Young Guard, I, General Comte de Grandchamp, now +weave the cloth for their uniforms. + +Godard +This is very commendable! You should keep on storing up, General, so +that your widow may not be left without a fortune. + +The General +She is an angel, Godard! + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +The General +Godard, she is an angel, to whom you are indebted for the education of +your intended, whom she has moulded after her own image. Pauline is a +pearl, a jewel; she has never left this home; she is as pure and +innocent as she was in her cradle. + +Godard +General, let me admit that Mlle. Pauline is beautiful! + +The General +I am quite sure of that. + +Godard +She is very beautiful; but there are numbers of beautiful girls in +Normandy, some of them very rich, much richer than she is. Well now, +you'll scarcely believe how the mothers and fathers of these heiresses +run after me! It is scarcely decent. But it amuses me immensely; I +visit their chateaus; they overwhelm me with attentions-- + +The General +I said he was conceited! + +Godard +Oh, I am quite aware that it is not for my sake! I don't delude myself +as to that; it is for my unmortgaged pastures; for my savings, and for +my habit of living within my income. Do you know what it is that makes +me seek an alliance with you above all others? + +The General +No. + +Godard +There are certain rich would-be fathers-in-law who promise to obtain +from his Majesty a decree, by which I shall be created Comte de +Rimonville and Peer of France. + +The General +You? + +Godard +Yes, I. + +The General +Have you won any battles? Have you saved your country? Have you added +to its glory? This is pitiful! + +Godard +Pitiful? (Aside) What shall I say? (Aloud) We differ in our views on +this subject, but do you know why I prefer your adorable Pauline? + +The General +I suppose it is because you love her. + +Godard +That is a matter of course; but it is also on account of the harmony, +the tranquillity, the happiness which reign here! It is so delightful +to enter a family of high honor, of pure, sincere, patriarchal +manners! I am a man of observation. + +The General +That is to say, you are inquisitive. + +Godard +Curiosity, General, is the mother of observation. I know the seamy +side of the whole department. + +The General +Really? + +Godard +Yes, really! In all the families of which I have spoken to you, I have +seen some shabbiness or other. The public sees the decent exterior of +irreproachable mothers of family, of charming young persons, of good +fathers, of model uncles; they are admitted to the sacrament without +confession, they are entrusted with the investments of others. But +just learn their inner side, and it is enough to startle a police +magistrate. + +The General +Ah! That is the way you look at the world, is it? For my part, I try +to keep up the illusions in which I have lived. To peer into the inner +life of people in that way is the business of priests and magistrates; +I have no love for the black robed gentlemen, and I hope to die +without ever having seen them! But the sentiment which you express +with regard to my house is more pleasing to me than all your fortune. +Stick to that point, and you will win my esteem, something which I +lightly bestow on no one. + +Godard +Thank you, General. (Aside) I have won over the father-in-law at any +rate. + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +The same persons, Pauline and Gertrude. + + +The General (catching sight of Pauline) +Ah! Here you are, darling. + +Gertrude +Doesn't she look beautiful? + +Godard +Madame. + +Gertrude +Forgive me, sir. I had no eyes excepting for my handiwork. + +Godard +Mademoiselle is radiant! + +Gertrude +We have some people to dinner to-day, and I am something more than a +stepmother to her; I love to deck her out, for she is to me like my +own daughter. + +Godard (aside) +They were evidently expecting me! + +Gertrude (aside to Godard) +I am going to leave you alone with her. Now is the time for your +declaration. (To the General) My dear, let us go out on the veranda +and see if our friend the doctor is coming. + +The General +I am at your service, as usual. (To Pauline) Good-bye, my pet. (To +Godard) I shall see you later. + +(Gertrude and the General go to the veranda, but Gertrude keeps her +eye on Godard and Pauline. Ferdinand shows his head at the door of +Pauline's chamber, but at a quick sign from her, he hurriedly +withdraws it unobserved.) + +Godard (at the front of the stage) +Let me see, what fine and dainty speech can I make to her? Ah, I have +it! (To Pauline) It is a very fine day, mademoiselle. + +Pauline +It certainly is, sir. + +Godard +Mademoiselle-- + +Pauline +Sir? + +Godard +It is in your power to make the day still finer for me. + +Pauline +How can I do that? + +Godard +Don't you understand me? Has not Madame de Grandchamp said anything to +you about the subject nearest my heart? + +Pauline +While she was helping me to dress, an instant ago, she said a great +many complimentary things about you! + +Godard +And did you agree with her, even in the slightest way? + +Pauline +Oh, sir, I agreed with all she said! + +Godard (seating himself on a chair, aside) +So far so good. (Aloud) Did she commit a pardonable breach of +confidence by telling you that I was so much in love with you that I +wished to see you the mistress of Rimonville? + +Pauline +She gave me to understand by her hints that you were coming with the +intention of paying me a very great compliment. + +Godard (falling on his knees) +I love you madly, mademoiselle; I prefer you to Mlle. de Blondville, +to Mlle. de Clairville, to Mlle. de Verville, to Mlle. de +Pont-de-Ville--to-- + +Pauline +Oh, that is sufficient, sir, you throw me into confusion by these +proofs of a love which is quite unexpected! Your victims make up +almost a hecatomb. (Godard rises.) Your father was contented with +taking the victims to market! But you immolate them. + +Godard (aside) +I really believe she is making fun of me. But wait awhile! Wait +awhile! + +Pauline +I think at least we ought to wait awhile; and I must confess-- + +Godard +You do not wish to marry yet. You are happy with your parents, and you +are unwilling to leave your father. + +Pauline +That is it, exactly. + +Godard +In that case, there are some mothers who would agree that their +daughter was too young, but as your father admits that you are +twenty-two I thought that you might possibly have a desire to be +settled in life. + +Pauline +Sir! + +Godard +You are, I know, quite at liberty to decide both your own destiny and +mine; but in accordance with the wishes of your father and of your +second mother, who imagine that your heart is free, may I be permitted +still to have hope? + +Pauline +Sir, however flattering to me may be your intention in thus seeking me +out, that does not give you any right to question me so closely. + +Godard (aside) +Is it possible I have a rival? (Aloud) No one, mademoiselle, gives up +the prospect of happiness without a struggle. + +Pauline +Do you still continue in this strain? I must leave you, sir. + +Godard +Thank you, mademoiselle. (Aside) So much for your sarcasm. + +Pauline +Come sir, you are rich, and nature has given you a fine person; you +are so well educated and so witty that you will have no difficulty in +finding some young person richer and prettier than I am. + +Godard +How can that be when one is in love? + +Pauline +Well sir, that is the very point. + +Godard (aside) +She is in love with someone; I must find out who it is. (Aloud) +Mademoiselle, will you at least permit me to feel that I am not in +disgrace and that I may stay here a few days? + +Pauline +My father will answer you on that score. + +Gertrude (coming forward to Godard) +Well, how are things going? + +Godard +A blunt refusal, without even a hope of her relenting; her heart is +evidently already occupied. + +Gertrude (to Godard) +Her heart occupied? This child has been brought up by me, and I know +to the contrary; and besides that, no one ever comes here. (Aside) +This youth has roused in me suspicions which pierce my heart like a +dagger. (To Godard) Why don't you ask her if such is the case? + +Godard +How could I ask her anything? At my first word of jealous suspicion, +she resented my curiosity. + +Gertrude +Well, I shall have no hesitation in questioning her. + +The General +Ah, here comes the doctor! We shall now learn the truth concerning the +death of Champagne's wife. + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +The same persons and Dr. Vernon. + + +The General +Well, how are you? + +Vernon +I was quite sure of it. Ladies (he bows to them), as a general rule +when a man beats his wife, he takes care not to poison her; he would +lose too much by that. He doesn't want to be without a victim. + +The General (to Godard) +He is a charming fellow! + +Godard +Charming! + +The General (to the doctor, presenting Godard to him) +M. Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +Vernon (looking at Godard) +If he kills her, it is by mistake from having hit her a little too +hard; and he is overwhelmed with grief; while Champagne is innocently +delighted to have been made a widower by natural causes. As a matter +of fact, his wife died of cholera. It was a very rare case, but he who +has once seen Asiatic cholera cannot forget it, and I am glad that I +had that opportunity; for, since the campaign in Egypt, I have never +met with a case. If I had been called in time I could have saved her. + +Gertrude +How fortunate we are, for if a crime had been committed in this +establishment, which for twelve years has been so free from +disturbance, I should have been horrified. + +The General +Here you see the effect of all this tittle-tattle. But are you quite +sure, Vernon? + +Vernon +Am I certain? That's a fine question to put to a retired +surgeon-in-chief who has attended twelve French armies, from 1793 to +1815, and has practiced in Germany, in Spain, in Italy, in Russia, in +Poland, and in Egypt! + +The General (poking him in the ribs) +Away, you charlatan! I reckon you have killed more people than I have +in those countries. + +Godard +What is this talk that you are alluding to? + +Gertrude +This poor Champagne, our foreman, was supposed to have poisoned his +wife. + +Vernon +Unhappily, the night before she died, they had had an altercation +which ended in blows. Ah! they don't take example from their masters. + +Godard +Such happiness as reigns here ought to be contagious, but the virtues +which are exemplified in the countess are very rare. + +Gertrude +Is there any merit in loving an excellent husband and a daughter such +as these? + +The General +Come, Gertrude, say no more! Such words ought not to be spoken in +public. + +Vernon (aside) +Such things are always said in this way, when it is necessary to make +people believe them. + +The General (to Vernon) +What are you muttering about? + +Vernon +I was saying that I was sixty-seven years old, and that I was younger +than you are, and that I should wish to be loved like that. (Aside) If +only I could be sure that it was love. + +The General (to the doctor) +I see you are dubious! (to his wife) My dear child, there is no need +for me to bless the power of God on your behalf, but I think He must +have lent it me, in order that I might love you sufficiently. + +Vernon +You forget that I am a doctor, my dear friend. What you are saying to +Madame is only good for the burden of a ballad. + +Gertrude +The burdens of some ballads, doctor, are exceedingly true. + +The General +Doctor, if you continue teasing my wife, we shall quarrel; to doubt on +such a subject as that is an insult. + +Vernon +I have no doubt about it. (to the General) I would merely say, that +you have loved so many women with the powers of God, that I am in an +ecstasy as a doctor to see you still so good a Christian at seventy! + +(Gertrude glides softly towards the sofa, where the doctor is seated.) + +The General +Pshaw! The last passions, my friend, are always the strongest. + +Vernon +You are right. In youth, we love with all our strength which grows +weaker with age, while in age we love with all our weakness which is +ever on the increase. + +The General +Oh, vile philosophy! + +Gertrude (to Vernon) +Doctor, how is it that you, who are so good, try to infuse doubts into +the heart of Grandchamp? You know that he is so jealous that he would +kill a man on suspicion. I have such respect for his feelings that I +have concluded upon seeing no one, but you, the mayor and the cure. Do +you want me also to forego your society which is so pleasant, so +agreeable to us? Ah! Here is Napoleon. + +Vernon (aside) +I take this for a declaration of war. She has sent away everyone else, +she intends to dismiss me. + +Godard (to Vernon) +Doctor, you are an intimate friend of the house, tell me, pray, what +do you think of Mlle. Pauline? + +(The doctor rises from his seat, looks at the speaker, blows his nose, +and goes to the middle of the stage. The dinner bells sounds.) + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +The same persons, Napoleon and Felix. + + +Napoleon +Papa, papa, didn't you say I could ride Coco? + +The General +Certainly. + +Napoleon (to Felix) +Do you hear that? + +Gertrude (wiping her son's forehead) +He is quite warm! + +The General +But only on the condition that some one goes with you. + +Felix +You see I was right, Master Napoleon. General, the little rascal +wished to go on his pony alone into the country. + +Napoleon +He was frightened for me! Do you think I am afraid of anything? + +(Exit Felix. Dinner bell rings.) + +The General +Come and let me kiss you for that word. He is a little soldier and +belongs to the Young Guard. + +Vernon (with a glance at Gertrude) +He takes after his father! + +Gertrude (quickly) +As regards courage, he is his father's counterpart; but as to +physique, he resembles me. + +Felix +Dinner is served. + +Gertrude +Very well! But do you know where Ferdinand is? He is generally so +punctual. Here, Napoleon, go to the entrance of the factory and see if +he is coming. Tell him to hurry; the bell has rung. + +The General +We need not wait for Ferdinand. Godard, give your arm to Pauline. +(Vernon offers his arm to Gertrude.) Excuse me, Vernon, you ought to +be aware that I never permit anybody but myself to take my wife's arm. + +Vernon (aside) +Decidedly, he is incurable. + +Napoleon (running back) +I saw Ferdinand down in the main avenue. + +Vernon +Give me your hand, you little tyrant! + +Napoleon +Tyrant yourself! I'll bet I could tire you out. + +(Napoleon turns Vernon round and round. All leave, chatting gaily.) + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +Ferdinand (cautiously stealing from Pauline's room) +The youngster saved me, but I do not know how he happened to see me in +the avenue! One more piece of carelessness like this may ruin us! I +must extricate myself from this situation at any price. Here is +Pauline refusing Godard's proposal. The General, and especially +Gertrude, will try to find out the motives of her refusal! But I must +hasten to reach the veranda, so that I may have the appearance of +having come from the main avenue, as Leon said. I hope no one will +catch sight of me from the dining-room. (He meets Ramel.) What, Eugene +Ramel! + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +Ferdinand and Ramel. + + +Ramel +You here, Marcandal! + +Ferdinand +Hush! Don't pronounce that name in this place! If the General heard +that my name was Marcandal, he would kill me at once as if I were a +mad dog. + +Ramel +And why? + +Ferdinand +Because I am the son of General Marcandal. + +Ramel +A general to whom the Bourbons are in part indebted for their second +innings. + +Ferdinand +In the eyes of General Grandchamp, to leave Napoleon for service under +the Bourbons was treason against France. Alas! this was also my +father's opinion, for he died of grief. You must therefore remember to +call me by the name of Ferdinand Charny, my mother's maiden name. + +Ramel +And what are you doing here? + +Ferdinand +I am the manager, the cashier, the factotum of Grandchamp's factory. + +Ramel +How is this? Do you do it from necessity? + +Ferdinand +From dire necessity! My father spent everything, even the fortune of +my poor mother, who lived during her later years in Brittany on the +pension she received as widow of a lieutenant-general. + +Ramel +How is it that your father, who had command of the Royal Guard, a most +brilliant position, died without leaving you anything, not even a +patron? + +Ferdinand +Had he never betrayed his friends, and changed sides, without any +reason-- + +Ramel +Come, come, we won't talk any more about that. + +Ferdinand +My father was a gambler--that was the reason why he was so indulgent +to me. But may I ask what has brought you here? + +Ramel +A fortnight ago I was appointed king's attorney at Louviers. + +Ferdinand +I heard something about it. But the appointment was published under +another name. + +Ramel +De la Grandiere, I suppose. + +Ferdinand +That is it. + +Ramel +In order that I might marry Mlle. de Boudeville, I obtained permission +to assume my mother's name--as you have done. The Boudeville family +have given me their protection, and in a year's time I shall doubtless +be attorney-general at Rouen--a stepping-stone towards a position at +Paris. + +Ferdinand +And what brings you to our quiet factory? + +Ramel +I came to investigate a criminal case, a poisoning affair,--a fine +introduction into my office. + +(Felix enters.) + +Felix +Monsieur, Madame is worrying about you-- + +Ferdinand +Please ask her to excuse me for a few moments. (Exit Felix.) My dear +Eugene, in case the General--who like all retired troopers is very +inquisitive--should inquire how we happen to meet here, don't forget +to say that we came up the main avenue. It is important for me that +you should say so. But go on with your story. It is on account of the +wife of Champagne, our foreman, that you have come here; but he is +innocent as a new-born babe! + +Ramel +You believe so, do you? Well, the officers of justice are paid for +being incredulous. I see that you still remain, as I left you, the +noblest, the most enthusiastic fellow in the world; in short, a poet! +A poet who puts the poetry into his life instead of writing it, and +believes in the good and the beautiful! And that reminds me--that +angel of your dreams, that Gertrude of yours, whatever has become of +her? + +Ferdinand +Hush! Not only has the minister of justice sent you here, but some +celestial influence has sent to me at Louviers the friend whose help I +need in my terrible perplexity. Eugene, come here and listen to me a +while. I am going to appeal to you as my college friend, as the +confidant of my youth; you won't put on the airs of the prosecuting +attorney to me, will you? You will see from the nature of my +admissions that I impose upon you the secrecy of the confessional. + +Ramel +Is it anything criminal? + +Ferdinand +Oh, nonsense! My faults are such as the judges themselves would be +willing to commit. + +Ramel +Perhaps I had better not listen to you; or, if I do listen to you-- + +Ferdinand +Well! + +Ramel +I could demand a change of position. + +Ferdinand +You are always my best and kindest friend. Listen then! For over three +years I have been in love with Mlle. Pauline de Grandchamp, and she-- + +Ramel +You needn't go on; I understand. You have been reviving /Romeo and +Juliet/--in the heart of Normandy. + +Ferdinand +With this difference, that the hereditary hatred which stood between +the two lovers of the play was a mere trifle in comparison with the +loathing with which the Comte de Grandchamp contemplates the son of +the traitor Marcandal! + +Ramel +Let me see! Mlle. Pauline de Grandchamp will be free in three years; +she is rich in her own right--I know this from the Boudevilles. You +can easily take her to Switzerland and keep her there until the +General's wrath has had time to cool; and then you can make him the +respectful apologies required under the circumstances. + +Ferdinand +Do you think I would have asked your advice if the only difficulty lay +in the attainment of this trite and easy solution of the problem? + +Ramel +Ah! I see, my dear friend. You have already married your +Gertrude--your angel--who has become to you like all other angels, +after their metamorphoses into a lawful wives. + +Ferdinand +'Tis a hundred times worse than that! Gertrude, my dear sir, is now +Madame de Grandchamp. + +Ramel +Oh, dear! How is it you've thrust yourself into such a hornets' nest? + +Ferdinand +In the same way that people always thrust themselves into hornets' +nests; that is, with the hope of finding honey there. + +Ramel +Oh, oh! This is a very serious matter! Now, really, you must conceal +nothing from me. + +Ferdinand +Mlle. Gertrude de Meilhac, educated at St. Denis, without doubt loved +me first of all through ambition; she was glad to know that I was +rich, and did all she could to gain my attachment with a view to +marriage. + +Ramel +Such is the game of all these intriguing orphan girls. + +Ferdinand +But how came it about that Gertrude has ended by loving me so +sincerely? For her passion may be judged by its effects. I call it a +passion, but with her it is first love, sole and undivided love, which +dominates her whole life, and seems to consume her. When she found +that I was a ruined man, towards the close of the year 1816, and +knowing that I was like you, a poet, fond of luxury and art, of a soft +and happy life, in short, a mere spoilt child, she formed a plan at +once base and sublime, such a plan as disappointed passion suggests to +women who, for the sake of their love, do all that despots do for the +sake of their power; for them, the supreme law is that of their love-- + +Ramel +The facts, my dear fellow, give me the facts! You are making your +defence, recollect, and I am prosecuting attorney. + +Ferdinand +While I was settling my mother in Brittany, Gertrude met General de +Grandchamp, who was seeking a governess for his daughter. She saw +nothing in this battered warrior, then fifty-eight years old, but a +money-box. She expected that she would soon be left a widow, wealthy +and in circumstances to claim her lover and her slave. She said to +herself that her marriage would be merely a bad dream, followed +quickly by a happy awakening. You see the dream has lasted twelve +years! But you know how women reason. + +Ramel +They have a special jurisprudence of their own. + +Ferdinand +Gertrude is a woman of the fiercest jealousy. She wishes for fidelity +in her lover to recompense her for her infidelity to her husband, and +as she has suffered martyrdom, she says, she wishes-- + +Ramel +To have you in the same house with her, that she may keep watch over +you herself. + +Ferdinand +She has been successful in getting me here. For the last three years I +have been living in a small house near the factory. I should have left +the first week after my arrival, but that two days' acquaintance with +Pauline convinced me that I could not live without her. + +Ramel +Your love for Pauline, it seems to me as a magistrate, makes your +position here somewhat less distasteful. + +Ferdinand +My position? I assure you, it is intolerable, among the three +characters with whom I am cast. Pauline is daring, like all young +persons who are innocent, to whom love is a wholly ideal thing, and +who see no evil in anything, so long as it concerns a man whom they +intend to marry. The penetration of Gertrude is very acute, but we +manage to elude it through Pauline's terror lest my name should be +divulged; the sense of this danger gives her strength to dissemble! +But now Pauline has just refused Godard, and I do not know what may be +the consequences. + +Ramel +I know Godard; under a somewhat dull exterior he conceals great +sagacity, and he is the most inquisitive man in the department. Is he +here now? + +Ferdinand +He dines here to-day. + +Ramel +Do not trust him. + +Ferdinand +If two women, between whom there is no love lost, make the discovery +that they are rivals, one of them, I can't say which, is capable of +killing the other, for one is strong in innocence and lawful love; the +other, furious to see the fruit of so much dissimulation, so many +sacrifices, even crimes lost to her forever. + +(Enter Napoleon.) + +Ramel +You alarm me--me, the prosecuting attorney! Upon my word and honor, +women often cost more than they are worth. + +Napoleon +Dear friend! Papa and mamma are impatient about you; they send word +that you must leave your business, and Vernon says that your stomach +requires it. + +Ferdinand +You little rogue! You are come eavesdropping! + +Napoleon +Mamma whispered in my ear: "Go and see what your friend is doing." + +Ferdinand +Run away, you little scamp! Be off! I am coming. (To Ramel) You see +she makes this innocent child a spy over me. + +(Exit Napoleon.) + +Ramel +Is this the General's child? + +Ferdinand +Yes. + +Ramel +He is twelve years old? + +Ferdinand +About. + +Ramel +Have you anything more to tell me? + +Ferdinand +Really, I think I have told you enough. + +Ramel +Very well! Go and get your dinner. Say nothing of my arrival, nor of +my purpose here. Let them finish their dinner in peace. Now go at +once. + +(Exit Ferdinand.) + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +Ramel (alone) +Poor fellow! If all young people had studied the annals of the court, +as I have done in seven years of a magistrate's work, they would come +to the conclusion that marriage must be accepted as the sole romance +which is possible in life. But if passion could control itself it +would be virtue. + + +Curtain to First Act. + + + + + ACT II + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(Stage setting remains as in Act I.) + +Ramel and Marguerite; later, Felix. + + +(Ramel is buried in his reflections, reclining on the sofa in such a +way as to be almost out of sight. Marguerite brings in lights and +cards. Night is approaching.) + +Marguerite +Four card tables--that will be enough, even though the cure, the mayor +and his assistant come. (Felix lights the candles.) I'll wager +anything that my poor Pauline will not be married this time. Dear +child! If her late mother were to see that she was not queen of the +house, she would weep in her coffin! I only remain here in order to +comfort and to wait upon her. + +Felix (aside) +What is this old woman grumbling about? (Aloud) Whom are you +complaining of now, Marguerite? I'll bet it is the mistress. + +Marguerite +No, it is not; I am blaming the master. + +Felix +The General? You had better mind your own business. He is a saint, is +that man. + +Marguerite +Yes, a stone saint, for he is blind. + +Felix +You had better say that he has been blinded. + +Marguerite +You hit the nail on the head there. + +Felix +The General has but one fault--he is jealous. + +Marguerite +Yes, and obstinate, too. + +Felix +Yes, obstinate; it is the same thing. When once he suspects anything +he comes down like a hammer. That was the way he laid two men lifeless +at a blow. Between ourselves, there is only one way to treat a trooper +of that sort; you must stuff him with flattery. And the mistress +certainly does stuff him. Besides, she is clever enough to put +blinders on him, such as they put on shying horses; he can see neither +to the right nor to the left, and she says to him, "My dear, look +straight ahead!" So she does! + +Marguerite +Ah! You think with me that a woman of thirty-two does not love a man +of seventy without some object. She is scheming something. + +Ramel (aside) +Oh, these servants! whom we pay to spy over us! + +Felix +What can be her scheme? She never leaves the house, she never sees +anyone. + +Marguerite +She would skin a flint! She has taken away the keys from me--from me +who always had the confidence of the former mistress; do you know why +she did so? + +Felix +I suppose she is saving up her pile. + +Marguerite +Yes, out of the fortune of Mlle. Pauline, and the profits of the +factory. That is the reason why she puts off the marriage of the dear +child as long as she can, for she has to give up her fortune when she +marries her. + +Felix +Yes, that's the law. + +Marguerite +I would forgive her everything, if only she made Mademoiselle happy; +but I sometimes catch my pet in tears, and I ask her what is the +matter, and she says nothing but "Good Marguerite!" (Exit Felix.) Let +me see, have I done everything? Yes, here are the card tables--the +candles--the cards--Ah! the sofa. (She catches sight of Ramel) Good +Lord! A stranger! + +Ramel +Don't be startled, Marguerite. + +Marguerite +You must have heard all we said. + +Ramel +Don't be alarmed. My business is to keep secrets. I am the state's +attorney. + +Marguerite +Oh! + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +The same persons, Pauline, Godard, Vernon, Napoleon, Ferdinand, the +General, Madame de Grandchamp. + + +(Gertrude rushes to Marguerite and snatches the cushions from her +hands.) + +Gertrude +Marguerite, you know very well what pain you give me, by not allowing +me to do everything for your master; besides, I am the only one who +knows how to arrange the cushions to his liking. + +Marguerite (to Pauline) +What a to-do about nothing! + +Godard +Why, look! Here is the state's attorney! + +The General +The state's attorney at my house? + +Gertrude +I am surprised! + +The General (to Ramel) +Sir, what brings you here? + +Ramel +I asked my friend, M. Ferdinand Mar-- + +(Ferdinand checks him by a gesture. Gertrude and Pauline look at him +in alarm.) + +Gertrude (aside) +It is his friend, Eugene Ramel. + +Ramel +My friend, Ferdinand de Charny, to whom I have told the object of my +visit, to say nothing about it until you had finished your dinner. + +The General +Ferdinand then is your friend? + +Ramel +I have known him from childhood; and here we met in your avenue. On +meeting, after nine years of separation, we had so many things to talk +about, that I caused him to be late. + +The General +But, sir, to what circumstance am I to attribute your presence here? + +Ramel +I come in the matter of Jean Nicot, known as Champagne, your foreman, +who is charged with a crime. + +Gertrude +But, sir, our friend, Doctor Vernon, has declared that Champagne's +wife died a natural death. + +Vernon +Yes, sir, cholera. + +Ramel +Justice, sir, believes in nothing but investigations and convictions +of its own. You did wrong to proceed before my arrival. + +Felix +Madame, shall I bring in the coffee? + +Gertrude +Wait a while! (Aside) How changed this man is, this attorney. I +shouldn't have recognized him. He terrifies me. + +The General +But how could you be brought here by the crime of Champagne, an old +soldier for whom I would stand security? + +Ramel +You will earn that, on the arrival of the investigating magistrate. + +The General +Will you be pleased to take a seat? + +Ferdinand (to Ramel, pointing out Pauline) +That is she! + +Ramel +A man might lay down his life for such a lovely girl. + +Gertrude (to Ramel) +We do not know each other! You have never seen me, have you? You must +have pity on us! + +Ramel +You may depend upon me for that. + +The General (who sees Ramel and Gertrude talking together) +Is my wife to be called to this investigation? + +Ramel +Certainly, General. I came here myself because the countess had not +been notified that we required her presence. + +The General +My wife mixed up in such an affair? It is an outrage! + +Vernon +Keep cool, my friend. + +Felix (announcing) +Monsieur, the investigating magistrate! + +The General +Let him come in. + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +The same persons, the investigating magistrate, Champagne, Baudrillon +and a gendarme who is guarding Champagne. + + +The Magistrate (bowing to the company) +Monsieur the state's attorney, this is M. Baudrillon, the druggist. + +Ramel +Has M. Baudrillon seen the accused? + +The Magistrate +No, monsieur, the accused came in charge of a gendarme. + +Ramel +We shall soon learn the truth in this case! Let M. Baudrillon and the +accused approach. + +The Magistrate +Come forward, M. Baudrillon; (to Champagne) and you also. + +Ramel +M. Baudrillon, do you identify this man as the person who bought +arsenic from you two days ago? + +Baudrillon +Yes, that is the very man. + +Champagne +Didn't I tell you, M. Baudrillon, that it was for the mice that were +eating up everything, even in the house, and that I wanted it for +Madame? + +The Magistrate +Do you hear him, madame? This is his plea; he pretends that you +yourself sent him to get this stuff, and that he handed the package to +you just as he took it from M. Baudrillon. + +Gertrude +It is true, sir. + +Ramel +Did you make any use of the arsenic, madame? + +Gertrude +No, sir. + +The Magistrate +You can then show us the package sent by M. Baudrillon; it should have +his label, and if he acknowledges that it is entire and unbroken, the +serious charges made against your foreman will in part be disproved. +We shall then have nothing more to do than to receive the report of +the physician who held the autopsy. + +Gertrude +The package, sir, has never been taken from the desk in my bedroom. +(Exit.) + +Champagne +Ah! General, I am saved. + +The General +Poor old Champagne! + +Ramel +General, we shall be very happy if we have to announce the innocence +of your foreman; unlike you soldiers, we are always delighted to be +beaten. + +Gertrude (returning) +Here it is, gentlemen. + +(The Magistrate, Baudrillon and Ramel examine the package.) + +Baudrillon (putting on his glasses) +It is intact, gentlemen, perfectly intact. Here is my seal on it +unbroken. + +The Magistrate +Lock that up carefully, madame, for the assizes for sometime have had +to deal with nothing but poisoning cases. + +Gertrude +You see, sir, I have kept it in my desk, in which none but the General +and myself have access. + +(Gertrude returns to her bedroom.) + +Ramel +General, we will not wait for the report of the autopsy. The principal +charge, which you will agree with me was very serious, for all the +town was talking of it, has been disproved; and we have full +confidence in the skill and integrity of Doctor Vernon. (Gertrude +returns) Champagne, you are at liberty. (General expression of +satisfaction.) But you see, my friend, to what painful suspicions a +man exposes himself when his home has a bad name. + +Champagne +Ask the General, your Honor, if I am not mild as a lamb; but my wife, +God forgive her, was the worst that was ever made. An angel could not +have stood her. If I have sometimes tried to bring her to reason, the +anxious moments you have made me pass here, have been punishment +enough! To be taken up for a prisoner, and to know yourself innocent, +while you are in the hands of justice. (Weeps.) + +The General +Well! well! You are acquitted now! + +Napoleon +Papa, what is justice? + +The General +Gentlemen, justice ought not to commit errors of this kind. + +Gertrude +There seems to be always something fatal in this justice! And this +poor man will always bear a bad name from your arrival here. + +Ramel +Madame, for the innocent there is nothing fatal in criminal justice. +You see that Champagne has been promptly discharged. (Fixing his eyes +upon Gertrude.) Those who live without reproach, who indulge no +passions, save the noble and the lawful, have nothing to fear from +justice. + +Gertrude +Sir, you do not know the people of this country. Ten years from this +time they will say that Champagne poisoned his wife, that the officers +of justice came to investigate and, but for our protection-- + +The General +Say no more, Gertrude. These gentlemen have done only their duty. +(Felix prepares the coffee.) Gentlemen, can I offer you a cup of +coffee? + +The Magistrate +Thank you, General; the urgency of this affair called me away from +home rather suddenly, and my wife is waiting dinner for me at +Louviers. (He goes on the veranda to talk with the doctor.) + +The General (to Ramel) +You are a friend of Ferdinand's, I believe? + +Ramel +Yes, General, and you have in him the noblest heart, the most spotless +integrity, the most charming character that I have ever met. + +Pauline +This state's attorney seems to be a very kind man! + +Godard (aside) +And why does she say that? Is it because he praised M. Ferdinand? Ah! +there's something there! + +Gertrude (to Ramel) +Whenever you have any moments to spare, you must come to see M. de +Charny. (To the General) Would not that be nice, dear? + +The Magistrate (coming in from the veranda) +M. de la Grandiere, our physician, agrees with Doctor Vernon that this +death resulted from Asiatic cholera. We beg, therefore, that you, +countess, and you, count, will excuse us for having disturbed, even +for a moment, the tranquillity of your charming household. + +Ramel (to Gertrude in the front of the stage) +Take care! God never protects undertakings so rash as yours. I have +discovered all. Give up Ferdinand, leave his life free, and be +satisfied with the happiness of a wife. The path which you are +following leads to crime. + +Gertrude +I'll die before I give him up! + +Ramel (aside) +I must get Ferdinand away from this place. + +(Ramel beckons to Ferdinand, takes his arm, and goes out with him +after exchange of formal bows.) + +The General +At last we are rid of them! (To Gertrude) Let the coffee be handed +round. + +Gertrude +Pauline, kindly ring for the coffee. + +(Pauline rings.) + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +The same persons, excepting Ferdinand, Ramel, the Magistrate and +Baudrillon. + + +Godard (aside) +I shall find out presently whether Pauline loves Ferdinand. This +urchin, who wants to know about justice, seems to me pretty cute; I'll +make use of him. + +(Felix appears.) + +Gertrude +The coffee. + +(Felix brings in the tray.) + +Godard (who has taken Napoleon aside) +Would you like to play a nice trick on somebody? + +Napoleon +That I would. Do you know one? + +Godard +Come with me, and I'll tell you how you must do it. + +(Godard goes on the veranda with Napoleon.) + +The General +Pauline, my coffee. (Pauline brings it to him.) It isn't sweet enough. +(Pauline gives him some sugar.) Thank you, dear. + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville? + +The General +Godard? + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville? + +The General +Godard, my wife wants to know if you would like some coffee? + +Godard +Yes, thank you. + +(Godard places himself in such a way as to watch Pauline.) + +The General +It is pleasant to sit down and take a little coffee in quiet. + +Napoleon (running in) +Mamma, mamma! My good friend Ferdinand has just fallen down; he has +broken his leg and they are carrying him into the house. + +Vernon +That's dreadful! + +The General +How very unfortunate! + +Pauline +Oh! + +(Pauline falls back on her chair.) + +Gertrude +What is that you said? + +Napoleon +It is all a joke! I only wished to see if you all loved my good +friend. + +Gertrude +It is very naughty of you to act in that way; how did you come to +think of such a trick? + +Napoleon (whispering) +It was Godard. + +Godard (aside) +She loves him! She was nicely caught by my trap, which I have never +known to fail. + +Gertrude (to Godard, as she offers him some coffee) +Are you aware, sir, that you would make a very indifferent preceptor? +It is very bad of you to teach a child such mischievous tricks. + +Godard +You will come to the conclusion that I did pretty well, when you learn +that I have been enabled by this little stratagem to discover my +rival. + +(Godard points to Ferdinand who is entering the room.) + +Gertrude (letting fall the sugar basin) +He! + +Godard (aside) +She is in the same box! + +Gertrude (aloud) +You startled me. + +The General (who has risen from his seat) +What is the matter with you, my dear child? + +Gertrude +Nothing; it is Godard's nonsense; he told me that the public +prosecutor had come back. Felix, take away this sugar basin, and bring +me another one. + +Vernon +This is a day of surprises. + +Gertrude +M. Ferdinand, they are going to bring some sugar for you. (Aside) He +is not looking at her. (Aloud) How is it, Pauline, you did not put any +sugar in your father's coffee? + +Napoleon +Why, of course, it was because she was too scared; didn't you hear her +say "oh!"