Chapter 3

SCENE FIRST

(The stage represents the room of Pamela.)

Pamela, Giraud and Madame Giraud.

(Pamela is standing near her mother, who is knitting; Giraud is at work at a table on the left.)

Mme. Giraud The fact of the matter is this, my poor daughter; I do not mean to reproach you, but you are the cause of all our trouble.

Giraud No doubt about it! We came to Paris because in the country tailoring is no sort of a business, and we had some ambition for you, our Pamela, such a sweet, pretty little thing as you were. We said to each other: "We will go into service; I will work at my trade; we will give a good position to our child; and as she will be good, industrious and pretty, we can take care of our old age by marrying her well."

Pamela O father!

Mme. Giraud Half of our plans were already carried out.

Giraud Yes, certainly. We had a good position; you made as fine flowers as any gardener could grow; and Joseph Binet, your neighbor, was to be the husband of our choice.

Mme. Giraud Instead of all this, the scandal which has arisen in the house has caused the landlord to dismiss us; the talk of the neighborhood was incessant, for the young man was arrested in your room.

Pamela And yet I have been guilty of nothing!

Giraud Come, now, we know that well enough! Do you think if it were otherwise that we would stay near you? And that I would embrace you? After all, Pamela, there is nothing like a father and a mother! And when the whole world is against you, if a girl can look into her parents' face without a blush it is enough.

SCENE SECOND

The same persons and Joseph Binet.

Mme. Giraud Well, well! Here is Joseph Binet.

Pamela M. Binet, what are you doing here? But for your want of common-sense, M. Jules would not have been found here.

Joseph I am come to tell you about him.

Pamela What! Really? Well, let us hear, Joseph.

Joseph Ah! you won't send me away now, will you? I have seen his lawyer, and I have offered him all that I possess if he would get him off!

Pamela Do you mean it?

Joseph Yes. Would you be satisfied if he was merely transported?

Pamela Ah! you are a good fellow, Joseph, and I see that you love me! Let us be friends.

Joseph (aside) I have good hopes that we shall be.

(A knock at the door is heard.)

SCENE THIRD

The preceding, M. de Verby and Madame du Brocard.

Mme. Giraud (opening the door) There are some people here!

Giraud A lady and a gentleman.

Joseph What did you say?

(Pamela rises from her seat and takes a step toward M. de Verby, who bows to her.)

Mme. du Brocard Is this Mlle. Pamela Giraud?

Pamela It is, madame.

De Verby Forgive us, mademoiselle, for presenting ourselves without previous announcement--

Pamela There is no harm done. May I know the object of this visit?

Mme. du Brocard And you, good people, are her father and mother?

Mme. Giraud Yes, madame.

Joseph She calls them good people--she must be one of the swells.

Pamela Will you please be seated.

(Mme. Giraud offers them seats.)

Joseph (to Giraud) My eye! The gentleman has on the ribbon of the Legion of Honor! He belongs to high society.

Giraud (looking at De Verby) By my faith, that's true!

Mme. du Brocard I am the aunt of M. Jules Rousseau.

Pamela You, madame? Then this gentleman must be his father?

Mme. du Brocard He is merely a friend of the family. We are come, mademoiselle, to ask a favor of you. (Looking at Binet with embarrassment.) Your brother?

Giraud No, madame, just a neighbor of ours.

Mme. du Brocard (to Pamela) Send him away.

Joseph (aside) Send him away, indeed. I'd like to know what right she has--

(Pamela makes a sign to Joseph.)

Giraud (to Joseph) My friend, you had better leave us. It seems this is a private matter.

Joseph Very well. (Exit.)

SCENE FOURTH

The same persons excepting Binet.

Mme. du Brocard (to Pamela) You are acquainted with my nephew. I do not intend to reproach you. Your parents alone have the right.

Mme. Giraud But, thank God, they have no reason.

Giraud It is your nephew who has caused all this talk about her, but she is blameless!

De Verby (interrupting him) But suppose that we wish her to be guilty?

Pamela What do you mean, sir?

Giraud and Mme. Giraud To think of it!

Mme. du Brocard (seizing De Verby's meaning) Yes, suppose, to save the life of a poor young man--

De Verby It were necessary to declare that M. Jules Rousseau spent nearly the whole night of the twenty-fourth of August here with you?

Pamela Ah! sir!

De Verby (to Giraud and his wife) Yes, suppose it were necessary to testify against your daughter, by alleging this?

Mme. Giraud I would never say such a thing.

Giraud What! Insult my child! Sir, I have had all possible troubles. I was once a tailor, now I am reduced to nothing. I am a porter! But I have remained a father. My daughter is our sole treasure, the glory of our old age, and you ask us to dishonor her?

Mme. du Brocard Pray listen to me, sir.

Giraud No, madame, I will listen to nothing. My daughter is the hope of my gray hairs.

Pamela Calm yourself, father, I implore you.

Mme. Giraud Keep quite, Giraud! Do let this lady and gentleman speak!

Mme. du Brocard A family in deep affliction implores you to save them.

Pamela (aside) Poor Jules!

De Verby (in a low voice to Pamela) His fate is in your hands.

