Pamela Giraud: A Play in Five Acts

by Honoré de Balzac

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 thinks 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?
Dupre
Certainly, you shall have all the fees that come to me from the
lawsuit.
Joseph
You may count on my gratitude.
Dupre
That will be receipt in full!

Final curtain.