? + +Pauline +Won't you hold your tongue, you little story-teller! You are always +teasing me. + +(Pauline sits on her father's knee, and puts sugar in his cup.) + +Gertrude +Can it be true? And to think that I have taken such pains in dressing +her! (To Godard) If you are right, your marriage will take place in a +fortnight. (Aloud) M. Ferdinand, here is your coffee. + +Godard (aside) +It seems that I caught two in my mouse-trap! And all the time the +General is so calm, so tranquil, and this household is so peaceful! +Things are getting mixed up. I shan't go yet; I wish to have a game of +whist! Oh! I give up all thoughts of marriage for the present. +(Glancing at Ferdinand) There's a lucky fellow! He is loved by two +women--two charming, delightful creatures! He is indeed a factotum! +But how is it that he is more successful than I am, who have an income +of forty thousand? + +Gertrude +Pauline, my dear, offer the cards to the gentlemen for a game of +whist. It is almost nine o'clock. If they are going to have a game, +there is no time to be lost. (Pauline puts out the cards.) Come, +Napoleon, bid good-night to the gentlemen, let them see you are a good +boy, and don't try to stay up as you usually do. + +Napoleon +Good-night, papa. What is justice like? + +The General +Justice is blind! Good-night, my pet. + +Napoleon +Good-night, M. Vernon! What is justice made of? + +Vernon +It is made up of all our crimes. When you are naughty, they whip you; +that is justice. + +Napoleon +They never whip me. + +Vernon +Then they never do justice to you! + +Napoleon +Good-night, my good friend! Good-night, Pauline! Good-night M. Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +Napoleon +Have I been good? + +(Gertrude kisses Napoleon.) + +The General +I have the king. + +Vernon +And I, the queen. + +Ferdinand (to Godard) +Monsieur, we are partners. + +Gertrude (seeing Marguerite) +Be sure to say your prayers, and don't provoke Marguerite. Now, go to +bed, dear heart. + +Napoleon +Yes, dear heart! What is love made of? + +(Exit Napoleon.) + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +The same persons, except Napoleon. + + +The General +When that child begins to ask questions, he is an amusing youngster. + +Gertrude +It is often very embarrassing to answer him. (To Pauline) Come, +Pauline, let us go and finish our work. + +Vernon +It is your lead, General. + +The General +Mine? You ought to get married, and we could visit at your house, as +you visit here, and you would have all the happiness of a family. +Don't forget, Godard, that there is no one in the department happier +than I am. + +Vernon +When a man reaches sixty-seven without reaching happiness, it is +impossible to catch up. I shall die a bachelor. + +(The two women set to work at the same piece of embroidery.) + +Gertrude (seated with Pauline at the front of the stage) +How is this, my child! Godard tells me that you received his advances +very coldly; yet he is a very good match for you. + +Pauline +My father, madame, has given me leave to choose a husband for myself. + +Gertrude +Do you know what Godard will say? He will say that you refused him +because you had already made your choice. + +Pauline +If it were true, you and my father would know it. What reason have I +for not giving you my confidence? + +Gertrude +I cannot say, and I do not blame you. You see in matters of love women +keep their secret with heroic constancy, sometimes in the midst of the +most cruel torments. + +Pauline (aside, picking up the scissors, which she had let drop) +Ferdinand was wise in telling me to distrust her--she is so +insinuating! + +Gertrude +Perhaps you have in your heart a love like that. If such a misfortune +has befallen you, you may rely on my help--I love you, remember! I can +win your father's consent; he has confidence in me, and I can sway +both his mind and affections. Therefore, dear child, you may open your +heart to me. + +Pauline +You can read my heart, madame, for I am concealing nothing from you. + +The General +Vernon, what in the name of everything are you doing? + +(Faint murmurs are heard among the card players; Pauline casts a look +at them.) + +Gertrude (aside) +The question point-blank does not do with her. (Aloud) How happy you +make me! For this provincial joker, Godard, avers that you almost +fainted when he prompted Napoleon to declare that Ferdinand had broken +his leg. Ferdinand is a pleasant young fellow, our intimate friend for +some four years; what is more natural than your attachment for the +youth, whose birth and talents are both in his favor? + +Pauline +He is my father's clerk. + +Gertrude +Thank God, you are not in love with him; I was a little anxious for +the moment, for, my dear child, he is a married man. + +Pauline +What! He is married? Why then does he make a secret of it? (Aside) +Married? That would be outrageous. I will ask him this evening. I will +give him the signal on which we agreed to meet. + +Gertrude (aside) +Not a line of her face changed! Godard is wrong, or this child is more +self-possessed than I am. (Aloud) What is the matter with you, my pet? + +Pauline +Oh! nothing. + +Gertrude (touching Pauline's neck) +Why, you are quite hot! Do you feel so? (Aside) She loves him, that is +plain. But the question is, does he love her? I suffer the torments of +the damned! + +Pauline +I have been working too closely at this frame! And what, pray, is the +matter with you? + +Gertrude +Nothing. But you asked me why Ferdinand kept his marriage secret. + +Pauline +Ah! yes! + +Gertrude (rising, aside) +If she is in love, she has a will of iron. But where can they have +met? I never leave her in the daytime, and Champagne sees him all the +time at the factory. No! it is absurd. If she does love him, it is +without his knowledge, and she is like all other young girls, who +begin to love a man in secret. But if they have come to an +understanding, I have given her such a start that she will be sure to +communicate with him about it, if only through her eyes. I will keep +them both well in sight. + +Godard +We have had wonderful luck, M. Ferdinand! + +(Ferdinand leaves off playing and goes towards Gertrude.) + +Pauline (aside) +I did not know that it was possible to suffer so much and yet live on. + +Ferdinand (to Gertrude) +Madame, won't you take my place in the game? + +Gertrude +Pauline, will you go instead? (Aside) I can't tell him that he loves +Pauline, that would suggest what may be a new idea to him. What shall +I do? (to Ferdinand) She has confessed all. + +Ferdinand +Confessed what? + +Gertrude +Why, all! + +Ferdinand +I don't understand. Do you refer to Mlle. de Grandchamp? + +Gertrude +Yes. + +Ferdinand +And what has she been doing? + +Gertrude +You have not been false to me? You do not want to kill me? + +Ferdinand +Kill you? She? I? + +Gertrude +Am I the victim of one of Godard's jokes? + +Ferdinand +Gertrude, you are beside yourself! + +Godard (to Pauline) +Ah! Mademoiselle, that is bad play! + +Pauline +You lost a great deal by not taking my stepmother for a partner. + +Gertrude (to Ferdinand) +Ferdinand, I do not know whether I am rightly or wrongly informed; but +this I do know; I prefer death to the loss of our hopes. + +Ferdinand +Take care! The doctor has been watching us very keenly for the last +few days. + +Gertrude (aside) +She has not once looked back at him! (Aloud) She will marry Godard, +for her father will compel her to do so. + +Ferdinand +Godard would make an excellent match for any one. + +The General +I can't stay here any longer! My daughter plays vilely, and you, +Vernon, have trumped my king! + +Vernon +My dear General, it was a finesse. + +The General +You stupid! Come, it is ten o'clock, and time to go to sleep instead +of playing cards. Ferdinand, be good enough to take Godard to his +room. As for you, Vernon, you deserve to sleep on the floor as a +punishment, for trumping my king. + +Godard +It is, after all, merely a matter of five francs, General. + +The General +It is also a matter of honor. (To Vernon) Come, now, although you have +played so badly, let me hand you your hat and cane. + +(Pauline takes a flower from the vase and plays with it.) + +Gertrude (aside) +A signal! I will watch her this night, even though my husband should +afterwards kill me for it! + +Ferdinand (taking a candlestick from Felix) +M. de Rimonville, I am at your service. + +Godard +I wish you good-night, madame. My respects to you, mademoiselle. +General, good-night. + +The General +Good-night, Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville--Doctor, I-- + +Vernon (looking at him and blowing his nose) +Good-bye, my friend. + +The General (attending the doctor on his way out) +Good-bye till to-morrow, Vernon, but come early. + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +Gertrude, Pauline and the General. + + +Gertrude +My dear, Pauline refuses Godard. + +The General +And what are your reasons, my daughter? + +Pauline +I do not like him sufficiently to take him for a husband. + +The General +Well, never mind! We will look out some one else for you; but it is +time for this to end, for you are now twenty-two, and people will +begin to talk about you, my wife and me unless you make an early +choice. + +Pauline +May I not be permitted, if I choose, to remain single? + +Gertrude +She has made her choice, but probably wishes to tell you by yourself. +I will leave you, and she will confess it. (To Pauline) Good-night, my +child; talk freely with your father. (Aside) I will listen. + +(Gertrude enters her chamber and proceeds to close the door.) + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +The General and Pauline. + + +The General (aside) +Act as my daughter's confessor! I am utterly unfitted for such a task! +She might rather act as confessor to me. (Aloud) Pauline, come here. +(He takes her on his knee) Now, do you really think, my pet, that an +old trooper like me doesn't understand your resolution to remain +single? Why, of course, that means, in every language in which it has +ever been uttered, that a young person is in a special hurry to be +married--to some one that she is in love with. + +Pauline +Papa, I would like to tell you something, but I cannot have confidence +in you. + +The General +And why not, mademoiselle? + +Pauline +Because you tell everything to your wife. + +The General +And you mean to tell me that you have a secret of such a kind that it +cannot be revealed to an angel, to the woman who has educated you--to +your second mother! + +Pauline +Oh! If you are going to be vexed, I shall get off to bed. I used to +think that a father's heart would be a place of unfailing refuge for a +daughter. + +The General +You silly child! Come, I am going to be in a good humor. + +Pauline +How kind you are! But listen! Suppose I were in love with the son of +one of those whom you detest? + +The General (rising abruptly to his feet and repulsing her) +I should detest you! + +Pauline +And this is what you call being good humored? + +(Gertrude appears.) + +The General +My child, there are feelings in my heart that you should never rouse +in me; you ought to know this. They are my very life. Do you wish to +be the death of your father? + +Pauline +Oh! + +The General +Dear child! I have had my day. My lot, with you and Gertrude at my +side, is an enviable one. But, however sweet and charming is my life, +I would quit it without regret, if by that means I could render you +happy; for happiness is a debt we owe to those who owe to us their +existence. + +Pauline (noticing the door ajar, aside) +Ah! she is listening. (Aloud) Father, I didn't mean what I said, but +suppose I felt a love of that kind and it was so violent that I was +likely to die of it? + +The General +It would be best for you to tell me nothing about it, and wait for +your happiness until my death. And yet, since there is nothing more +sacred, nothing more dear next to God and country, than children to +their parents, children in their turn ought to hold sacred their +parents' wishes and never to disobey them, even after their death. If +you do not remain faithful to this hatred of mine, I think I should +come forth from my grave to curse you! + +Pauline (kissing her father) +Oh! you bad, bad man! At any rate, I shall now find out whether you +can keep a secret or not. Swear to me on your honor that you'll not +repeat a syllable of what I told you. + +The General +I promise you that. But what reason have you for distrusting Gertrude? + +Pauline +If I told you, you would not believe it. + +The General +Are you trying to torture your father? + +Pauline +No. But which do you place first,--this hatred for traitors, or your +own honor? + +The General +They are both first with me, for they are based upon a common +principle. + +Pauline +Very well; if you throw away your honor by violating your oath, you +may as well throw away your hatred. That is all I wanted to find out. + +The General +If women are angelic, they have in them also something of the +diabolical. Tell me, who has filled the head of such an innocent girl +as you are with ideas like these? This is the way they lead us by +the-- + +Pauline (interrupting him) +Good-night, father. + +The General +You naughty child! + +Pauline +Keep my secret, or I will bring you a son-in-law that will drive you +wild. + +(Pauline enters her own apartment.) + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +The General (alone) +There must certainly be some key to this enigma! It must be +discovered! Yes, and Gertrude shall discover it! + + +(Scene curtain.) + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +(Pauline's chamber; a small plain room with a bed in the centre and a +round table at the left; the entrance is at the right, but there is a +secret entrance on the left.) + + +Pauline +At last I am alone! At last I can be natural! Married? My Ferdinand +married? If this is so, he is the falsest, foulest, vilest of men! And +I could kill him! Kill him? But I myself could not survive one hour +the knowledge that he was actually married. My stepmother I detest! +And if she becomes my enemy, there will be war between us, and war in +earnest. It would be terrible, for I should tell my father all I know. +(She looks at her watch.) Half-past eleven, and he cannot come before +midnight, when the whole household is asleep. Poor Ferdinand! He has +to risk his life for a few minutes' chat with her he loves! That is +what I call true love! Such perils men will not undergo for every +woman! But what would I not undergo for him! If my father surprised +us, I would be the one to take the first blow. Oh! To suspect the man +you love is to suffer greater torment than to lose him! If he dies, +you can follow him in death; but doubt--is the cruelest of +separations!--Ah! I hear him. + + + + SCENE TENTH + + +Ferdinand and Pauline (who locks the door). + + +Pauline +Are you married? + +Ferdinand +What a joke! Wouldn't I have told you? + +Pauline +Ah! (She sinks back on a chair, then falls upon her knees.) Holy +Virgin, what vows shall I make to thee? (She kisses Ferdinand's hand.) +And you, a thousand blessings on your head! + +Ferdinand +Who could have told you such a foolish thing? + +Pauline +My stepmother. + +Ferdinand +Why, she knows all about me, and if she did not, she would set spies +to discover all; for suspicion with such women as that is certitude! +Listen, Pauline, moments now are precious. It was Madame de Grandchamp +who brought me into this house. + +Pauline +And why? + +Ferdinand +Because she is in love with me. + +Pauline +How horrible! And what of my father? + +Ferdinand +She was in love with me before her marriage. + +Pauline +She is in love with you; but you, are you in love with her? + +Ferdinand +Do you think if I were, I should have remained in this house? + +Pauline +And she is still in love with you? + +Ferdinand +Yes, unhappily she is! I ought to tell you that she was at one time +beloved by me; but to-day I hate her from the bottom of my heart, and +I sometimes ask myself why. Is it because I am in love with you, and +every genuine and pure love is by nature exclusive? Is it because the +contrast between an angel of purity, such as you, and a devil like her +excites in me just as much hatred towards her as it rouses love +towards you, my joy, my bliss, my beauteous treasure? I cannot say. +But I hate her, and I love you so much that I should not regret dying +if your father killed me; for one talk with you, one hour spent in +this chamber by your side, seems, even when it is passed away, a whole +lifetime to me. + +Pauline +Oh, say those dear words again! For they bring back my confidence once +more. After hearing you speak thus, I forgive you the wrong you have +done me in telling that I am not your first and only love, as you are +mine. It is but a lost illusion, that is all! Do not be vexed with me. +Young girls are foolish, they have no ambition but in their love, and +they would fain rule over the past as they rule over the future of +their beloved! But you hate her! And in that word, you give me more +proof of love than you have given me for the two years that we have +loved. If only you knew with what cruelty this stepmother has put me +on the rack, by her questions! But I will be avenged! + +Ferdinand +You must be very careful! She is a very dangerous woman! She rules +your father. She is a woman who will fight to the death! + +Pauline +To the death! That is as I wish it! + +Ferdinand +Be prudent, dear Pauline! We are going to act in harmony, are we not? +Well, my love, the prosecuting attorney is of opinion that if we would +triumph over the difficulties that prevent our union, we must have +fortitude enough to part for some time. + +Pauline +Oh! Give me two days and I will win over my father! + +Ferdinand +But you do not know Madame de Grandchamp. She has gone too far to +leave off without ruining you, and to do that she will go to any +lengths. But I will not go away without giving you what may prove most +effective weapons against her. + +Pauline +Oh, give them, give them to me! + +Ferdinand +Not yet. And you must promise me not to make use of them, unless your +life is in danger; for what I am doing is certainly a breach of +confidence. But it is for your sake I do it. + +Pauline +Tell me what it is? + +Ferdinand +To-morrow I shall put into your hands the letters which she wrote to +me, some of them before, some of them after her marriage. Pauline, do +not read them! Swear this to me, in the name of our love, in the name +of our happiness! It will be sufficient, should it ever become +absolutely necessary, that she knows that they are in your possession; +at that moment you will see her trembling and groveling at your feet, +for all her machinations then are foiled. But do not use them +excepting as a last resort, and keep them well concealed. + +Pauline +What a terrible duel it will be! + +Ferdinand +Terrible! But, Pauline be courageous, as you have so far been, in +keeping the secret of our love; do not acknowledge it, until you find +it no longer possible to deny it. + +Pauline +Oh, why did your father betray the Emperor? If fathers knew how their +children would be punished for the sins of their parents, there would +be none but good men! + +Ferdinand +Perhaps this sad interview will prove the last moment of happiness we +shall have! + +Pauline (aside) +I will rejoin him, if he leaves me--(Aloud) See, I no longer weep, I +am full of courage! But tell me, will your friend know the place where +you are hiding? + +Ferdinand +Eugene will be our confidential friend. + +Pauline +And the letters? + +Ferdinand +To-morrow! To-morrow! But where will you conceal them? + +Pauline +I shall keep them about me. + +Ferdinand +Good! Farewell! + +Pauline +Oh no, not yet! + +Ferdinand +A moment more may ruin us. + +Pauline +Or unite us for life. Come, let me show you out, I shall not rest +until I see you in the garden. Come! + +Ferdinand +Let me take one more glance at this maiden chamber, in which you will +think of me--where all things speak of you. + + +(Scene curtain.) + + + + SCENE ELEVENTH + + +(The drawing-room before described.) + +Pauline on the veranda; Gertrude at the door of the room. + + +Gertrude +She is seeing him out! He has been deceiving me! So has she! (Taking +Pauline by the hand, she leads her to the front of the stage.) Will +you dare tell me, now, mademoiselle, that you do not love him? + +Pauline +Madame, I am deceiving no one. + +Gertrude +You are deceiving your father. + +Pauline +And you, madame? + +Gertrude +So both of you are against me--Oh, I shall-- + +Pauline +You shall do nothing, either against me or against him. + +Gertrude +Do not compel me to show my power! You must be obedient to your +father, and--he is obedient to me. + +Pauline +We shall see! + +Gertrude (aside) +Her coolness makes my blood boil. My brain reels! (Aloud) Do you know +that I would rather die than live without him? + +Pauline +And so would I, madame. But I am free. I have not sworn as you have to +be faithful to a husband--And your husband is my father! + +Gertrude (kneeling before Pauline) +What have I done to you? I have loved you, I have educated you, I have +been a good mother to you. + +Pauline +Be a faithful wife, and I will say no more. + +Gertrude +Nay! Speak! Say all you like--Ah! the struggle has begun. + + + + SCENE TWELFTH + + +The same persons and the General. + + +The General +How is this? What is going on here? + +Gertrude (to Pauline) +You must feign sickness. Come lie down. (She makes her lie down.) I +happened, my dear, to hear moans. Our dear child was calling for help; +she was almost suffocated by the flowers in her bedroom. + +Pauline +Yes, papa, Marguerite had forgotten to take away the vase of flowers, +and I almost died. + +Gertrude +Come, my daughter, come into the open air. + +(Gertrude and Pauline go towards the door.) + +The General +Stay a moment. What have you done with the flowers. + +Pauline +I do not know where Madame has put them. + +Gertrude +I threw them into the garden. + +(The General abruptly rushes out, after setting his candle on the card +table.) + + + + SCENE THIRTEENTH + + +Pauline and Gertrude; later, the General. + + +Gertrude +Go back to your room, lock yourself in! I'll take all the blame. +(Pauline goes to her room.) I will wait for him here. + +(Gertrude goes back into her room.) + +The General (coming in from the garden) +I can find the vase of flowers nowhere. There is some mystery in all +these things. Gertrude?