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.