Jules (in great astonishment) You?
Dupre Yes, I! (Pamela casts down her eyes.) I have no family to oppose my wishes.
Jules I will win over mine.
Dupre They will send you off to Brussels again.
Jules I must run and find my mother; my courage has returned! Were I to forfeit the favor of my father, were my aunt to cut me off with a sou, I would stand my ground. If I did otherwise, I should be destitute of self-respect, I should prove myself a soulless coward. — After that, is there any hope for me?
Dupre Do you ask such a question of me?
Jules Pamela, answer, I implore you!
Pamela (to Dupre) I have given you my word, sir.
SCENE THIRD
The same persons and a servant. (The servant hands a card to Dupre.)
Dupre (looking at the card with great surprise) How is this? (To Jules) Do you know where M. de Verby is?
Jules He is in Normandy, staying with his brother, Comte de Verby.
Dupre (looking at the card) Very good. Now you had better go and find your mother.
Jules But you promise me?
Dupre I promise nothing.
Jules Good-bye, Pamela! (Aside, as he goes out) I will come back soon.
Dupre (turning towards Pamela, after the departure of Jules) Must he come back again?
Pamela (with great emotion, throwing herself into his arms) Ah! sir! (Exit.)
Dupre (looking after her and wiping away a tear) Gratitude, forsooth! (Opening a narrow secret door.) Come in, general; come in!
SCENE FOURTH
Dupre and De Verby. Dupre Strange, sir, to find you here, when every one believes that you are fifty leagues away from Paris.
De Verby I arrived this morning.
Dupre Without doubt some powerful motive brought you here?
De Verby No selfish motive; but I couldn’t remain wholly indifferent to the affairs of others! You may prove useful to me.
Dupre I shall be only too happy to have an opportunity of serving you.
Du Verby M. Dupre, the circumstances under which we have become acquainted have put me in a position fully to appreciate your value. You occupy the first place among the men whose talents and character claim my attention.
Dupre Ah! sir, you compel me to say that you, a veteran of the Empire, have always seemed to me by your loyalty and your independence to be a fitting representative of that glorious epoch. (Aside) I hope I have paid him back in full.
De Verby I suppose I may rely upon you for assistance?
Dupre Certainly.
De Verby I would like to ask for some information with regard to young Pamela Giraud.
Dupre I felt sure that was your object.
De Verby The Rousseau family have behaved abominably.
Dupre Would you have behaved any better?
De Verby I intend to espouse her cause! Since her arrest as a perjurer, how do things go on?
Dupre That can have very little interest for you.
De Verby That may be true, but —
Dupre (aside) He is trying to make me talk in order to find out whether he is likely to be compromised in the case. (Aloud) General de Verby, there are some men who cannot be seen through, either in their plans or in their thoughts; the actions and events which they give rise to alone reveal and explain such men. These are the strong men. I humbly beg that you will pardon my frankness when I say that I don’t look upon you as being one of them.
De Verby Sir! What language to use to me! You are a singular man!
Dupre More than that! I believe that I am an original man! Listen to me. You throw out hints to me, and you think that as a future ambassador you can try on me your diplomatic methods; but you have chosen the wrong man and I am going to tell you something, which you will take no pleasure in learning. You are ambitious, but you are also prudent, and you have taken the lead in a certain conspiracy. The plot failed, and without worrying yourself about those whom you had pushed to the front, and who eagerly strove for success, you have yourself sneaked out of the way. As a political renegade you have proved your independence by burning incense to the new dynasty! And you expect as a reward to be made ambassador to Turin! In a month’s time you will receive your credentials; meanwhile Pamela is arrested, you have been seen at her house, you may possibly be compromised by her trial for perjury! Then you rush to me, trembling with the fear of being unmasked, of losing the promotion which has caused you so many efforts to attain! You come to me with an air of obsequiousness, and with the words of flattery, expecting to make me your dupe, and thus to show your sincerity! Well, you have sufficient reason for alarm — Pamela is in the hands of justice, and she has told all.