--There is no one here! Ah! Madame de +Grandchamp, you will have to tell me!--It is a nice thing that I +should be deceived by both wife and daughter! + + +Curtain to the Second Act. + + + + + ACT III + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(Same stage-setting. Morning.) + +Gertrude; then Champagne. + + +Gertrude (brings a flower vase from the garden and puts it down on the +table) +What trouble I had to allay his suspicions! One or two more scenes +like that and I shall lose control of him. But I have gained a moment +of liberty now--provided Pauline does not come to trouble me! She must +be asleep--she went to bed so late!--would it be possible to lock her +in her room? (She goes to the door of Pauline's chamber, but cannot +find the key.) I am afraid not. + +Champagne (coming in) +M. Ferdinand is coming, madame. + +Gertrude +Thank you, Champagne. He went to bed very late, did he not? + +Champagne +M. Ferdinand makes his rounds, as you know, every night, and he came +in at half-past one o'clock. I sleep over him, and I heard him. + +Gertrude +Does he ever go to bed later than that? + +Champagne +Sometimes he does, but that is according to the time he makes his +rounds. + +Gertrude +Very good. Thank you, Champagne. (Exit Champagne.) As the reward for a +sacrifice which has lasted for twelve years, and whose agonies can +only be understood by women,--for what man can guess at such +tortures!--what have I asked? Very little! Merely to know that he is +here, near to me, without any satisfaction saving, from time to time, +a furtive glance at him. I wished only to feel sure that he would wait +for me. To feel sure of this is enough for us, us for whom a pure, a +heavenly love is something never to be realized. Men never believe +that they are loved by us, until they have brought us down into the +mire! And this is how he has rewarded me! He makes nocturnal +assignations with this stupid girl! Ah! He may as well pronounce my +sentence of death; and if he has the courage to do so, I shall have +the courage at once to bring about their eternal separation; I can do +it! But here he comes! I feel faint! My God! Why hast Thou made me +love with such desperate devotion him who no longer loves me! + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +Ferdinand and Gertrude. + + +Gertrude +Yesterday you deceived me. You came here last night, through this +room, entering by means of a false key, to see Pauline, at the risk of +being killed by M. de Grandchamp! Oh! you needn't lie about it. I saw +you, and I came upon Pauline just as you concluded your nocturnal +promenade. You have made a choice upon which I cannot offer you my +congratulations. If only you had heard us discussing the matter, on +this very spot! If you had seen the boldness of this girl, the +effrontery with which she denied everything to me, you would have +trembled for your future, that future which belongs to me, and for +which I have sold myself, body and soul. + +Ferdinand (aside) +What an avalanche of reproach! (Aloud) Let us try, Gertrude, both of +us, to behave wisely in this matter. Above all things, let us try to +avoid base accusations. I shall never forget what you have been to me; +I still entertain towards you a friendship which is sincere, +unalterable and absolute; but I no longer love you. + +Gertrude +That is, since eighteen months ago. + +Ferdinand +No. Since three years ago. + +Gertrude +You must admit then that I have the right to detest and make war upon +your love for Pauline; for this love has rendered you a traitor and +criminal towards me. + +Ferdinand +Madame! + +Gertrude +Yes, you have deceived me. In standing as you did between us two, you +made me assume a character which is not mine. I am violent as you +know. Violence is frankness, and I am living a life of outrageous +duplicity. Tell me, do you know what it is to have to invent new lies, +on the spur of the moment, every day,--to live with a dagger at your +heart? Oh! This lying! But for us, it is the Nemesis of happiness. It +is disgraceful, when it succeeds; it is death, when it fails. And you, +other men envy you because you make women love you. You will be +applauded, while I shall be despised. And you do not wish me to defend +myself! You have nothing but bitter words for a woman who has hidden +from you everything--her remorse--her tears! I have suffered alone and +without you the wrath of heaven; alone and without you I have +descended into my soul's abyss, an abyss which has been opened by the +earthquake of sorrow; and, while repentance was gnawing at my heart, I +had for you nothing but looks of tenderness, and smiles of gaiety! +Come, Ferdinand, do not despise a slave who lies in such utter +subjection to your will! + +Ferdinand (aside) +I must put an end to this. (Aloud) Listen to me, Gertrude. When first +we met it was youth alone united us in love. I then yielded, you may +say, to an impulse of that egotism which lies at the bottom of every +man's heart, though he knows it not, concealed under the flowers of +youthful passion. There is so much turbulence in our sentiments at +twenty-two! The infatuation which may seize us then, permits us not to +reflect either upon life as it really is, or upon the seriousness of +its issues-- + +Gertrude (aside) +How calmly he reasons upon it all! Ah! It is infamous! + +Ferdinand +And at that time I loved you freely, with entire devotion; but +afterwards--afterwards, life changed its aspect for both of us. If you +ask why I remained under a roof which I should never have approached, +it is because I chose in Pauline the only women with whom it was +possible for me to end my days. Come, Gertrude, do not break yourself +to pieces against the barrier raised by heaven. Do not torture two +beings who ask you to yield to them happiness, and who will ever love +you dearly. + +Gertrude +Ah, I see! You are the martyr--and I--I am the executioner! Would not +I have been your wife to-day, if I had not set your happiness above +the satisfaction of my love? + +Ferdinand +Very well! Do the same thing to-day, by giving me my liberty. + +Gertrude +You mean the liberty of loving some one else. That is not the way you +spoke twelve years ago. Now it will cost my life. + +Ferdinand +It is only in romance that people die of love. In real life they seek +consolation. + +Gertrude +Do not you men die for your outraged honor, for a word, for a gesture? +Well, there are women who die for their love, that is, when their love +is a treasure which has become their all, which is their very life! +And I am one of those women. Since you have been under this roof, +Ferdinand, I have feared a catastrophe every moment. Yes. And I always +carry about me something which will enable me to quit this life, the +very moment that misfortune falls on us. See! (She shows him a phial.) +Now you know that life that I have lived! + +Ferdinand +Ah! you weep! + +Gertrude +I swore that I would keep back these tears, but they are strangling +me! For you--While you speak to me with that cold politeness which +is your last insult,--your last insult to a love which you +repudiate!--you show not the least sympathy towards me! You would like +to see me dead, for then you would be unhampered by me. But, Ferdinand, +you do not know me! I am willing to confess everything to the General, +whom I would not deceive. This lying fills me with disgust! I shall take +my child, I shall come to your house, we will flee together. But no more +of Pauline! + +Ferdinand +If you did this, I would kill myself. + +Gertrude +And I, too, would kill myself! Then we should be united in death, and +you would never be hers! + +Ferdinand (aside) +What an infernal creature! + +Gertrude +And there is this consideration. What would you do if the barrier +which separates you from Pauline were never broken down? + +Ferdinand +Pauline will be able to maintain her own independence. + +Gertrude +But if her father should marry her to some one else? + +Ferdinand +It would be my death. + +Gertrude +People die of love in romance. In real life they console themselves +with some one else, and a man only does his duty by being true to her +with whom he has plighted troth. + +The General (outside) +Gertrude! Gertrude! + +Gertrude +I hear the general calling. (The General appears.) You will then +finish your business as quickly as you can, M. Ferdinand, and return +promptly; I shall wait for you here. + +(Exit Ferdinand.) + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +The General, Gertrude, then Pauline. + +The General +This is rather early in the morning for you to be holding a conference +with Ferdinand! What were you discussing? The factory? + +Gertrude +What were we discussing? I will tell you; for you are exactly like +your son; when once you begin to ask questions, you must have a direct +answer. I had an impression that Ferdinand had something to do with +Pauline's refusal to marry Godard. + +The General +When I come to think of it, you were perhaps right. + +Gertrude +I got M. Ferdinand to come here for the purpose of clearing up my +suspicions, and you interrupted us at the very moment when I seemed +likely to gain some information. + +(Pauline pushes the door ajar unseen.) + +The General +But if my daughter is in love with M. Ferdinand-- + +Pauline (aside) +I must listen. + +The General +I do not see why, when I questioned her yesterday in a paternal manner +and with absolute kindness, she should have concealed it from me, for +I left her perfectly free, and her feeling for him would be absolutely +natural. + +Gertrude +She probably misunderstood you or you questioned her before she had +made up her mind. The heart of a young girl, as you ought to know, is +full of contradictions. + +The General +And why should there not be something between them? This young man +toils with the courage of a lion, he is the soul of honor, he is +probably of good family. + +Pauline (aside) +I understand the situation now. + +(Pauline withdraws.) + +The General +He will give us information on this point. He is above all things +trustworthy; but you ought to know his family, for it was you who +discovered this treasure for us. + +Gertrude +I proposed him to you on the recommendation of old Madame Morin. + +The General +But she is dead! + +Gertrude (aside) +It is very lucky that I quoted her then! (Aloud) She told me that his +mother was Madame de Charny to whom he is devoted; she lives in +Brittany and belongs to the Charnys, an old family of that country. + +The General +The Charnys. Then if he is in love with Pauline, and Pauline with him, +I, for my part, would prefer him to Godard in spite of Godard's +fortune. Ferdinand understands the business of the factory, he could +buy the whole establishment with the dowry of Pauline. That would be +understood. All he has to do is to tell us where he comes from, who he +is, and who his father was. But we will see his mother. + +Gertrude +Madame Charny? + +The General +Yes, Madame Charny. Doesn't she live near Saint-Melo? That is by no +means at the other end of the world. + +Gertrude +Just use a little tact, some of the manoeuvres of an old soldier, and +be very gentle, and you will soon learn whether this child-- + +The General +Why should I worry about it? Here comes Pauline herself. + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +The same persons, Marguerite, then Pauline. + + +The General +Ah! It is you, Marguerite. You came near causing the death of my +daughter last night by your carelessness. You forgot-- + +Marguerite +I, General, cause the death of my child! + +The General +You forgot to take away the vase containing flowers of a strong scent, +and she was almost suffocated. + +Marguerite +Impossible! I took away the vase before the arrival of M. Godard, and +Madame must have seen that it was not there while we were dressing +Mademoiselle-- + +Gertrude +You are mistaken. It was there. + +Marguerite (aside) +She's a hard one. (Aloud) Does not Madame remember that she wished to +put some natural flowers in Mademoiselle's hair, and that she remarked +about the vase being gone? + +Gertrude +You are inventing a story. But where did you carry it? + +Marguerite +To the foot of the veranda. + +Gertrude (to the General) +Did you find it there last night? + +The General +No. + +Gertrude +I took it from the chamber myself last night, and put it where it now +stands. (Points to the vase of flowers on the veranda.) + +Marguerite +Sir, I swear to you by my eternal salvation-- + +Gertrude +Do not swear. (Calling.) Pauline! + +The General +Pauline! + +(Pauline appears.) + +Gertrude +Was the vase of flowers in your room last night? + +Pauline +Yes. Marguerite, my dear old friend, you must have forgotten it. + +Marguerite +Why don't you say, Mademoiselle, that some one put it there on purpose +to make you ill! + +Gertrude +Whom do you mean by some one? + +The General +You old fool, if your memory failed you, it is unnecessary for you, at +any rate, to accuse anybody else. + +Pauline (aside to Marguerite) +Keep silence! (Aloud) Marguerite, it was there! You forgot it. + +Marguerite +It is true, sir, I was thinking of the day before yesterday. + +The General (aside) +She has been in my service for twenty years. Strange that she should +be so persistent! (Takes Marguerite aside.) Come! What did you say +about the flowers for my daughter's hair? + +Marguerite (while Pauline makes signs to her) +I said that, sir--I am so old that my memory is treacherous. + +The General +But even then, why did you suppose that any one in the house had an +evil thought towards-- + +Pauline +Say no more, father! She has so much affection for me, dear +Marguerite, that she is sometimes distracted by it. + +Marguerite (aside) +I am quite sure I took away the flowers. + +The General (aside) +Why should my wife and my daughter deceive me? An old trooper like me +doesn't permit himself to be caught between two fires, and there is +something decidedly crooked-- + +Gertrude +Marguerite, we will take tea in this room when M. Godard comes down. +Tell Felix to bring in all the newspapers. + +Marguerite +Very good, madame. + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +Gertrude, the General and Pauline. + + +The General (kissing his daughter) +You've not even said good-morning to me, you unnatural child. + +Pauline (kissing him) +But, you began by scolding about nothing. I declare, father, I am +going to undertake your education. It is quite time for you, at your +age, to control yourself a little,--a young man would not be so quick +as you are! You have terrified Marguerite, and when women are in fear, +they tell little falsehoods, and you can get nothing out of them. + +The General (aside) +I'm in for it now! (Aloud) Your conduct, young lady, does not do much +towards promoting my self-control. I wish you to marry, and I propose +a man who is young-- + +Pauline +Handsome and well educated! + +The General +Please keep silence, when your father addresses you, mademoiselle. A +man who possesses a magnificent fortune, at least six times as much as +yours, and you refuse him. You are well able to do so, because I leave +you free in the matter; but if you do not care for Godard, tell me who +it is you choose, if I do not already know. + +Pauline +Ah, father, you are much more clear-sighted than I am. Tell me who he +is? + +The General +He is a man from thirty to thirty-five years old, who pleases me much +more than Godard does, although he is without fortune. He is already a +member of our family. + +Pauline +I don't see any of our relations here. + +The General +I wonder what you can have against this poor Ferdinand, that you +should be unwilling-- + +Pauline +Ah! Who has been telling you this story? I'll warrant that it is +Madame de Grandchamp. + +The General +A story? I suppose, you will deny the truth of it! Have you never +thought of this fine young fellow? + +Pauline +Never! + +Gertrude (to the General) +She is lying! Just look at her. + +Pauline +Madame de Grandchamp has doubtless her reasons for supposing that I +have an attachment for my father's clerk. Oh! I see how it is, she +wishes you to say: "If your heart, my daughter, has no preference for +any one, marry Godard." (In a low voice to Gertrude) This, madame, is +an atrocious move! To make me abjure my love in my father's presence! +But I will have my revenge. + +Gertrude (aside to Pauline) +As you choose about that; but marry Godard you shall! + +The General (aside) +Can it be possible that these two are at variance? I must question +Ferdinand. (Aloud) What were you saying to each other? + +Gertrude +Your daughter, my dear, did not like my idea that she was taken with a +subordinate; she is deeply humiliated at the thought. + +The General +Am I to understand, then, my daughter, that you are not in love with +him? + +Pauline +Father, I--I do not ask you to marry me to any one! I am perfectly +happy! The only thing which God has given us women, as our very own, +is our heart. I do not understand why Madame de Grandchamp, who is not +my mother, should interfere with my feelings. + +Gertrude +My child, I desire nothing but your happiness. I am merely your +stepmother, I know, but if you had been in love with Ferdinand, I +should have-- + +The General (kissing Gertrude's hand) +How good you are! + +Pauline (aside) +I feel as if I were strangled! Ah! If I could only undo her! + +Gertrude +Yes, I should have thrown myself at your father's feet, to win his +consent, if he had refused it. + +The General +Here comes Ferdinand. (Aside) I shall question him