De Verby (to Rousseau)
Have you good news?
Mme. Rousseau
Is he acquitted?
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.