De Verby What then is to be done?
Dupre I have one suggestion to make: Write to Jules that you release him from his engagement, and the Mlle. de Verby withdraws her promise to be his wife.
De Verby Is that your advice?
Dupre You find that the Rousseau family have behaved abominably, and you ought to despise them!
De Verby But you know — engagements of this sort —
Dupre I’ll tell you what I know; I know that your private fortune is not equal to the position which you aspire to. Mme. du Brocard, whose wealth is equal to her pride, ought to come to your assistance, if this alliance —
De Verby Sir! How dare you to affront my dignity in this way?
Dupre Whether what I say be true or false, do what I tell you! If you agree, I will endeavor to save you from being compromised. But write — or get out of the difficulty the best way you can. But stay, I hear some clients coming.
De Verby I don’t want to see anybody! Everybody, even the Rousseau family, believes that I have left the city.
A servant (announcing a visitor) Madame du Brocard!
De Verby Oh, heavens!
(De Verby rushes into an office on the right.)
SCENE FIFTH
Dupre and Madame du Brocard. (Madame du Brocard enters, her face hidden by a heavy black veil which she cautiously raises.)
Mme. du Brocard I have been here several times without being lucky enough to find you in. We are quite alone here?
Dupre (smiling) Quite alone!
Mme. du Brocard And so this harrowing affair has broken out afresh?
Dupre It has, unhappily!
Mme. du Brocard That wretched young man! If I had not superintended his education, I would disinherit him! My life at present is not worth living. Is it possible that I, whose conduct and principles have won the esteem of all, should be involved in all this trouble? And yet on this occasion the only thing that gives me any anxiety is my conduct towards the Girauds!
Dupre I can well believe it, for it was you who led astray and who induced Pamela to act as she did!
Mme. du Brocard I feel, sir, that it is always a mistake to associate with people of a certain class — say, with a Bonapartist — a man who has neither conscience nor heart.
(De Verby, who has been listening, shrinks back with a gesture of rage.)
Dupre You always seemed to have such a high opinion of him!
Mme. du Brocard His family was highly thought of! And the prospect of this brilliant marriage! I always dreamt of a distinguished future for my nephew.
Dupre But you are forgetting the general’s affection for you, his unselfishness.
Mme. du Brocard His affection! His unselfishness! The general does not possess a sou, and I had promised him a hundred thousand francs, when once the marriage contract was signed.
Dupre (coughs loudly, as he turns in the direction of De Verby) Oh! indeed!
Mme. du Brocard I am come to you secretly, and in confidence, in spite of all that has been said by this M. de Verby, who avers that you are a half-rate lawyer! He has said the most frightful things about you, and I come now to beg that you will extricate me from this difficulty. I will give you whatever money you demand.
Dupre What I wish above all is that you promise to let your nephew marry whom he
chooses, and give him the fortune you had designed for him, in case he married Mlle. de Verby.
Mme. du Brocard One moment; you said, whom he pleased?
Dupre Give me your answer!
Mme. du Brocard But I ought to know.
Dupre Very well then, you must extricate yourself without my assistance.
Mme. du Brocard You are taking advantage of my situation! Ah! some one is coming.
Dupre (looking towards the newcomers) It is some of your own family!
Mme. du Brocard (peering cautiously) It is my brother-in-law Rousseau — What is he up to now? He swore to me that he would keep quiet!
Dupre You also took an oath. In fact, there has been a great deal of swearing in your family lately.
Mme. du Brocard I hope I shall be able to hear what he has to say!
(Rousseau appears with his wife. Mme. du Brocard conceals herself behind the curtain.)
Dupre (looking at her) Very good! But if these two want to hide themselves, I don’t know where I shall put them!
SCENE SIXTH
Dupre, Rousseau and Madame Rousseau. Rousseau Sir, we are at our wits’ end — Madame du Brocard, my sister-in-law, came this morning and told us all sorts of stories.
Mme. Rousseau Sir, I am in the most serious alarm.
Dupre (offering her a seat) Pray be seated, madame.