at my discretion; +and then perhaps the mystery will be cleared up. + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +The same persons and Ferdinand. + + +The General (to Ferdinand) +Come here, my friend. You have been with us over three years now, and +I am indebted to you for the power of sleeping soundly amid all the +cares of an extensive business. You are almost as much as I am the +master of my factory. You have been satisfied with a salary, pretty +large it is true, but scarcely proportionate perhaps to the services +rendered by you. I think at last I understand the motive of your +disinterestedness. + +Ferdinand +It is my duty, General. + +The General +Granted; but does not the heart count for a good deal in this? Come +now, Ferdinand, you know my way of considering the different ranks of +society, and the distinctions pertaining to them. We are all the sons +of our own works. I have been a soldier. You may therefore have full +confidence in me. They have told me all; how you love a certain young +person, here present. If you desire it, she shall be yours. My wife +had pleaded your cause, and I must acknowledge that she has gained it +before the tribunal of my heart. + +Ferdinand +General, can this be true? Madame de Grandchamp has pleaded my cause? +Ah, madame! (He falls on his knees before her.) I acknowledge in this +your greatness of heart! You are sublime, you are an angel! (Rising +and rushing forward to Pauline.) Pauline, my Pauline! + +Gertrude (to the General) +I guessed aright; he is in love with Pauline. + +Pauline +Sir, have I ever given you the right, by a single look, or by a single +word, to utter my name in this way? No one could be more astonished +than I am to find that I have inspired you with sentiments which might +flatter others, but which I can never reciprocate; I have a higher +ambition. + +The General +Pauline, my child, you are more than severe. Come, tell me, is there +not some misunderstanding here? Ferdinand, come here, come close to +me. + +Ferdinand +How is it, mademoiselle, when your stepmother, and your father agree? + +Pauline (in a low voice to Ferdinand) +We are lost! + +The General +Now I am going to act the tyrant. Tell me, Ferdinand, of course your +family is an honorable one? + +Pauline (to Ferdinand) +You hear that! + +The General +Your father must certainly have been a man of as honorable a +profession as mine was; my father was sergeant of the watch. + +Gertrude (aside) +They are now separated forever. + +Ferdinand +Ah! (To Gertrude) I understand your move. (To the General) General, I +do not deny that once in a dream, long ago, in a sweet dream, in which +it was delicious for a man poor and without family to indulge +in--dreams we are told are all the fortune that ever comes to the +unfortunate--I do not deny that I once regarded it as a piece of +overwhelming happiness to become a member of your family; but the +reception which mademoiselle accords to those natural hopes of mine, +and which you have been cruel enough to make me reveal, is such that +at the present moment they have left my heart, never again to return! +I have been rudely awakened from that dream, General. The poor man has +his pride, which it is as ungenerous in the rich man to wound, as it +would be for any one to insult--mark what I say--your attachment to +Napoleon. (In a low voice to Gertrude) You are playing a terrible +part! + +Gertrude (aside to Ferdinand) +She shall marry Godard. + +The General +Poor young man! (To Pauline) He is everything that is good! He +inspires me with affection. (He takes Ferdinand aside.) If I were in +your place, and at your age, I would have--No, no, what the devil am I +saying?--After all she is my daughter! + +Ferdinand +General, I make an appeal to your honor; swear that you will keep, as +the most profound secret, what I am going to confide to you; and this +secrecy must extend so far even as to Madame de Grandchamp. + +The General (aside) +What is this? He also, like my daughter, seems to distrust my wife. +But, by heaven, I will learn what it means! (Aloud) I consent; you +have the word of a man who has never once broken a promise given. + +Ferdinand +After having forced me to reveal that which I had buried in the +recesses of my heart, and after I have been thunderstruck, for that is +the only word in which to express it, by the disdain of Mademoiselle +Pauline, it is impossible for me to remain here any longer. I shall +therefore put my accounts in order; this evening I shall quit this +place, and to-morrow will leave France for America, if I can find a +ship sailing from Havre. + +The General (aside) +It is as well that he should leave, for he will be sure to return. (To +Ferdinand) May I tell this to my daughter? + +Ferdinand +Yes, but to no one else. + +The General (aside to Pauline) +Pauline! My daughter, you have so cruelly humiliated this poor youth, +that the factory is on the point of losing its manager; Ferdinand is +to leave this evening for America. + +Pauline (to the General) +He is right, father. He is doing of his own accord, what you doubtless +would have advised him to do. + +Gertrude (to Ferdinand) +She shall marry Godard. + +Ferdinand (to Gertrude) +If I do not punish you for your atrocious conduct, God Himself will! + +The General (to Pauline) +America is a long way off and the climate is deadly. + +Pauline (to the General) +Many a fortune is made there. + +The General (aside) +She does not love him. (To Ferdinand) Ferdinand, you must not leave +before I have put in your hands sufficient to start you on the road to +fortune. + +Ferdinand +I thank you, General; but what is due me will be sufficient. Moreover, +I shall not be missed in your factory, for I have trained Champagne so +thoroughly as a foreman, that he is skillful enough to become my +successor; and if you will go with me to the factory, you will see-- + +The General +I will gladly accompany you. (Aside) Everything is in such a +muddle here, that I must go and look for Vernon. The advice and +clear-sightedness of my old friend, the doctor, will be of service in +ferreting out what it is that disturbs this household, for there is +something or other. Ferdinand, I will follow you. Ladies, we will be +soon be back again. (Aside) There is something or other! + +(The General follows Ferdinand out.) + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +Gertrude and Pauline. + + +Pauline (locking the door) +Madame, do you consider that a pure love, a love which comprises and +enhances all human happiness, which makes us understand that happiness +which is divine,--do you consider such a love to be dearer and more +precious to us than life? + +Gertrude +You have been reading the /Nouvelle Heloise/, my dear. What you say is +rather stilted in diction, but it is nevertheless true. + +Pauline +Well, madame, you have just caused me to commit suicide. + +Gertrude +The very act you would have been happy to see me commit; and if you +had succeeded in forcing me to it, you would have felt in your heart +the joy which fills mine at present. + +Pauline +According to my father, war between civilized nations has its laws; +but the war which you wage against me, madame, is that of savages. + +Gertrude +You may do as I do, if you can--but you can do nothing! You shall +marry Godard. He is a very good match for you; you will be very happy, +I assure you, for he has fine qualities. + +Pauline +And you think that I will quietly let you marry Ferdinand? + +Gertrude +After the few words which we have exchanged this evening, why should +we now indulge in the language of hypocrisy? I was in love with +Ferdinand, my dear Pauline, when you were but eight years old. + +Pauline +But now you are more than thirty--and I am still young. Moreover, he +hates you, he abhors you! He has told me so, and he wishes to have +nothing to do with a woman capable of the black treachery with which +you have acted towards my father. + +Gertrude +In the eyes of Ferdinand, my love will serve as my vindication. + +Pauline +He shares the feelings which I have for you; he despises you, madame. + +Gertrude +Do you really believe it? Well, if it is so, my dear, I have one more +reason for the position I take, for if he refuses to become my +husband, to gratify his love, Pauline, you will force me to marry him +for the sake of satisfying my revenge. When he came to this house, was +he not aware that I was here? + +Pauline +You probably caught him by some such snare as you have just set for +us, and into which both of us have fallen. + +Gertrude +Now, my child, a single word more will put an end to everything +between us. Have you not said a hundred times, a thousand times, in +moments when you were all feeling, all soul, that you would make the +greatest sacrifices for Ferdinand? + +Pauline +Yes, madame. + +Gertrude +You said you would leave your father, would flee from France; you +would give your life, your honor, your salvation for Ferdinand? + +Pauline +Yes, and if there is anything else that I can offer besides +myself--this world and heaven! + +Gertrude +Let me tell you, then, that all that you have wished to do, I have +done! It is enough therefore to assure you that nothing, not even +death itself, can arrest my course. + +Pauline +In saying this, you give me the right to defend myself before my +father. (Aside) O Ferdinand! Our love, (Gertrude takes a seat on the +sofa during the soliloquy of Pauline) as she has said, is greater than +life. (To Gertrude) Madame, you must repair all the evil that you have +done to me; the sole difficulties which lie in the way of my marriage +with Ferdinand, you must overcome. Yes, you who have complete control +over my father, you must make him forego his hatred of the son of +General Marcandal. + +Gertrude +And do you really mean that? + +Pauline +Yes, madame. + +Gertrude +And what means do you possess formidable enough to compel me to do so? + +Pauline +Are we not carrying on a warfare of savages? + +Gertrude +Say rather, of women, which is even more terrible! Savages torment +the body alone; while we direct our arrows against the heart, the +self-love, the pride, the soul of those whom we attack in the very midst +of their happiness. + +Pauline +That is truly said. It is the whole woman-nature that I attack. +Therefore, my dear and truly honored stepmother, you must eliminate by +to-morrow, and not later, all the obstacles that stand between me and +Ferdinand; or you may be sure my father shall learn from me the whole +course of your conduct, both before and after your marriage. + +Gertrude +Ah! That is the way you are going to do it! Poor child! He will never +believe you. + +Pauline +Oh, I know the domination you exercise over my father; but I have +proofs. + +Gertrude +Proofs! Proofs! + +Pauline +I went to Ferdinand's house--I am very inquisitive--and I found there +your letters, madame; I took from among them those which would +convince even the blindness of my father, for they will prove to him-- + +Gertrude +What will they prove? + +Pauline +Everything! + +Gertrude +But this will be, unhappy child, both theft and murder! For think of +his age. + +Pauline +And have not you accomplished the murder of my happiness? Have you not +forced me to deny, both to my father and to Ferdinand, my love, my +glory, my life? + +Gertrude (aside) +This is a mere trick; she knows nothing. (Aloud) This is a clever +stratagem, but I never wrote a single line. What you say is not true. +It is impossible. Where are the letters? + +Pauline +They are in my possession. + +Gertrude +In your room? + +Pauline +They are where you can never reach them. + +Gertrude (aside) +Madness with its wildest dreams spins through my brain! My fingers +itch for murder. It is in such moments as this that men kill each +other! How gladly would I kill her! My God! Do not forsake me! Leave +me my reason! (Aloud) Wait a moment. + +Pauline (aside) +My thanks to you, Ferdinand! I see how much you love me; I have been +able to pay back to her all the wrongs she did us a short time +ago--and--she shall save us from all we feared! + +Gertrude (aside) +She must have them about her,--but how can I be sure of that? Ah! +(Aloud) Pauline! If you have had those letters for long, you must have +known that I was in love with Ferdinand. You can only lately have +received them. + +Pauline +They came into my hands this morning. + +Gertrude +You have not read them all? + +Pauline +Enough to find out that they would ruin you. + +Gertrude +Pauline, life is just beginning for you. (A knock is heard.) Ferdinand +is the first man, young, well educated and distinguished, for he is +distinguished, by whom you have been attracted; but there are many +others in the world such as he is. Ferdinand has been in a certain +sense under the same roof with you, and you have seen him every day; +the first impulses of your heart have therefore directed you to him. I +understand this, and it is quite natural. Had I been in your place I +should doubtless have experienced the same feelings. But, my dear, you +know not the ways either of the world or of society. And if, like so +many other women, you have been deceiving yourself--for we women, ah, +how often are we thus deceived!--you still can make another choice. +But for me the deed has been done, I have no other choice to make. +Ferdinand is all I have, for I have passed my thirtieth year, and I +have sacrificed to him what I should have kept unsullied--the honor of +an aged man. The field is clear for you, you may yet love some other +man more ardently than you can love to-day--this is my experience. +Pauline, child, give him up, and you will learn what a devoted slave +you will have in me! You will have more than a mother, more than a +friend, you will have the unstinted help of a soul that is lost! Oh! +listen to me! (She kneels, and raises her hands to Pauline's corsage.) +Behold me at your feet, acknowledging you my rival! Is this sufficient +humiliation for me? Oh, if you only knew what this costs a woman to +undergo! Relent! Relent, and save me. (A loud knocking is heard, she +takes advantage of Pauline's confusion to feel for the letters.) Give +back my life to me! (Aside) She has them! + +Pauline +Oh, leave me, madame! Will you force me to call for some one? + +(Pauline pushes Gertrude away, and proceeds to open the door.) + +Gertrude (aside) +I was not deceived, she has them about her; but I must not leave them +with her one single hour. + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +The same persons, the General and Vernon. + + +The General +You two, locked in together! Why did you call out, Pauline? + +Vernon +How pale you are, my child! Let me feel your pulse. + +The General (to Gertrude) +And you also seem to be very much excited. + +Gertrude +There was a joke between us and we were indulging in a laugh; weren't +we, Pauline? You were laughing, my pet? + +Pauline +Yes, papa. Dear mamma and I were in a gale of laughter. + +Vernon (in a low voice to Pauline) +That's a pretty big lie! + +The General +Didn't you hear us knocking? + +Pauline +We heard quite plainly, papa; but we didn't know it was you. + +The General (in a low voice to Vernon) +They seem to be leagued against me. (Aloud) But what was it all about? + +Gertrude +Dear husband, you always want to know everything! We were speaking for +the moment about the tenants, about some acquaintance of ours. But let +me go and ring for tea. + +The General +But tell me all about it? + +Gertrude +Why this is sheer tyranny! To tell the truth, we locked ourselves in +so that no one would disturb us. Is that plain enough? + +Vernon +I should think it quite plain. + +Gertrude (whispering to the General) +I wished to worm her secrets out of your daughter, for it is evident +that she has some secrets! And you come interrupting us, while I am +working in your service--for Pauline is not my daughter; you arrive, +as if you were charging a hostile squadron, and interrupt us, at the +very moment I was going to learn something. + +The General +Madame the Countess of Grandchamp, ever since the arrival of Godard-- + +Gertrude +Ah! yes, Godard. Well! he is still here. + +The General +Do not ridicule my words! Ever since yesterday nothing has gone as +usual! By God! I'd like to know-- + +Gertrude +Sir, this oath is the first I have ever heard from you. Felix, bring +in the tea. (To the General) You are tired, it seems, of twelve years +of happiness? + +The General +I am not, and never will be a tyrant. A little time ago I came +unexpectedly upon you and Ferdinand engaged in conversation, and I +felt I was in the way. Again, I come home and you are locked in with +my daughter, and my appearance seemed to put you out. And to cap all, +last night-- + +Vernon +Come, General, you can quarrel with Madame as much as you like, but +not before other people. (Godard is heard approaching.) I hear Godard. +(Whispers to the General) Is this keeping your promise to me? In +treating with women--I am bound as a doctor to admit it--you must +leave them to betray themselves; while at the same time you watch them +carefully; otherwise your violence draws forth their tears, and when +once the hydraulic machinery begins to play, they drown a man as if +they had the strength of a triple Hercules! + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +The same persons and Godard. + + +Godard +Ladies, I came once before to present my compliments and respects to +you, but I found the door closed. General, I wish you good-day. (The +General takes up a newspaper and waves his hand in greeting.) Ah! Here +is my adversary of yesterday's game. Have you come to take your +revenge, doctor? + +Vernon +No, I came to take some tea. + +Godard +Ah! I see you keep up the custom of the English, Russians and Chinese. + +Pauline +Would you prefer some coffee? + +Godard +No, no; allow me to have some tea; I will, for once, deviate from my +every-day custom. Moreover, you have your luncheon at noon, I see, and +a cup of coffee with cream would take away my appetite for that meal. +And then the English, the Russians and the Chinese are not entirely +incorrect in taste. + +Vernon +Tea, sir, is an excellent thing. + +Godard +Yes, when it is good. + +Pauline +This is caravan tea. + +Gertrude +Doctor, have you seen the papers? (To Pauline) Go and talk to M. de +Rimonville, my daughter, I, myself, will make tea. + +Godard +Perhaps Mlle. De Grandchamp likes my conversation no better than my +person? + +Pauline +You are mistaken, sir. + +The General +Godard-- + +Pauline +Should you do me the favor of no longer seeking me in marriage, you +would still possess in my eyes qualities of sufficient brilliancy to +captivate the young ladies Boudeville, Clinville, Derville, etc. + +Godard +That is enough, mademoiselle. Ah! How you do ridicule an unfortunate +lover, in spite of his income of forty thousand francs! The longer I +stay here, the more I regret it. What a lucky fellow M. Ferdinand de +Charny is! + +Pauline +Lucky? Why is he lucky? Poor fellow! Does his good fortune consist in +the fact that he is my father's clerk? + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville-- + +The General +Godard-- + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville-- + +The General +Godard, my wife is speaking to you. + +Gertrude +Do you like much or little sugar? + +Godard +A moderate quality. + +Gertrude +Not much cream, I suppose? + +Godard +On the contrary, plenty of cream, countess. (To Pauline) Ah, M. +Ferdinand is not then, after all the man who--whom you have +distinguished by your favor? I can at least assure you that he is very +much to the taste of your stepmother. + +Pauline (aside) +How annoying these inquisitive provincials are! + +Godard (aside) +It is fair that I should amuse myself a little at her expense before I +take leave. I must get something out of this visit. + +Gertrude +M. de Rimonville, if you desire anything solid, there are sandwiches +here. + +Godard +Thank you, madame. + +Gertrude (whispering to Godard) +Your cause is not wholly lost. + +Godard +O madame! I have thought a great deal over my rejection by Mlle. de +Grandchamp. + +Gertrude +Ah! (To the doctor) Doctor, you will take yours as usual, I suppose? + +Vernon +If you please, madame. + +Godard (to Pauline) +Did you say, "poor fellow," mademoiselle? For M. Ferdinand is not so +poor as you think him. He is richer than I am! + +Pauline +How do you know that? + +Godard +I am certain of it, and I will tell you why. This M. Ferdinand, whom +you think you know, is an exceedingly crafty fellow-- + +Pauline (aside) +Can he possibly know his real name? + +Gertrude (aside) +A few drops of opium in her tea will put her to sleep, and I shall be +saved. + +Godard (to Pauline) +You cannot deny the authority of him who has put me on the track. + +Pauline +Oh, sir! Kindly tell-- + +Godard +It was the prosecuting attorney. I remembered that at the house of the +Boudevilles it was said that your clerk-- + +Pauline (aside) +He is putting me on the rack. + +Gertrude (offering a cup to Pauline) +Here, Pauline. + +Vernon (aside) +Am I dreaming? I thought I saw her put something into Pauline's cup. + +Pauline (to Godard) +And what did they say? + +Godard +Ah! Ah! How attentive you are! I should have been exceedingly +flattered to think that you put on that air when any one was talking +about me, as I am now talking about M. Ferdinand de Charny. + +Pauline +What a strange taste this tea has! You find yours good? + +Godard +You talk about the tea in order to distract my attention from the +interest you take in what I am telling you. I see through it all! +Well, come now, I am going to astonish you. You must know that M. +Ferdinand is-- + +Pauline +Is--? + +Godard +A millionaire. + +Pauline +You are joking, M. Godard. + +Godard +On my word of honor, mademoiselle, he possesses a treasure. (Aside) +She is madly in love with him. + +Pauline (aside) +How this fool startled me. + +(Pauline rises from her seat and Vernon takes the teacup from her +hand.) + +Vernon +Let me take it, my child. + +The General (to his wife) +What ails you, dearest? You seem-- + +Vernon (who has retained Pauline's cup and returned his own in its +place to Gertrude. Aside) +It is laudanum; fortunately the dose is light; but it is very certain +that something is about to happen. (To Godard) M. Godard, you are a +crafty fox. (Godard takes out his handkerchief as if to blow his +nose.) Ah! + +Godard +Doctor, I bear no ill-will. + +Vernon +Listen! Do you think that you could carry off the General to the +factory and keep him there for an hour. + +Godard +I would like to have that youngster to help me. + +Vernon +He is at school until dinner-time. + +Godard +Why do you wish me to do this? + +Vernon +Now I beg of you, for you are a good fellow, to do as I bid you; it is +necessary. Do you love Pauline? + +Godard +I did love her yesterday, but this morning-- (Aside) I must find out +what he is concealing from me. (To Vernon) It shall be done! I will go +on to the veranda and come back again with a message that Ferdinand +sends for the General. You may rely upon me. Ah! Here is Ferdinand +himself, that is all right! + +(Godard goes on the veranda.) + +Pauline +'Tis peculiar, how drowsy I feel. + +(Pauline lies down on the divan; Ferdinand appears and talks with +Godard.) + + + + SCENE TENTH + + +The same persons and Ferdinand. + + +Ferdinand +General, it will be necessary for you to come to the office and the +factory in order to verify my accounts. + +The General +That is only just to you. + +Pauline (drowsily) +Ferdinand! + +Godard +Ah, General, I'll take advantage of this occasion to visit your +establishment with you, for I have never seen it. + +The General +Very good, come along, Godard. + +Godard +De Rimonville. + +Gertrude (aside) +If they go away, fortune will favor me indeed. + +Vernon (who has overheard her, aside) +Fortune, in this case, is represented by me-- + + + + SCENE ELEVENTH + + +Gertrude, Vernon, Pauline, and later Marguerite. + + +Gertrude +Doctor, would you like another cup of tea? + +Vernon +Thank you, but I am so deep in the election returns that I have not +yet finished my first cup. + +Gertrude (pointing to Pauline) +Poor child, you see she is sleeping? + +Vernon +How is this? She is sleeping? + +Gertrude +It is no wonder. Imagine, doctor, she did not go to sleep until three +o'clock in this morning. We were greatly disturbed last night. + +Vernon +Let me assist you to carry her to her room. + +Gertrude +It is not necessary. Marguerite, help me put this poor child to bed. +She will be more comfortable there. + +(Marguerite comes forward and assists Gertrude to carry Pauline away.) + + + + SCENE TWELFTH + + +Vernon, Felix (who enters at this juncture) and Marguerite later. + + +Vernon +Felix! + +Felix +Is there anything I can do for you, sir? + +Vernon +Is there a closet anywhere here in which I can lock up something? + +Felix (pointing to the closet) +Here is a place, sir. + +Vernon +Good! Felix, don't say a word of this to a single soul. (Aside) He +will be sure to remember it. (Aloud) I am playing a trick on the +General, and the trick will fail if you say anything. + +Felix +I will be as dumb as a fish. + +(The doctor takes from him the key of the closet.) + +Vernon +And now leave me alone with your mistress, who is coming back here, +and be on the watch that no one interrupts us for a moment. + +Felix (going out) +Marguerite was right; there is something in the wind, that's certain. + +Marguerite (returning) +There is nothing the matter. Mademoiselle is sleeping quietly. + +(Exit Marguerite.) + + + + SCENE THIRTEENTH + + +Vernon (alone) +What can have set by the ears two women who have hitherto lived in +peace? All doctors, little though they be philosophers, can tell. The +poor General, who all his life has had no other idea excepting that of +escaping the common lot! Yet I see no one here likely to cause him +jealousy, but myself and Ferdinand. It is not probable that I am the +man; but Ferdinand--Yet I have so far noticed nothing--I hear her +coming! Now for the tug-of-war! + + + + SCENE FOURTEENTH + + +Vernon and Gertrude. + + +Gertrude (aside) +I have them!--I am going to burn them in my chamber. (She meets +Vernon.) Ah! + +Vernon +Madame, I have sent everybody away. + +Gertrude +May I ask you why? + +Vernon +In order that we may have our explanation without witnesses. + +Gertrude +Explanation! By what right do you--you, the parasite of the house, +pretend to have an explanation with the Comtesse de Grandchamp? + +Vernon +I, a parasite? Madame! I have an income of ten thousand francs, +besides my pension; I have the rank of general, and my fortune will be +bequeathed to the children of my old friend! A parasite indeed! You +forget that I am not only here as a friend but as a doctor, and--you +poured certain drops of laudanum into Pauline's tea. + +Gertrude +I? + +Vernon +I saw you do it, and I have the cup. + +Gertrude +You have the cup? Why, I washed it myself! + +Vernon +Yes, you washed mine, which I gave you in exchange for that of +Pauline! I was not reading the newspaper, I was watching you. + +Gertrude +Oh! sir, how unworthy of you! + +Vernon +You must confess that what I did then is of great service to you, for +if you had by the effect of that draught brought Pauline to the brink +of the grave, you would have been very glad of my services. + +Gertrude +The brink of the grave--why, doctor, I put in only a very few drops. + +Vernon +You admit, then, that you put opium in her tea? + +Gertrude +Doctor--this is outrageous! + +Vernon +That I have obtained a confession from you? Every woman under the same +circumstances would have said the same thing. I know it by experience. +But that is not all. You have several others things to confide in me. + +Gertrude (aside) +He is a spy! The only thing I can do is to make him my accomplice. +(Aloud) Doctor, you are too useful to me to admit of our quarreling. +In a moment, if you will wait here, I will return and speak frankly to +you. + +(Gertrude goes into her chamber and locks the door.) + +Vernon +She has turned the key! I am caught, tricked! I cannot after all +resort to violence. What is she doing? She is going to hide her flask +of opium. A man is always wrong when he undertakes to discharge for a +friend the offices which my old friend, this poor General, expects of +me. She is going to entangle me--Ah! Here she comes. + +Gertrude (aside) +I have burnt them! There is not a trace left--I am saved! (Aloud) +Doctor! + +Vernon +Madame? + +Gertrude +My stepdaughter Pauline, whom you believed to be an innocent girl, an +angel, had carried off furtively and criminally something whose +discovery would have compromised the honor and the life of four +persons. + +Vernon +Four! (Aside) That is herself, the General--Ah! her son, perhaps--and +the unknown. + +Gertrude +This secret, concerning which she is forced to keep silence, even +though it imperilled her life to do so-- + +Vernon +I don't quite catch your meaning. + +Gertrude +In short, the proofs of this secret are now destroyed! And you, +doctor, who love us all, you would be as base, as infamous as she +is--even more so, because you are a man, and have not the insensate +passions of a woman!--You would be a monster if you were to take +another step along the path on which you have now started-- + +Vernon +You mean that for intimidation? Madame, since civilized society first +sprang into being, the seed which you are sowing has produced a crop +whose name is crime. + +Gertrude +But there are four lives at stake; remember that. (Aside) He is giving +way. (Aloud) In spite of this danger I demand that you will assist me +in maintaining peace here, and that you will immediately go and get +something by which Pauline may be roused from her slumber. And you +will explain, if necessary, her drowsiness to the General. Further, +you will give me back the cup, for I am sure you intend to do so, and +each step that we take together in this affair shall be fully +explained to you. + +Vernon +Madame! + +Gertrude +We must separate now, for the General will soon be back. + +Vernon (aside) +I shall still look after you! I have now a weapon that I can use and-- + +(Exit Vernon.) + + + + SCENE FIFTEENTH + + +Gertrude (alone, leaning against the closet in which the cup is locked +up) +Where can he have hidden that cup? + + +Curtain to the Third Act. + + + + + ACT IV + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(Pauline's chamber.) + +Gertrude and Pauline (the latter sleeping on a large armchair on the +left). + + +Gertrude (cautiously entering) +She is sleeping, and the doctor said that she would wake up at once. +Her slumber alarms me. This then is the girl that he is in love with. +I do not find her pretty at all. Oh, yes, after all, she is beautiful! +But how is it that men do not see that beauty is nothing but a +promise, and that love is the--(someone knocks). How is this; there +are people coming. + +Vernon (outside) +May I come in, Pauline? + +Gertrude +It is the doctor. + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +The same persons and Vernon. + + +Gertrude +You told me that she would soon awake. + +Vernon +Don't be alarmed. (Calling aloud) Pauline! Pauline! + +Pauline (awakening) +O M. Vernon! Where am I? Ah! In my own room. What has happened to me? + +Vernon +My child, you fell asleep while you were taking your tea. Madame de +Grandchamp feared as I did that this was the beginning of a sickness; +but it is no such thing. It is altogether, as it seems to me, the +consequence of a night without sleep. + +Gertrude +And now, Pauline, how do you feel? + +Pauline +I have been sleeping--and madame was here while I slept! (She starts +up; puts her hand upon her bosom.) Ah! It is outrageous! (To Vernon) +Doctor, can you have been an accomplice? + +Gertrude +An accomplice in what? What were you going to say? + +Vernon +I! my child! Could you suppose that I was the accomplice of an evil +action wrought against you, whom I love as if you were my daughter? +Don't speak of such a thing as that! But come, tell me? + +Pauline +There is nothing, doctor, nothing to say! + +Gertrude +Let me speak a few words to her. + +Vernon (aside) +What possible motive can there be for a young child to keep silence, +when she is the victim of such an act of treachery as this? + +Gertrude (in a low voice to Pauline) +So you see, Pauline, you didn't long keep in your possession the +proofs which you intended taking to your father in your ridiculous +accusation of me! + +Pauline +I understand all; you gave me a narcotic in order to deprive me of +them. + +Gertrude +We are equally inquisitive. I have done to you what you did to me in +Ferdinand's apartments. + +Pauline +You are triumphant now, madame, but it will soon be my turn. + +Gertrude +The war, then, is to continue? + +Pauline +War, madame? Call it a duel! One or the other of us must go. + +Gertrude +You are tragic. + +Vernon (aside) +There appears to be no outbreak between them, nor the least +misunderstanding!--But stay, an idea strikes me; suppose I go and look +for Ferdinand? + +(Vernon prepares to go out.) + +Gertrude +Doctor! + +Vernon +Madame? + +Gertrude +We must have a talk together. (Whispering) I shall not leave you until +you have given me back-- + +Vernon +I stated to you the sole condition-- + +Pauline +Doctor! + +Vernon (going to her) +My child? + +Pauline +Are you aware that my sleep just now was not a natural one? + +Vernon +Yes, you were put to sleep by your stepmother. I have proof of it. But +do you know the reason why? + +Pauline +Oh! doctor, it is-- + +Gertrude +Doctor! + +Pauline +Later on, I will tell you all. + +Vernon +Already from each of them I have learned something of what lies +beneath. Ah! poor General! + +Gertrude +I am waiting, doctor. + +(Vernon bows and escorts Gertrude out.) + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +Pauline (alone; she rings) +Yes, the only alternative left me is to flee with him; if we continue +this conflict, my stepmother and I, it can but result in my father's +dishonor. Would it not be better to disobey him? Then I will write to +him--I will be generous, because, my triumph over her will be +complete--I will let my father still believe in her, and will explain +my flight by attributing it to the hatred which he bears to the name +of Marcandal and to my love for Ferdinand. + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +Pauline and Marguerite. + + +Marguerite +Does mademoiselle feel well again? + +Pauline +Yes, I am well enough in body; but in mind--Oh, I am in despair! My +poor Marguerite, unfortunate is the girl who has lost her mother-- + +Marguerite +And whose father has for his second wife such a woman as Madame de +Grandchamp. But tell me, mademoiselle, am I not to you a humble and +devoted mother? My affection for you as a nurse has grown in +proportion to the hate with which this stepmother regards you. + +Pauline +Yes, Marguerite, you may believe it, but you delude yourself. Your +love can never be as great as her hatred. + +Marguerite +Oh! mademoiselle! If you would only put me to the proof! + +Pauline +Really?--Would you leave France for me? + +Marguerite +To be with you, I would travel to the Indies. + +Pauline +And would you start at once? + +Marguerite +At once!--My baggage is not heavy. + +Pauline +Well, Marguerite, we will start to-night, and secretly. + +Marguerite +But why is this? + +Pauline +You ask me why? Do you not know that Madame de Grandchamp put me to +sleep with opium? + +Marguerite +I know it, mademoiselle, and Doctor Vernon knows it also, for Felix +told me that he put under lock and key your teacup.--But why did she +do it? + +Pauline +Say not a word about it, if you love me! And if you are as devoted to +me as you profess to be, go to your room and gather together all that +you possess, so quietly that none shall suspect that you are preparing +for a journey. We will start after midnight. You must now take from me +here, and carry to your room, my jewels and all that I shall need for +a long journey. Use the utmost caution; for if my stepmother had the +least idea of what we are doing, I should be ruined. + +Marguerite +Ruined!--But, mademoiselle, what is come over you? Think seriously +before you leave your home. + +Pauline +Do you wish to see me die? + +Marguerite +Die!--Oh, mademoiselle, I will at once obey your wishes. + +Pauline +Marguerite, tell M. Ferdinand to bring me my year's allowance; bid him +come this moment. + +Marguerite +He was under your windows when I came in. + +Pauline (aside) +Under my windows!--doubtless he thought that he would never see me +again.--Poor Ferdinand! + +(Exit Marguerite.) + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +Pauline (alone) +When I think of leaving my father's house, it at once comes home to me +that my father will seek me many a day, far and wide. With what +treasures love ought to repay me, for such sacrifices, for I abandon +to follow Ferdinand my country, my father, and my home! But at any +rate, this shameless woman will lose him without hope of restoration! +Moreover, I shall return! The doctor and M. Ramel will win for me +forgiveness from my father. I think I hear the step of Ferdinand!-- +Yes, it is actually he! + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +Pauline and Ferdinand. + + +Pauline +Oh, my love, my Ferdinand! + +Ferdinand +And I thought that I should never see you again! Marguerite, I see, +knows all. + +Pauline +She knows nothing yet; but this night she shall learn of our flight, +for we shall be free; and you shall take your wife with you. + +Ferdinand +Oh, Pauline, do not deceive me! + +Pauline +I was making arrangements to rejoin you in your place of exile; but +this odious woman has hurried on my resolution. There is no merit in +what I am doing, it is a question of life and death to me. + +Ferdinand +Of life and death! Tell me what has she been doing? + +Pauline +She almost poisoned me; she drugged me, in order to take the letters I +carried about me! By what she has dared to do, in order to keep you +for herself, I judge what she yet may do. If therefore we wish to be +united, our only hope lies in flight. Therefore let us not say +farewell! This night we must find some refuge or other--But where? +That lies with you. + +Ferdinand +Ah! These words,--how wild with joy they make me! + +Pauline +Ferdinand! Take every precaution; hurry to Louviers, go to the house +of your friend, the prosecuting attorney; secure our passports, and a +carriage with fast horses. I fear that my father, urged on by this +stepmother, may try to overtake us! May he fail to do so; he would +kill us, for I am telling him in this letter the fatal secret of your +birth which compels me thus to leave him. + +Ferdinand +Dismiss your fears. Eugene completed his preparations for my departure +yesterday. Here is the sum of money which your father owed me. (He +shows her a pocket-book.) Give me your receipt. (He puts down some +money on the table.) I have only to give in my balance sheet in order +to be free. We shall reach Rouen in three hours, and at Havre we shall +take an American ship. Eugene has sent a trusty man to secure me a +passage on board. The officers of the vessel will think it only +natural that a man should take his wife abroad with him, so we shall +meet with no obstacle-- + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +The same persons and Gertrude. + + +Gertrude +Excepting me. + +Pauline +We are lost! + +Gertrude +So you are going to start without telling me, Ferdinand? Oh, indeed! +But I have heard it all. + +Ferdinand (to Pauline) +Mademoiselle, have the goodness to give me your receipt, it is +indispensable in completing the account which I must give to your +father before leaving. (To Gertrude) Madame, you may be able, perhaps, +to prevent mademoiselle from going away; but I can no longer remain +here, and I must absolutely start to-night. + +Gertrude +You must stay here, and you shall stay here, sir! + +Ferdinand +Against my will? + +Gertrude +What mademoiselle wishes to do, I myself will do, and without fear. I +will make M. de Grandchamp come into this very room, and you will at +once see that he will compel you to leave, but--with me and my child. +(Felix