Rousseau No, but it is rumored that he is going to be; the jury are in consultation; I couldn’t stay there any longer; I couldn’t stand the suspense; I told Antoine to hurry here as soon as the verdict is given.
Mme. Rousseau We shall learn what the verdict is from this window; we have agreed upon a signal to be given by that youth, Joseph Binet.
Rousseau Ah! keep a good look out, Justine.
Mme. Rousseau And how is Jules? What a trying time it must be for him!
Rousseau Not at all! The unfortunate boy astonishes me by his coolness. Such courage as he has is worthy of a better cause than that of conspiracy. To think of his having put us in such a position! But for this I might have been appointed President of the Chamber of Commerce.
De Verby You forget that, after all, his marriage with a member of my family will make some amends for his trouble.
Rousseau (struck by a sudden thought) Ah, general! When I left the court room, Jules stood surrounded by his friends, among whom were M. Dupre and the young girl Pamela. Your niece and Madame de Verby must have noticed it, and I hope that you will try to explain matters to them.
(While Rousseau speaks with the general the ladies are watching for the signal.)
De Verby Rest assured of that! I will take care that Jules appears as white as snow! It is of very great importance to explain this affair of the working-girl, otherwise the Comtesse de Verby might oppose the marriage. We must explain away this apparent amour, and she must be made to understand that the girl’s evidence was a piece of self- sacrifice for which she had been paid.
Rousseau I certainly intend to do my duty towards that young girl. I shall give her eight or ten thousand francs. It seems to me that that will be liberal, very liberal!
Mme. Rousseau (while Mme. du Brocard tries to restrain her) Ah, sir, but what of her honor?
Rousseau Well, I suppose that some one will marry her.
SCENE SIXTH
The same persons and Joseph. Joseph (dashing in) Monsieur! Madame! Give me some cologne or something, I beg you!
All Whatever can be the matter?
Joseph M. Antoine, your footman, is bringing Pamela here.
Rousseau Has anything happened?
Joseph When she saw the jury come in to give their verdict she was taken ill! Her father and mother, who were in the crowd at the other end of the court, couldn’t stir. I cried out, and the presiding judge made them put me out of court!
Mme. Rousseau But Jules! My son! What did the jury say?
Joseph I know nothing! I had no eyes except for Pamela. As for your son, I suppose he is all right, but first with me comes Pamela —
De Verby But you must have seen how the jury looked!
Joseph Oh, yes! The foreman of the jury looked so gloomy — so severe — that I am quite persuaded — (He shudders.)
Mme. Rousseau My poor Jules!
Joseph Here comes Antoine and Mlle. Pamela. SCENE SEVENTH
The same persons, Antoine and Pamela. (They lead Pamela to a seat and give her smelling salts.)
Mme. du Brocard My dear child!
Mme. Rousseau My daughter!
Rousseau Mademoiselle!
Pamela I couldn’t stand it any longer, the excitement was too great — and the suspense was so cruel. I tried to brace up my courage by the calmness of M. Jules while the jury was deliberating; the smile which he wore made me share his presentiment of coming release! But I was chilled to the heart when I looked at the pale, impassive countenance of M. Dupre! — And then, the sound of the bell that announced the return of the jury, and the murmur of anxiety that ran through the court — I was quite overcome! — A cold sweat suffused my cheek and I fainted.
Joseph As for me, I shouted out, and they threw me into the street.
De Verby (to Rousseau) If by mischance —
Rousseau Sir!
De Verby (to Rousseau and the women) If it should be necessary to appeal the case (pointing to Pamela), could we count upon her?
Mme. Rousseau On her? To the end; I am sure of that.
Mme. du Brocard Pamela!
Rousseau Tell me, you who have shown yourself so good, so generous, — if we should still have need of your unselfish aid, would you be ready?
Pamela Quite ready, sir! I have but one object, one single thought! — and that is, to save M. Jules!
Joseph (aside) She loves him, she loves him!
Rousseau Ah! all that I have is at your disposal.
(A murmur and cries are heard; general alarm.)