Rousseau If all she says be true, my son is still in difficulties.
Dupre I pity you; I do indeed!
Rousseau It seems as if I should never get free! This unfortunate affair has lasted for six months, and it seems to have cut ten years off my life. I have been forced to neglect the most magnificent speculations, financial combinations of absolute certitude, and to let them pass into the hands of others. And then came the trial! But when I thought the affair was all over, I have been compelled once more to leave my business, and to spend my precious time in these interviews and solicitations.
Dupre I pity you; I do indeed!
Mme. Rousseau Meanwhile it is impossible for me —
Rousseau It is all your fault, and that of your family. Mme. du Brocard, who at first used always to call me “my dear Rousseau” — because I had a few hundred thousand crowns —
Dupre Such a sum is a fine varnish for a man.
Rousseau From pride and ambition, she threw herself at the head of M. de Verby. (De Verby and Mme. du Brocard listen.) Pretty couple they are! Two charming characters, one a military lobbyist, and the other an old hypocritical devotee!
(The two withdraw their heads quickly.)
Mme. Rousseau Sir, she is my sister!
Dupre Really, you are going too far!
Rousseau You do not know them! Sir, I address you once again, there is sure to be a new trial. What has become of that girl?
Dupre That girl is to be my wife, sir.
Rousseau and Mme. Rousseau Your wife!
De Verby and Mme. du Brocard His wife!
Dupre Yes, I shall marry her as soon as she regains her liberty — that is, provided she doesn’t become the wife of your son!
Rousseau The wife of my son! —
Mme. Rousseau What did he say?
Dupre What is the matter? Does that astonish you? You’re bound to entertain this proposal — and I demand that you do so.
Rousseau (ironically) Ah! M. Dupre, I don’t care a brass button about my son’s union with Mlle. de Verby — the niece of a disreputable man! It was that fool of a Madame du Brocard who tried to bring about this grand match. But to come down to a daughter of a porter —
Dupre Her father is no longer that, sir!
Rousseau What do you mean?
Dupre He lost his place through your son, and he intends returning to the country, to live on the money — (Rousseau listens attentively) on the money which you have promised to give him.
Rousseau Ah! you are joking!
Dupre On the contrary, I am quite serious. Your son will marry their daughter — and you will provide a pension for the old people.
Rousseau Sir —
SCENE SEVENTH
The same persons and Joseph (coming in pale and faint). Joseph M. Dupre, M. Dupre, save me!
All three What has happened? What is the matter?
Joseph Soldiers! Mounted soldiers are coming to arrest me!
Dupre Hold your tongue! Hold your tongue! (Everybody seems alarmed. Dupre looks with anxiety towards the room where Pamela is. To Joseph) To arrest you?
Joseph I saw one of them. Don’t you hear him? He is coming up-stairs. Hide me!
(Joseph tries to hide himself in the small room, from which De Verby comes out with a cry.)
De Verby Ah!
(Joseph gets behind the curtain and Mme. du Brocard rushes forth with a shriek.)
Mme. du Brocard Oh, heavens!
Mme. Rousseau My sister!
Rousseau M. de Verby!
(The door opens.)
Joseph (falling exhausted over a chair) We are all nabbed.
The servant (entering, to Dupre) A message from the Keeper of the Seals.
Joseph The Keeper of the Seals! That must be about me!
Dupre (advancing with a serious face and addressing the four others) I shall now leave you all four face to face — you whose mutual love and esteem is so great. Ponder well all I have said to you; she who sacrificed all for you, has been despised and humiliated, both for you and by you. It is yours to make full reparation to her — to make it to-day — this very instant — in this very room. And then, we can take measures by which all can obtain deliverance, if indeed you are worth the trouble it will cost me.
(Exit Dupre.)
SCENE EIGHTH
The same persons with the exception of Dupre. (They stand looking awkwardly at each other for a moment.)