appears.) Beg M. de Grandchamp to come here. + +Ferdinand (to Pauline) +I see her object. Detain her here, while I overtake Felix, and prevent +him from speaking to the General! Eugene will tell you how you must +act after my departure. When once we have left this place, Gertrude +will be powerless to oppose us. (To Gertrude) Farewell, madame. You +lately made an attack on Pauline's life, and by this act have broken +the last ties that bound me to your friendship. + +Gertrude +You have nothing but accusations for me! But you do not know what +mademoiselle intended telling her father concerning you and me. + +Ferdinand +I love her, and will love her all my life; I shall be able to defend +her against you, and I prize her high enough to suffer banishment in +order to obtain her. Farewell. + +Pauline +Dear, dear Ferdinand! + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +Gertrude and Pauline. + + +Gertrude +Now that we are alone, do you know why I have summoned your father? It +is in order to tell him the name and family of Ferdinand. + +Pauline +Madame, what are you going to do? My father, as soon as he learns that +the son of General Marcandal has won the love of his daughter, will +get to Havre as quickly as Ferdinand does. He will come up with him, +and then-- + +Gertrude +I would sooner see Ferdinand dead than united to any one but myself, +especially when I feel in my heart as much hatred for that other one +as I have love for him. Such is my final word in our mortal duel. + +Pauline +Madame, I am now at your feet, as you but now were at mine. Let us +slay each other if you like, but let us not murder him! Let his life +be spared, though it be at the cost of mine! + +Gertrude +Will you give him up? + +Pauline +I will, madame. + +Gertrude (she lets her handkerchief fall in the excitement of her +passionate speech) +You are deceiving me! You tell me this, because he loves you, because +he has already insulted me by avowing it, and because you believe that +he will not love me any longer. Now this will not do, Pauline, you +must give me some pledge of your sincerity. + +Pauline (aside) +Her handkerchief! Ah! I see with it the key of her desk. It is there +that the poison is locked up! (Aloud) Did you say pledges of my +sincerity? I will give them to you. What do you demand? + +Gertrude +Really, I do not care for more than one proof that you mean what you +say, and that is, that you should marry the other suitor. + +Pauline +I will marry him. + +Gertrude +And you must, at this very moment, plight your troth with him. + +Pauline +Go to him yourself, madame, and tell him; and then come here with my +father, and-- + +Gertrude +And what? + +Pauline +And I will give him my word; even though this be to give away my life. + +Gertrude (aside) +In what a tone she uttered that. With what resolution! And without +tears--I feel sure she is keeping something back! (Aloud) And so you +are quite resigned to this? + +Pauline +I am. + +Gertrude (aside) +I hope she is. (To Pauline) If you are sincere-- + +Pauline +You are mendacity itself, and you always see a lie in other's +words--Oh! Leave me, madame, you make me shudder. + +Gertrude (aside) +Well, she is candid at any rate. (Aloud) I am going to tell Ferdinand +of your resolution--(Pauline nods in acquiescence.) But he will not +believe me. Suppose you write a word to him? + +Pauline +Yes, I will write to him, and tell him not to go away. (Sits down and +writes.) Here is the letter, madame. + +Gertrude (reads) +"I am going to marry M. de Rimonville--so that you may remain here. +Pauline." (Aside) I do not quite understand this--I fear that there is +some trick in it. I am going to let him leave; he will learn of the +marriage when he is far away from this. + +(Exit Gertrude.) + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +Pauline (alone) +Ferdinand is utterly lost to me now--I have always expected it; the +world is either a paradise or a prison cell; and I, a young girl, have +dreamed only of the paradise. But anyway I have the key of the desk, +and I can return it after having taken out something which may serve +to put an end to this terrible situation. Yes, that is what I will do! + + + + SCENE TENTH + + +Pauline and Marguerite. + + +Marguerite +Mademoiselle, my trunks are all packed. I am now going to begin +packing here. + +Pauline +Yes. (Aside) It is best to let her do so. (Aloud) Come here, +Marguerite, take this gold and conceal it among your things. + +Marguerite +You are sure that your reasons for starting away are very urgent? + +Pauline +My poor Marguerite, who knows whether I shall be able to get away! But +come, go on with your work. + +(Exit Pauline.) + + + + SCENE ELEVENTH + + +Marguerite (alone) +And to think that I believed this fury was unwilling that mademoiselle +should marry! Is it possible that mademoiselle should have concealed +from me that her real love was being opposed? Yet her father is so +good to her! He leaves her free to choose--Suppose I were to speak to +the General--Oh! no, I would not run the risk of injuring my child. + + + + SCENE TWELFTH + + +Marguerite and Pauline. + + +Pauline +No one has seen me. Listen, Marguerite, first of all, take away the +money that I gave you, and then let me think about the resolution +which I have taken. + +Marguerite +If I were in your place, mademoiselle, I would tell everything to the +General. + +Pauline +To my father? Unhappy woman, do not betray me! And let both of us +respect the illusions, in the midst of which he lives. + +Marguerite +Ah! Illusions! That is the very word. + +Pauline +You may leave me now. + +(Exit Marguerite.) + + + + SCENE THIRTEENTH + + +Pauline, then Vernon. + + +Pauline (holding in her hand the parcel of poison, which was shown in +the first act) +Here stands death before me! The doctor told us yesterday, in +reference to Champagne's wife, that this terrible substance required +some hours, almost a whole night, to produce its deadly effects, and +that it was possible, during the first hours, to nullify these +effects; if the doctor remains at the house, he will provide this +antidote. + +(Some one knocks.) + +Vernon (from without) +It is I. + +Pauline +Come in, doctor! (Aside) Curiosity brings him to see me, curiosity +will take him away. + +Vernon +I see, my child, that between you and your stepmother, there are +secrets of life and death? + +Pauline +Yes, and, above all, death. + +Vernon +I was afraid so! And that, of course, I must attend to. But tell +me--You must have had some terrible quarrel with your stepmother. + +Pauline +Let me hear no more of that creature. She deceives my father. + +Vernon +I know it. + +Pauline +She never loved him. + +Vernon +I was quite sure of that! + +Pauline +She has sworn to ruin me. + +Vernon +How? Is it in an affair of your heart that she wishes to do you harm? + +Pauline +Rather say, it is my life she threatens. + +Vernon +What a horrible suspicion! Pauline, my child, I love you well, you +know I do. Tell me, can nothing save you? + +Pauline +In order to change my fate, it would be necessary that my father +change his ideas. Listen; I am in love with M. Ferdinand. + +Vernon +I already know that. But who would hinder you from marrying him? + +Pauline +Can you keep a secret? Well, he is the son of General Marcandal! + +Vernon +My God! You may rely on my keeping that secret! Why, your father would +fight with him to the death, if for nothing else, because he has had +him under his roof for three years. + +Pauline +You will then see very plainly that there is no hope for me. + +(Pauline sinks back overwhelmed with emotion in an armchair.) + +Vernon +Poor child! I fear she is going to faint. (He rings and calls) +Marguerite! Marguerite! + + + + SCENE FOURTEENTH + + +The same persons, Gertrude, Marguerite and the General. + + +Marguerite (running in) +What is it, sir? + +Vernon +Get me a tea-urn of boiling water, into which you must drop some +orange leaves. + +(Exit Marguerite.) + +Gertrude +What is the matter with you, Pauline? + +The General +Dear child, do tell us? + +Gertrude +Oh, it is nothing! We can understand her feelings. It is because she +sees her lot in life decided-- + +Vernon (to the General) +Her lot decided? And in what way? + +The General +She is going to marry Godard! (Aside) It seems to me as if she were +giving up some love affair of which she did not wish to tell me. As +far as I can understand from what my wife has told me, the unknown one +is ineligible, and Pauline did not discover his unworthiness until +yesterday. + +Vernon +And you believe this? Do not precipitate matters, General. We will +talk it over this evening. (Aside) Before then I am going to have a +few words with Madame de Grandchamp. + +Pauline (to Gertrude) +The doctor knows all! + +Gertrude +Ah! + +Pauline (she puts back into the pocket of Gertrude the handkerchief +and the key, while the latter is looking at Vernon, who converses with +the General) +Keep him away, for he is capable of telling all he knows to the +General. We must at least protect Ferdinand. + +Gertrude (aside) +She is right. (Aloud) Doctor, I have just been informed that Francis, +one of our best workmen, is sick; he hasn't appeared this morning, and +you might go and visit him. + +The General +Francis? Oh! Vernon, you had better go and see him-- + +Vernon +Doesn't he live at Pre-l'Eveque? (Aside) More than three leagues away. + +The General +Are you alarmed about Pauline? + +Vernon +It is simply an attack of nerves. + +Gertrude +I can take your place here, doctor, if that is so, can't I? + +Vernon +Yes. (To the General) I'll undertake to say that Francis is about as +sick as I am! The fact of it is, I see rather too much and my presence +is not desired-- + +The General (in a rage) +What are you talking about? To whom do you refer? + +Vernon +Are you going to fly into a passion again? Do calm yourself, my old +friend, or you will cause yourself eternal remorse. + +The General +Remorse? + +Vernon +Just keep these people talking, till I return. + +The General +But-- + +Gertrude (to Pauline) +Tell me, how do you feel now, my sweet angel? + +The General +Just look at them. + +Vernon +Ah! Well, women stab each other with a smile and a kiss. + + + + SCENE FIFTEENTH + + +The same persons (except Vernon) and Marguerite. + + +Gertrude (to the General, who seems as if he were bewildered by the +last words of Vernon) +What is the matter with you? + +The General (passing before Gertrude to the side of Pauline) +Nothing, nothing! Tell me, my little Pauline, is your engagement with +Godard to be quite voluntary? + +Pauline +Quite voluntary. + +Gertrude (aside) +Ah! + +The General +He will be here soon. + +Pauline +I am expecting him. + +The General (aside) +There is a tremendous amount of bitterness in her tone. + +(Marguerite appears with a tea-cup.) + +Gertrude +It is too soon, Marguerite, the infusion can't yet be strong enough! +(She tastes it.) I must go and prepare it myself. + +Marguerite +I have always been in the habit of waiting upon Mlle. Pauline. + +Gertrude +What do you mean by speaking to me in this tone? + +Marguerite +But--madame-- + +The General +Marguerite, if you say another word, we shall fall out. + +Pauline +Marguerite, you may just as well let Madame de Grandchamp have her +way. + +(Gertrude goes out with Marguerite.) + +The General +And so my little girl has not much confidence in the father who loves +her so? Come now! Tell me why you so distinctly refused Godard +yesterday, and yet, accept him to-day? + +Pauline +I suppose it is a young girl's whim. + +The General +Are you in love with anybody else? + +Pauline +It is because I am not in love with anybody else that I consent to +marry your friend M. Godard! + +(Gertrude comes in with Marguerite.) + +The General +Ah! + +Gertrude +Take this, my darling, but be careful, for it is a little hot. + +Pauline +Thank you, mother! + +The General +Mother! Truly, this is enough to drive one crazy with perplexity! + +Pauline +Marguerite, bring me the sugar basin! + +(While Marguerite goes out and Gertrude talks with the General, +Pauline drops the poison into the cup and lets fall the paper which +contained it.) + +Gertrude (to the General) +You seem to be indisposed? + +The General +My dear, I cannot understand women; I am like Godard. + +(Marguerite comes back.) + +Gertrude +You are like all other men. + +Pauline (hurriedly drinking the poisoned cup) +Ah! + +Gertrude +How are you now, my child? + +Pauline +I am better. + +Gertrude +I am going to prepare another cup for you. + +Pauline +Oh, no, madame, this will be quite enough! I would sooner wait for the +doctor. + +(Pauline sets down the empty cup on the table.) + + + + SCENE SIXTEENTH + + +The same persons and Felix, then Godard. + + +Felix (looking inquiringly at Pauline) +M. Godard asks if you will see him? + +Pauline +Certainly. + +Gertrude (leaving the room) +What do you intend saying to him. + +Pauline +Wait and see. + +Godard (entering) +I am sorry that mademoiselle is indisposed. I did not know it. I will +not intrude. (They offer him a chair.) Mademoiselle, allow me to thank +you above all for the kindness you have shown in receiving me in this +sanctuary of innocence. Madame de Grandchamp and your father have just +informed me of something which would have overwhelmed me with +happiness yesterday, but rather astonishes me to-day. + +The General +That is to say, M. Godard-- + +Pauline +Do not be hasty, father, M. Godard is right. You do not know all I +said to him yesterday. + +Godard +You are far too clever, mademoiselle, not to consider as quite natural +the curiosity of an honorable young man, who has an income of forty +thousand francs, besides his savings, to learn of the reason why he +should be accepted after a lapse of twenty-four hours from his +rejection--For, yesterday, it was at this very hour--(He pulls out his +watch) Half-past five-- + +The General +What do you mean by all this? It looks as if you are not as much in +love as you said you were. You have come here to complain of a +charming girl at the very moment when she has told you-- + +Godard +I would not complain, if the subject were not marriage. Marriage, +General, is at once the cause and the effect of sentiment. + +The General +Pardon me, Godard, I am a little hasty, as you know. + +Pauline (to Godard) +Sir--(Aside) Oh, how I suffer! (Aloud) Sir, why should poor young +girls-- + +Godard +Poor? No, no, mademoiselle; you are not poor. You have four hundred +thousand francs. + +Pauline +Why should weak young girls-- + +Godard +Weak? + +Pauline +Well, then, innocent young persons--be so very fastidious about the +character of the man who presents himself as their lord and master? If +you love me, will you punish yourself--will you punish me--because +your love has been submitted to a test? + +Godard +Of course, from that point of view-- + +The General +Oh! These women! These women! + +Godard +You may just as well say, "These daughters." + +The General +Yes, for I am quite sure that mine has more brains than I have. + + + + SCENE SEVENTEENTH + + +The same persons, Gertrude and then Napoleon. + + +Gertrude +How has it turned out, M. Godard? + +Godard +Ah, Madame! General! My happiness is complete, and my dream fulfilled. +For now I am to be admitted into a family like yours. To think that I +--Ah! Madame! General! (Aside) I'd like to find out the mystery, for +she has precious little love for me. + +Napoleon (entering) +Papa, I have won the school medal--Good-day, mamma--and where is +Pauline? And so you are sick? Poor little sister! I'll tell you +something--I have found out where justice comes from. + +Gertrude +And who told you? Ah! see what a lovely boy he is! + +Napoleon +The master told me that justice comes from God. + +Godard +It is very plain that your master was not born in Normandy. + +Pauline (in a low voice to Marguerite) +O Marguerite! Dear Marguerite! Do send them all away. + +Marguerite +Gentlemen, Mlle. Pauline desires to take a little nap. + +The General +Just so, Pauline, we will leave you, and you need not get up till +dinner time. + +Pauline +I will certainly get up then if I can. Father, kiss me before you go. + +The General (kissing her) +My darling child! (To Napoleon) Come, my boy. + +(They all go out, except Pauline, Marguerite and Napoleon.) + +Napoleon (to Pauline) +And how is it you do not kiss me? Tell me what ails you? + +Pauline +Oh! I am dying! + +Napoleon +Do people die? Pauline, what is death made of? + +Pauline +Death--is made--like this-- + +(Pauline falls back into Marguerite's arms.) + +Marguerite +Oh! My God! Help! Help! + +Napoleon +Oh! Pauline, you frighten me! (Running away.) Mamma! Mamma! + + +Curtain to the Fourth Act. + + + + + ACT V + + + + SCENE FIRST + + +(The chamber of Pauline as before.) + +Pauline, Ferdinand and Vernon. + + +(Pauline lies stretched upon her bed. Ferdinand holds her hand in an +attitude of profound grief and despair. It is just before dawn and a +lamp is burning.) + +Vernon (seated near the table) +I have seen thousands of dead men on the field of battle and in the +ambulances, yet the death of this young girl under her father's roof +moves me more profoundly than all those heroic sufferings. Death is +perhaps a thing foreseen on the field of battle--it is even expected +there; while here, it is not only the passing away of a single person, +but a whole family is plunged in tears and fond hopes vanish. Here is +this child, of whom I was so fond, murdered, poisoned--and by whom? +Marguerite has rightly guessed the secret of this struggle between two +rivals. It was impossible to refrain from communicating at once with +the authorities. In the meantime, God knows I have used every effort +to snatch this young life from the grave. (Ferdinand raises his head +and listens to the doctor) I have even brought this poison, which may +act as an antidote to the other; but the princes of medical science +should have been present to witness the experiment! No man ought to +venture upon such a throw of the dice. + +Ferdinand (rises and approaches the doctor) +Doctor, when the magistrates arrive, will you explain this experiment +of yours; they will be sure to sanction it; and you may be sure that +God, yes God, will hear me. He will work some miracle, He will give +her back to me! + +Vernon +I should have ventured upon it before the action of the poison had +wrought its full effects. If I did so now, I should be looked upon as +the poisoner. No (he places a little flask upon the table), it would +be useless now, and to give it with the most disinterested motives +would be looked upon as a crime. + +Ferdinand (after holding a mirror before Pauline's lips) +Anything, everything is yet possible; she still breathes. + +Vernon +She will not live till daylight. + +Pauline +Ferdinand! + +Ferdinand +She has just uttered my name. + +Vernon +The vitality of a girl of twenty-two is very tenacious! Moreover, she +will preserve consciousness, even to her last gasp. She might possibly +rise from her bed and talk with us, although the sufferings caused by +this terrible poison are inconceivable. + + + + SCENE SECOND + + +The same persons and the General. + + +The General (outside) +Vernon! + +Vernon (to Ferdinand) +It is the General. (Ferdinand, overcome with grief, falls back on the +armchair, where he is concealed by the curtains of the bed.) What do +you want? + +The General +I want to see Pauline! + +Vernon +If you take my advice, you will wait awhile; she is very much worse. + +The General (entering) +For that reason I shall come in. + +Vernon +Do not come in, General. Listen to me! + +The General +No, no! Ah, how motionless, how cold she is, Vernon! + +Vernon +Listen! General! (Aside) We must get him away somehow. (Aloud) There +is but a faint hope of saving her. + +The General +You told me--You must have been deceiving me! + +Vernon +My friend, we have to look this catastrophe in the face, as we had to +look towards the batteries through a shower of bullets! On such +occasions, when I hesitated, you always went forward. (Aside) That is +a good idea! (Aloud) You had better bring to her the consolations