All What a noise they are making! Listen to their shouts!
(Pamela totters to her feet. Joseph runs to the window, where Justine is watching.)
Joseph There’s a crowd of people rushing down the steps of the court, — they are coming here!
Justine and Joseph It is M. Jules!
Rousseau and Mme. Rousseau My son!
Mme. du Brocard and Pamela Jules!
(They rush forward to Jules.)
De Verby He is acquitted!
SCENE EIGHTH
The same persons and Jules (brought in by his mother and his aunt and followed by his friends). (Jules flings himself into the arms of his mother; he does not at first see Pamela, who is seated in a corner near Joseph.)
Jules O mother! Dear aunt! And my father! Here I am, restored to liberty again! (To General de Verby and the friends who have come with him) Let me thank you, general, and you, my friends, for your kind sympathy.
(After general handshaking the friends depart.)
Mme. Rousseau And so my son has at last come back to me! It seems too good to be true.
Joseph (to Pamela) Well, and what of you? He hasn’t said a word to you, and you are the only one he hasn’t seen.
Pamela Silence, Joseph, silence!
(Pamela retires to the end of the stage.)
De Verby Not only have you been acquitted, but you have also gained a high place in the esteem of those who are interested in the affair! You have exhibited both courage and discretion, such as have gratified us all.
Rousseau Everybody has behaved well. Antoine, you have done nobly; you will end your life in this house.
Mme. Rousseau (to Jules) Let me express my gratitude to M. Adolph Durand.
(Jules presents his friend.)
Jules Yes, but my real deliverer, my guardian angel is poor Pamela! How well she understood my situation and her own also! What self-sacrifice she showed! Can I ever forget her emotion, her terror! — and then she fainted! (Mme. Rousseau, who has been thinking of nothing else but her son, now looks around for Pamela, sees her, and brings her up to Jules.) Ah, Pamela! Pamela! My gratitude to you shall be eternal!
Pamela Ah, M. Jules! How happy I feel.
Jules We will never part again? Will we, mother? She shall be your daughter!
De Verby (to Rousseau with vehemence) My sister and my niece are expecting an answer; you will have to exercise your authority, sir. This young man seems to have a lively and romantic imagination. He is in danger of missing his career through a too scrupulous sense of honor, and a generosity which is tinged with folly!
Rousseau (in embarrassment) The fact is —
De Verby But I have your word.
Mme. du Brocard Speak out, brother!
Jules Mother, do you answer them, and show yourself on my side?
Rousseau (taking Jules by the hand) Jules! I shall never forget the service which this young girl has done us. I understand the promptings of your gratitude; but as you are aware the Comte de Verby has our promise; it is not right that you should lightly sacrifice your future! You are not wanting in energy, you have given sufficient proof of that! A young conspirator should be quite able to extricate himself from such an affair as this.
De Verby (to Jules) Undoubtedly! And our future diplomat will have a splendid chance.
Rousseau Moreover my wishes in the matter —
Jules O father!
Dupre (appearing) Jules, I still have to take up your defence.
/> Pamela and Joseph M. Dupre!
Jules My friend!
Mme. du Brocard It is the lawyer.
Dupre I see! I am no longer “my dear Monsieur Dupre”!
Mme. du Brocard Oh, you are always that! But before paying our debt of gratitude to you, we have to think about this young girl.
Dupre (coldly) I beg your pardon, madame.
De Verby This man is going to spoil everything.
Dupre (to Rousseau) I heard all you said. It transcends all I have ever experienced. I could not have believed that ingratitude could follow so soon on the acceptance of a benefit. Rich as you are, rich as your son will be, what fairer task have you to perform than that of satisfying your conscience? In saving Jules, this girl has brought disgrace upon herself! Can it be possible that the fortune which you have so honorably gained should have killed in your heart every generous sentiment, and that self-interest alone — (He sees Mme. du Brocard making signs to her brother.) Ah! that is right, madame! It is you that give the tone in this household! And I forgot while I was pleading to this gentleman, that you would be at his elbow when I was no longer here.
