Marguerite
Sir, I swear to you by my eternal salvation—
Gertrude
Do not swear. (Calling.) Pauline!
The General
Pauline!
(Pauline appears.)
Gertrude
Was the vase of flowers in your room last night?
Pauline
Yes. Marguerite, my dear old friend, you must have forgotten it.
Marguerite Why don't you say, Mademoiselle, that some one put it there on purpose to make you ill!
Gertrude
Whom do you mean by some one?
The General You old fool, if your memory failed you, it is unnecessary for you, at any rate, to accuse anybody else.
Pauline (aside to Marguerite)
Keep silence! (Aloud) Marguerite, it was there! You forgot it.