Joseph (going up to them) We are a nice lot of people. (To De Verby) I should like to know when we are put in prison, whether you are going to look out for me, for my pocket is as light as my heart is heavy. (De Verby turns his back on him. To Rousseau) You know well enough that I was promised something for my services. (Rousseau withdraws from him without answering. To Mme. du Brocard) Tell me now, wasn’t something promised to me?
Mme. du Brocard We will see about that later.
Mme. Rousseau But what do you fear? What are you doing in this place? Were you pursued by any one?
Joseph Not at all. I have been four days in this house, hidden like so much vermin in the garret. I came here because the old Giraud people were not to be found in their quarters. They have been carried off somewhere. Pamela has also disappeared — she is doubtless in hiding. I had no particular desire to run any risk; I admit that I lied to the judge. If I am condemned I will obtain my freedom by making a few startling revelations; I will tell on everybody! —
De Verby (with energy) It must be done!
(De Verby sits at the table and writes.)
Mme. du Brocard O Jules, Jules! Wretched child, you are the cause of all this!
Mme. Rousseau (to her husband) You see, this lawyer has got you all in his power! You will have to agree to his terms.
(De Verby rises from the table. Mme. du Brocard takes his place and begins to write.)
Mme. Rousseau (to her husband) My dear, I implore you!
Rousseau (with decision) By heavens! I shall promise to this devil of a lawyer all that he asks of me; but Jules is at Brussels.
(The door opens, Joseph cries out in alarm, but it is Dupre who enters.)
SCENE NINTH
The same persons and Dupre. Dupre How is this?
(Mme du Brocard hands him the letter she has been writing; De Verby hands him his; and it is passed over to Rousseau who reads it with astonishment; De Verby casts a furious glance at Dupre and the Rousseau family, and dashes out of the room.)
Dupre (to Rousseau) And what decision have you made, sir?
Rousseau I shall let my son do exactly what he wants in the matter.
Mme. Rousseau Dear husband!
Dupre (aside) He thin
ks that Jules is out of town.
Rousseau At present Jules is at Brussels, and he must return at once.
Dupre That is perfectly fair! It is quite clear that I can’t demand anything at the moment of you, so long as he is away; to do so would be absurd.
Rousseau Certainly! We can settle matters later.
Dupre Yes, as soon as he returns.
Rousseau Oh! as soon as he returns. (Aside) I will take pretty good care that he remains where he is.
Dupre (going towards the door on the left) Come in, young man, and thank your family, who have given their full consent to your marriage.
Mme. Rousseau It is Jules!
Mme. du Brocard It is my nephew!
Jules Can it be possible?
Dupre (darting towards another room) And you, Pamela, my child, my daughter! — embrace your husband.
(Jules rushes towards her.)
Mme. du Brocard (to Rousseau) How has all this come about?
Dupre Pamela never was arrested. There is no likelihood of her ever being. I haven’t a title of nobility. I am not the brother of a peer of France, but still I have some influence. The self-sacrifice of this poor girl has aroused the sympathy of the government — the indictment has been quashed. The Keeper of the Seals has sent me word of this by an orderly on horseback, whom this simpleton took for a regiment of soldiers in pursuit of him.
Joseph It is very hard to see plainly through a garret window.
Mme. du Brocard Sir, you have caught me by surprise; I take back my promise.
Dupre But I still have possession of your latter. Do you wish to have a lawsuit about it? Very well, I will appear against you on the other side.
Giraud and Mme. Giraud (entering and approaching Dupre) M. Dupre!
Dupre Are you satisfied with me?
(In the meantime Jules and Mme. Rousseau have been imploring Rousseau to yield his consent; he hesitates, but at last kisses Pamela on the forehead. Dupre approaches Rousseau and, seeing him kiss Pamela, wrings his hand.)
Dupre You have done well, sir. (Then turning to Jules) Will you make her happy?
Jules Ah, my friend, you need not ask!
(Pamela kisses the hand of Dupre.)
Joseph (to Dupre) What a fool I have been! Well, he is going to marry her, and I am actually glad for them! But am I not to get something out of all this?
Works of Honore De Balzac Page 1418