Mme. du Brocard We have pledged our word to the Count and Countess of Verby! Mlle. Pamela, whose friend I shall be all my life, did not effect the deliverance of my nephew on the understanding that she should blight his prospects.
Rousseau There ought to be some basis of equality in a union by marriage. My son will some day have an income of eighty thousand francs.
Joseph (aside) That suits me to a T. I shall marry her now. But this fellow here, he talks more like a Jewish money-changer than a father.
De Verby (to Dupre) I think, sir, that your talent and character are such as to claim our highest admiration and esteem. The Rousseau family will always preserve your name in grateful memory; but these private discussions must be carried on without witnesses from outside. M. Rousseau has given me his word and I keep him to his promise! (To Jules) Come, my young friend, come to my brother’s house; my niece is expecting you. To-morrow we will sign the marriage contract.
(Pamela falls senseless on her chair.)
Joseph Ah, what have you done! Mlle. Pamela!
Dupre and Jules (darting towards her) Good heavens!
De Verby (taking Jules by the hand) Come — come —
Dupre Stop a moment! I should have been glad to think that I was not the only protector that was left her! But listen, the matter is not yet ended! Pamela will certainly be arrested as a false witness! (Seizes the hand of De Verby.) And you will all be ruined.
(Dupre leads off Pamela.)
Joseph (hiding behind a sofa) Don’t tell anybody that I am here!
Curtain to the Fourth Act.
ACT V
SCENE FIRST
(The stage setting represents the private study in Dupre’s house. On one side is a bookcase, on the other a desk. On the left is a window hung with heavy, sweeping silk curtains.)
Dupre, Pamela, Giraud and Madame Giraud. (Pamela is seated on a chair reading; her mother is standing in front of her; Giraud is examining the pictures on the wall; Dupre is striding up and down the room.)
Dupre (stopping, addresses Giraud) Did you take your usual precautions in coming here this morning?
Giraud You may rest assured of that, sir; when I come here I walk with my head turned backwards! I know well enough that the least want of caution quickly results in misfortune. Your heart, my daughter, has led you astray this time; perjury is a terrible thing and I am afraid you are in a serious mess.
Mme. Giraud I agree with you. You must be very careful, Giraud, for if any one were to follow you and discover that our poor daughter was here in concealment, through the generosity of M. Dupre —
Dupre Come now, enough of that! (He continues to stride hastily about the room.) What ingratitude! The Rousseau family are ignorant of what steps I have taken. They believe that Pamela has been arrested, and none of them trouble their heads about it! They have sent Jules off to Brussels; De Verby is in the country; and Rousseau carries on his business at the Bourse as if nothing else was worth living for. Money, ambition, are their sole objects. The higher feelings count for nothing! They all worship the golden calf. Money makes them dance round their idol; the sight of it blinds them.
(Pamela has been watching him, she rises and approaches him.)
Pamela M. Dupre, you are agitated, you seem unwell. I fear it is on my account.
Dupre Have you not shared my disgust at the hateful want of feeling manifested by this family, who, as soon as their son is acquitted, throw you aside as a mere tool that has served their purpose?
Pamela But what can we do about it, sir?
Dupre Dear child, does your heart feel no bitterness against them?
Pamela No, sir! I am happier than any of them; for I feel that I have done a good deed.
Mme. Giraud (embracing Pamela) My poor dear daughter!
Giraud This is the happiest moment of my life.
Dupre (addressing Pamela) Mademoiselle, you are a noble girl! No one has better ground for saying it than I, for it was I who came to you imploring you to speak the truth; and pure and honorable as you are, you have compromised your character for the sake of another. And now they repulse you and treat you with contempt; but I look upon you with hearty admiration — you shall yet be happy, for I will make full reparation to you! Pamela, I am forty-eight years old. I have some reputation, and a fortune. I have spent my life as an honest man, and will finish it as such; will you be my wife?
Pamela (much moved) I, sir?
Giraud His wife! Our daughter his wife! What do you say to that, Mme. Giraud?
Mme. Giraud Can it be possible?
