Gertrude (aside)
It is his friend, Eugene Ramel.
Ramel My friend, Ferdinand de Charny, to whom I have told the object of my visit, to say nothing about it until you had finished your dinner.
The General
Ferdinand then is your friend?
Ramel I have known him from childhood; and here we met in your avenue. On meeting, after nine years of separation, we had so many things to talk about, that I caused him to be late.
The General
But, sir, to what circumstance am I to attribute your presence here?
Ramel I come in the matter of Jean Nicot, known as Champagne, your foreman, who is charged with a crime.
Gertrude But, sir, our friend, Doctor Vernon, has declared that Champagne's wife died a natural death.
Vernon
Yes, sir, cholera.
Ramel Justice, sir, believes in nothing but investigations and convictions of its own. You did wrong to proceed before my arrival.
Felix
Madame, shall I bring in the coffee?