of +religion. + +The General +Vernon, I wish to see her, to give her my last kiss. + +Vernon +Be careful! + +The General (kissing her) +Oh! How icy cold she is! + +Vernon +That is a peculiarity of her sickness, General. Hurry to the priest's +house, for in case my remedies fail, it is not right that your +daughter, who has been reared as a Christian, should be forgotten by +the Church. + +The General +Ah! yes. I will go. + +(The General moves towards the bed.) + +Vernon (pointing towards the door) +This way! + +The General +I quite lose my head; I am distracted--O Vernon, work a miracle for +us! You have saved so many people--and here you cannot save the life +of my child! + +Vernon +Come, come, be off. (Aside) I must go with him, for if he meets the +magistrates there will be more trouble still. + +(Exit the General and Vernon.) + + + + SCENE THIRD + + +Pauline and Ferdinand. + + +Pauline +Ferdinand! + +Ferdinand +Ah! My God! Can this be her last sigh? Pauline, you are my very life; +if Vernon does not save you, I will follow you, and we shall still be +united. + +Pauline +I shall expire, then, without a single regret. + +Ferdinand (takes up the flask) +That which would have saved you, if the doctor had arrived earlier, +shall deliver me from life. + +Pauline +No, for you may still be happy. + +Ferdinand +Never, without you. + +Pauline +Your words revive me. + + + + SCENE FOURTH + + +The same persons and Vernon. + + +Ferdinand +She speaks; her eyes once more are open. + +Vernon +Poor child! There she falls asleep again. What shall the waking be? + +(Ferdinand sits down again and takes the hand of Pauline.) + + + + SCENE FIFTH + + +The same persons, Ramel, the Investigating Magistrate, a Doctor, a +Corporal of Police and Marguerite. + + +Marguerite +M. Vernon, the magistrates are here. M. Ferdinand, you must leave the +room. + +(Exit Ferdinand.) + +Ramel +Take care, corporal, that all the entrances of this house are guarded, +and observe our orders! Doctor, can we remain here a few moments +without danger to the sick lady? + +Vernon +She is asleep, sir; and it is her last slumber. + +Marguerite +Here is the cup into which the infusion was poured and which still has +traces of arsenic; I perceived it there as soon as I took hold of it. + +The Doctor (examining the cup and tasting the contents) +It is evident that the liquid contains some poisonous substance. + +The Magistrate +Please to make an analysis of it. (He sees Marguerite picking up a +small piece of paper from the ground.) What paper is that? + +Marguerite +Oh, it is nothing. + +Ramel +In such cases as these, nothing is insignificant in the eyes of +magistrates! Yes, gentlemen, we shall have to examine this paper +later. What can have delayed M. de Grandchamp? + +Vernon +He is at the priest's house, but he will not stay there long. + +The Magistrate (to the doctor) +Have you made your examination yet, sir? + +(The two physicians converse together at the head of the bed.) + +Ramel (to the magistrate) +If the General returns, we must deal with him according to the +circumstances. + +(Marguerite is weeping, kneeling at the foot of the bed; the two +physicians, the judge and Ramel are grouped in the front of the +stage.) + +Ramel (to the doctor) +It is therefore of your opinion, sir, that the illness of Mlle. de +Grandchamp, whom we saw two days ago full of health, and even of +happiness, is the result of a crime? + +The Doctor +The symptoms of poisoning are undeniable. + +Ramel +And are the remains of the poison contained in this cup so +discernible, and present in such a quantity, as to furnish legal +proof? + +The Doctor +Yes, sir. + +The Magistrate (to Vernon) +This woman alleges, sir, that yesterday, at four o'clock, you +prescribed for Mlle. de Grandchamp an infusion of orange leaves, as a +soothing draught for the nervous excitement which followed upon an +interview between the stepmother and her stepdaughter; she says, +moreover, that Madame de Grandchamp, who had despatched you on an +empty errand to a place four leagues away, had insisted upon preparing +and giving everything to her daughter herself; is this true? + +Vernon +Yes, sir. + +Marguerite +When I persisted in my purpose of attending myself upon my young +mistress, my poor master was incensed to the point of reproaching me. + +Ramel (to Vernon) +Where did Madame de Grandchamp send you? + +Vernon +Everything is ominous in this mysterious affair. Madame de Grandchamp +was so anxious to get me out of the way that she sent me three leagues +to visit a sick man, who, I found when I reached his home, was +drinking in the inn. I blamed Champagne for deceiving Madame de +Grandchamp, and Champagne positively told me that the workman had not +appeared at the factory, but that he himself knows nothing about his +alleged sickness. + +Felix +Gentlemen, the clergy are here. + +Ramel +We can continue our proceedings in the drawing-room. + +Vernon +This way, gentlemen, this way. + + +(Scene curtain.) + + + + SCENE SIXTH + + +(The drawing-room.) + +Ramel, the Magistrate, the Sheriff's Officer and Vernon. + + +Ramel +Here, then, is the result so far of our inquiry, in accordance with +the evidence of Felix and Marguerite. Madame de Grandchamp, in the +first place, administered to her stepdaughter a dose of opium, and +you, M. Vernon, who were present and saw the criminal attempt, managed +to secure and lock up the cup. + +Vernon +It is true, gentlemen, but-- + +Ramel +How is it, M. Vernon, that when you witnessed this criminal attempt, +you did not check Madame de Grandchamp in the fatal course which she +was then pursuing? + +Vernon +Believe me, gentlemen, I did everything which I thought could be done +with prudence, and all that my long experience suggested was attempted +by me. + +The Magistrate +Your conduct, sir, was peculiar, and you will be called upon to +explain it. You did your duty yesterday in preserving the cup as +evidence; but why did you not go further? + +Ramel +Pardon me, M. Cordier, this gentleman is advanced in years; he is an +honest and trustworthy man. (He takes Vernon aside) You have found +out, I suppose, the cause of this crime. + +Vernon +It springs from a rivalry between two women, who have been urged on to +the most violent extremes by their reckless passions. And I was +obliged to keep silence on the subject. + +Ramel +I know the whole business. + +Vernon +You! sir? + +Ramel +Yes, and, like you, I have done everything to prevent this +catastrophe; for Ferdinand was to leave this very night. I knew Mlle. +Gertrude de Meilhac in former years, having met her at the house of my +friend. + +Vernon +Oh! sir, show clemency! Have pity on an old soldier, crippled with +wounds, and enslaved by delusions. He is in danger of losing both his +daughter and his wife. Heaven grant he may not lose his honor also! + +Ramel +We understand each other. So long as Gertrude does not make such +admissions as force us to see the real situation, I shall endeavor to +persuade the investigating magistrate--who is an extremely sagacious +and honest man of ten years' experience--I shall try to make him +believe that cupidity alone has influenced Madame de Grandchamp. You +must assist me. (The magistrate approaches; Ramel nods to Vernon and +puts on an expression of severity.) Why did Madame de Grandchamp wish +to drug her stepdaughter? You, who are the friend of the household, +ought to know this. + +Vernon +Pauline was about to confide her secrets to me. Her stepmother thought +that I was learning certain things which her interest required should +be concealed; and that, sir, is doubtless the reason why she sent me +to treat a workman who was in good health, and not to prevent help +from being brought to Pauline, for Louviers is not so far off. + +The Magistrate +What forethought she has! She won't be able to escape if we find the +proofs of crime in her desk. She does not expect us here; she will be +thunderstruck. + + + + SCENE SEVENTH + + +The same persons, Gertrude and Marguerite. + + +Gertrude +I hear the strains of church music! What, is there another trial going +on here? What can be happening? (She goes to the door of Pauline's +chamber and starts back terrified, on the appearance of Marguerite.) +Ah! + +Marguerite +They are offering prayers over the body of your victim! + +Gertrude +Pauline! Pauline! Dead! + +The Magistrate +And it is you, madame, who have poisoned her. + +Gertrude +I! I! I! Ah! what is this? Am I asleep or awake? (To Ramel) Ah! How +extremely fortunate for me in this meeting! For you know the whole +affair, don't you? Do you believe me capable of a crime like this? +What! Am I actually accused of it? Do you think that I would have made +an attack upon her life? I, the mother of a child, before whom I would +not wish to be disgraced? Justice will vindicate me--Marguerite, let +no one leave the room. Gentlemen, tell me what has taken place since +yesterday evening, when I left Pauline slightly indisposed? + +The Magistrate +Madame, collect yourself! You stand before the tribunal of your +country. + +Gertrude +You chill me with such words-- + +The Magistrate +The administration of justice in France is the most perfect of +criminal procedures. No traps are set, for justice proceeds, acts, and +speaks with open face, for she is solely intent upon her mission, +which is, the discovery of the truth. At the present moment, you are +merely inculpated, and in me you must see your protector. But tell the +truth, whatever it may be; the final result will be decided at a +higher tribunal. + +Gertrude +Ah! sir, take me into her chamber, and in presence of Pauline I will +cry out, what I cry out before you--I am guiltless of her death! + +The Magistrate +Madame! + +Gertrude +Sir, let us have none of those long phrases, with which you blind the +eyes of people. I suffer pains unheard of! I weep for Pauline as +though she were my child, and--I forgive her everything! What do you +want with me? Proceed, and I will answer you. + +Ramel +What is it that you will forgive her? + +Gertrude +I mean-- + +Ramel (in a low voice) +Be cautious in your replies. + +Gertrude +You are right, for precipices yawn on every side! + +The Magistrate (to the sheriff's officer) +Names and titles may be taken later; now write down the notes of the +investigation, and the inquiry. (To Gertrude) Did you yesterday +forenoon put opium into the tea of Mlle. de Grandchamp? + +Gertrude +Ah! doctor--this is you. + +Ramel +Do not accuse the doctor. He has already too seriously compromised +himself for you! Answer the magistrate! + +Gertrude +It is true. + +The Magistrate +Madame recognizes the cup and admits that she put opium in it. That +will be enough for the present, at this stage of the inquiry. + +Gertrude +Do you accuse me then of something further? What is it? + +The Magistrate +Madame, if you cannot free yourself from blame with regard to a later +event, you may be charged with the crime of poisoning. We must now +proceed to seek proofs either of your innocence or of your guilt. + +Gertrude +Where will you seek them? + +The Magistrate +From you! Yesterday you gave Mlle. de Grandchamp an infusion of orange +leaves, in another cup which contained arsenic. + +Gertrude +Can it be possible! + +The Magistrate +The day before yesterday you declared that the key of your desk, in +which the arsenic was locked, never left your possession. + +Gertrude +It is in my dress pocket. + +The Magistrate +Have you ever made any use of that arsenic? + +Gertrude +No; you will find the parcel still sealed. + +Ramel +Ah! madame, I sincerely hope so. + +The Magistrate +I very much doubt it; this is one of those audacious criminals-- + +Gertrude +The chamber is in disorder, permit me-- + +The Magistrate +No, no! All three of us will enter it. + +Ramel +Your innocence is now at stake. + +Gertrude +Gentlemen, let us go in together. + + + + SCENE EIGHTH + + +Vernon (alone) +My poor General! He kneels by the bed of his daughter; he weeps, he +prays! Alas! God alone can give her back to him. + + + + SCENE NINTH + + +Vernon, Gertrude, Ramel, the Magistrate and the Sheriff's Officer. + + +Gertrude +I scarce can believe my senses; I am dreaming--I am-- + +Ramel +You are ruined, madame. + +Gertrude +Yes, sir--But by whom? + +The Magistrate (to the sheriff's officer) +Write down that Madame de Grandchamp having herself unlocked for us +the desk in her bedchamber and having herself given into our hands the +parcel sealed by M. Baudrillon, this parcel which two days ago was +intact is found unsealed and from it has been taken a dose, more than +sufficient to produce death. + +Gertrude +Death!--And I? + +The Magistrate +Madame, it was not without reason that I took from your desk this torn +piece of paper. We have also picked up in Mlle. de Grandchamp's +chamber a piece of paper, which exactly fits to it; and this proves +that when you reached your desk, in that confusion which crime always +brings upon criminals, you took up this paper to wrap up the dose, +which you intended to mix with the infusion. + +Gertrude +You said that you were my protector! And there, see now-- + +The Magistrate +Give me your attention, madame. In face of such suspicions, I feel I +shall have to change the writ of summons into a writ of bail or +imprisonment. (He signs the document.) And now, madame, you must +consider yourself under arrest. + +Gertrude +Of course, I will do all that you wish! But you told me that your +mission was to search for the truth--Ah! Let us search for it +here--Let us search for it here! + +The Magistrate +Certainly, madame. + +Gertrude (to Ramel; she is weeping) +O M. Ramel! + +Ramel +Have you anything to say in your defence which would lead us to cancel +this terrible sentence? + +Gertrude +Gentlemen, I am innocent of the crime of poisoning, and yet all is +against me! I implore you, give my your help instead of torturing me! +And listen to me--Some one must have taken my key,--can you not +understand? Some one must have come into my room--Ah! I see it all +now-- (To Ramel) Pauline loved as I loved; she has poisoned herself! + +Ramel +For the sake of your honor, do not say that, without the most +convincing proofs, otherwise-- + +The Magistrate +Madame, is it true that, yesterday, you, knowing Doctor Vernon was to +dine with you, sent him-- + +Gertrude +Oh! you,--your questions are so many daggers at my heart! And yet you +go on, you still go on. + +The Magistrate +Did you send him away to attend a workman at Pre-l'Eveque? + +Gertrude +I did, sir. + +The Magistrate +This workman, madame, was found in a tavern, and in excellent help. + +Gertrude +Champagne had told me that he was sick. + +The Magistrate +We have questioned Champagne, and he denies this, averring that he +said nothing about sickness. The fact of it was, you wished to +preclude the possibility of medical aid. + +Gertrude (aside) +It was Pauline! It was she who made me send away Vernon! O Pauline! +You have dragged me down with yourself into the tomb, to which I sink +bearing the name of criminal! No! No! No! (To Ramel) Sir, I have but +one avenue of escape. (To Vernon) Is Pauline still alive? + +Vernon (pointing to the General) +Here is my answer. + + + + SCENE TENTH + + +The same persons and the General. + + +The General (to Vernon) +She is dying, my friend! If I lose her, I shall never survive it. + +Vernon +My friend! + +The General +It seems to me that there are a great many people here--What must be +done? Oh, try to save her! I wonder where Gertrude is. + +(They give the General a seat.) + +Gertrude (sinking at the feet of the General) +My friend! Poor father! I would this instant I might be killed without +a trial. (She rises.) No, Pauline has wrapped me in her shroud, I feel +her icy hands about my neck. And yet I was resigned. Yes, I would have +buried with me the secret of this terrible drama, which every woman +should understand! But I am weary of this struggle with a corpse that +holds me tight, and communicates to me the coldness and the stiffness +of death! I have made up my mind that my innocence of this crime shall +come forth victorious at the expense of somebody's honor; for never, +never could I become a vile and cowardly poisoner. Yes, I shall tell +the whole, dark tale. + +The General (rising from his seat and coming forward) +Ah! so you are going to say in the face of justice all that for two +days you have concealed by such obstinate silence--vile and ungrateful +creature, fawning liar!--you have killed my daughter. Are you going to +kill me also? + +Gertrude +Ought I to keep silence?--Ought I to speak? + +Ramel +General, be kind enough to retire. The law commands. + +The General +The law? You represent the justice of men, I represent the justice of +God, and am higher than you all! I am at once accuser, tribunal, +sentence and executioner--Come, madame, tell us what you have to say? + +Gertrude (at the General's feet) +Forgive me, sir--Yes--I am-- + +Ramel +Oh, poor wretch! + +Gertrude (aside) +I cannot say it! Oh! for his honor's sake, may he never know the +truth. (Aloud) I am guilty before all the world, but to you I say, and +will repeat it to my last breath, I am innocent! And some future day +the truth shall speak from out two tombs, the cruel truth, which will +show to you that you also are not free from reproach, but from the +very blindness of your hate are culpable in all. + +The General +I? I? Am I losing my senses? Do you dare to accuse me? (Perceiving +Pauline.) Ah! Ah! My God! + + + + SCENE ELEVENTH + + +The same persons, and Pauline (supported by Ferdinand). + + +Pauline +They have told me all! This woman is innocent of the crime whereof she +is accused. Religion has at last taught me that pardon cannot be +obtained on high except by those who leave it behind them here below. +I took from Madame the key of her desk, I myself sought the poison. I +myself tore off the paper to wrap it up, for I wished to die. + +Gertrude +O Pauline! Take my life, take all I love--Oh, doctor, save her! + +The Magistrate +Is this the truth, mademoiselle? + +Pauline +The truth, yes, for the dying alone speak it-- + +The Magistrate +We know then actually nothing about this business. + +Pauline (to Gertrude) +Do you know why I came to draw you from the abyss which had engulfed +you? It is because Ferdinand spoke to me a word which brought me back +from the tomb. He has so great a horror of being left with you in life +that he follows me, and will follow me to the grave, where we shall +rest together, wedded in death. + +Gertrude +Ferdinand! Ah, my God! At what a price have I been saved! + +The General +But unhappy child, wherefore must you die? Am I not, have I ceased for +one moment to be a good father? And yet they say that I am culpable. + +Ferdinand +Yes, General, I alone can give the answer to the riddle, and can +explain to you your guilt. + +The General +You, Ferdinand, you to whom I offered my daughter, you who loved her-- + +Ferdinand +My name is Ferdinand Comte de Marcandal, son of General Marcandal. Do +you understand? + +The General +Ah! son of a traitor! What could you bring to my home but death and +treachery! Defend yourself! + +Ferdinand +Would you fight, General, with the dead? + +(Ferdinand falls.) + +Gertrude (rushes to Ferdinand with a cry) +Oh! (She recoils before the General, and approaches his daughter, then +draws forth a phial, but immediately flings it away.) I will condemn +myself to live for this old man! (The General kneels beside his dying +daughter.) Doctor, what will become of him? Is he likely to lose his +reason? + +The General (stammering like a man who has lost his speech) +I--I--I-- + + +Vernon +General, what is it? + +The General +I--I am trying--to pray--for my daughter! + + +Final curtain. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts +by Honore De Balzac + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STEPMOTHER *** + +***** This file should be named 15878.txt or 15878.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/8/7/15878/ + +Produced by Dagny and John Bickers + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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