Dupre Why should you wonder at this? Let us have no idle phrases. Put the question to your own heart — and answer yes or no — Will you be my wife?
Pamela You are a great man, sir, and I owe everything to you. Do you really wish to add to the debt? Ah! my gratitude — !
Dupre Don’t let me hear you use that word, — it spoils everything! The world is something that I despise! And I render to it no account of my conduct, my hatred or my love. From the moment I saw your courage and your resignation — I loved you. Try to love me in return!
Pamela Ah, sir, indeed I will!
Mme. Giraud Could any one help loving you?
Giraud Sir, I am only a poor porter. I repeat it, I am nothing but a porter. You love our daughter, you have told her so. Forgive me — my eyes are full of tears — and that checks my utterance. (He wipes his eyes.) Well, well, you do right to love her! It proves that you have brains! For Pamela — there are a great many landowners’ children who are her inferiors. But it is humiliating for her to have parents such as us.
Pamela O father!
Giraud You are a leader among men! Well, I and my wife, we will go and hide ourselves somewhere far into the country! And on Sunday, at the hour of mass, you will say, “They are praying to God for us!”
(Pamela kisses her parents.)
Dupre You are good people, and to think that such as you have neither title nor fortune! And if you are pining for your country home, you shall return there and live there in happiness and tranquillity, and I will make provision for you.
Giraud and Mme. Giraud Oh! our gratitude —
Dupre That word again — I should like to cut it out of the dictionary! Meanwhile I intend to take you both with me into the country, so set about packing up.
Giraud Sir!
Dupre Well, what is it?
Giraud Poor Joseph Binet is also in danger. He does not know that we are all here. But three days ago, he came to see your servant and seemed scared almost to death, and he is hidden here, as in a sanctuary, up in the attic.
Dupre Call him down-stairs.
Giraud He will not come, sir; he is too much afraid of being arrested — they pass him up food through a hole in the ceiling!
Dupre He will soon be at liberty, I hope. I am expecting a letter which will relieve all your
minds.
Giraud At once?
Dupre I expect the letter this evening.
Giraud (to his wife) I am going to make my way cautiously to the house.
(Madame Giraud accompanies him, and gives him advice. Pamela arises to follow her.)
Dupre (restraining Pamela) You are not in love with this Binet, are you?
Pamela Oh, never!
Dupre And the other?
Pamela (struggling with her feelings) I shall love none but you!
(Pamela starts to leave the room. A noise is heard in the antechamber. Jules appears.)
SCENE SECOND
Pamela, Dupre and Jules. Jules (to the servants) Let me pass! I tell you — I must speak to him at once! (Noticing Dupre) Ah, sir! What has become of Pamela? Is she at liberty? Is she safe?
Pamela (stopping at the door) Jules!
Jules Good heavens! You here?
Dupre And you, sir, I thought you were at Brussels?
Jules Yes, they sent me away against my will, and I yielded to them! Reared as I have been in obedience, I still tremble before my family! But I carried away with me the memory of what I had left behind! It has taken me six months to realize the situation, and I now acknowledge that I risked my life in order to obtain the hand of Mlle. de Verby, that I might gratify the ambition of my family, or, if you like, might honor my own vanity. I hoped some day to be a man of title, I, the son of a rich stock-broker! Then I met Pamela, and I fell in love with her! The rest you know! What was a mere sentiment has now become a duty, and every hour that has kept me from her I have felt that obedience to my family was rank cowardice; and while they believe I am far away, I have returned! You told me she had been arrested — and to think that I should run away (to both of them) without coming to see you, who had been my deliverer, and will be hers also.
Dupre (looking at them) Good! Very good! He is an honorable fellow after all.
Pamela (aside, drying her tears) Thank God for that!
Dupre What do you expect to do? What are your plans?
Jules What are my plans? To unite my fortune with hers. If necessary, to forfeit everything for her, and under God’s protection to say to her, “Pamela, will you be mine?”
Dupre The deuce you say! But there is a slight difficulty in the way — for I am going to marry her myself.
Works of Honore De Balzac Page 1417