Mme. Giraud We are respectable people and know what it is for parents, for a mother, to be in despair. But what you ask is out of the question.

(Pamela puts a handkerchief to her eyes.)

Giraud We must stop this! You see the girl is in tears.

Mme. Giraud She has done nothing but weep for several days.

Giraud I know my daughter; she would be capable of going and making the declaration they ask, in spite of us.

Mme. Giraud Yes,--for you must see, she loves him, she loves your nephew! And to save his life--Well! Well! I would have done as much in her place.

Mme. du Brocard Have compassion on us!

De Verby Grant this request of ours--

Mme. du Brocard (to Pamela) If it is true that you love Jules--

Mme. Giraud (leading Giraud up to Pamela) Did you hear that? Well! Listen to me. She is in love with this youth. It is quite certain that he also is in love with her. If she should make a sacrifice like that, as a return, he ought to marry her.

Pamela (with vehemence) Never! (Aside) These people would not wish it, not they.

De Verby (to Mme. du Brocard) They are consulting about it.

Mme. du Brocard (in a low voice to De Verby) It will be absolutely necessary for us to make a sacrifice. We must appeal to their interest. It is the only plan!

De Verby In venturing to ask of you so great a sacrifice, we are quite aware of the claims that you will have on our gratitude. The family of Jules, who might have blamed you on account of your relations with him, are, on the contrary, anxious to discharge the obligations which bind them to you.

Mme. Giraud Ah! Did I not tell you so?

Pamela Can it be possible that Jules--

De Verby I am authorized to make a promise to you.

Pamela (with emotion) Oh!

De Verby Tell me, how much do you ask for the sacrifice required of you?

Pamela (in consternation) What do you mean? How much--I ask--for saving Jules? What do you take me for?

Mme. du Brocard Ah! Mademoiselle!

De Verby You misunderstand me.

Pamela No, it is you who misunderstand us! You are come here, to the house of poor people, and you are quite unaware of what you ask from them. You, madame, ought to know that whatever be the rank or the education of a woman, her honor is her sole treasure! And that which you in your own families guard with so much care, with so much reverence, you actually believe that people here, living in an attic, would be willing to sell! And you have said to yourselves: "Let us offer them money! We need just now the sacrifice of a working-girl's honor!"

Giraud That is excellent! I recognize my own blood there.

Mme. du Brocard My dear child, do not be offended! Money is money, after all.

De Verby (addressing Giraud) Undoubtedly! And six thousand francs for a solid annual income as a price of--a--

Pamela As the price of a lie! For I must out with it. But thank God I haven't yet lost my self-respect! Good-bye, sir.

(Pamela makes a low bow to Mme. du Brocard, then goes into her bed- chamber.)

De Verby What is to be done?

Mme. du Brocard I am quite nonplussed.

Giraud I quite admit that an income of six thousand francs is no trifle, but our daughter has a high spirit, you see; she takes after me--

Mme. Giraud And she will never yield.

SCENE FIFTH

The same persons, Joseph Binet, Dupre and Mme. Rousseau.

Joseph This way, sir. This way, madame. (Dupre and Mme. Rousseau enter.) These are the father and mother of Pamela Giraud!

Dupre (to De Verby) I am very sorry, sir, that you have got here before me!

Mme. Rousseau My sister has doubtless told you, madame, the sacrifice which we expect your daughter to make for us. Only an angel would make it.

Joseph What sacrifice?

Mme. Giraud It is no business of yours.

De Verby We have just had an interview with Mlle. Pamela--

Mme. du Brocard She has refused!

Mme. Rousseau Oh, heavens!

Dupre Refused what?

Mme. du Brocard An income of six thousand francs.

Dupre I could have wagered on it. To think of offering money!

Mme. du Brocard But it was the only way--

Dupre To spoil everything. (To Mme. Giraud) Madame, kindly tell your daughter that the counsel of M. Jules Rousseau is here and desires to see her.

Mme. Giraud Oh, as for that you will gain nothing.

Giraud Either from her or from us.

Joseph But what is it they want?

Giraud Hold your tongue.

Mme. du Brocard (to Mme. Giraud) Madame, offer her--

Dupre Now, Mme. du Brocard, I must beg you-- (To Mme. Giraud) It is in the name of the mother of Jules that I ask of you permission to see your daughter.

Mme. Giraud It will be of no use at all, sir! And to think that they point-blank offered her money when the young man a little time before had spoken of marrying her!

Mme. Rousseau (with excitement) Well, why not?

Mme. Giraud (with vehemence) How was that, madame?

Dupre (seizing the hand of Mme. Giraud) Come, come! Bring me your daughter.

(Exit Mme. Giraud.)

De Verby and Mme. du Brocard You have then made up your mind?

Dupre It is not I, but madame who has made up her mind.

De Verby (questioning Mme. du Brocard) What has she promised?

Dupre (seeing that Joseph is listening) Be silent, general; stay for a moment, I beg you, with these ladies. Here she comes. Now leave us alone, if you please.

(Pamela is brought in by her mother. She makes a curtsey to Mme. Rousseau, who gazes at her with emotion; then Dupre leads all but Pamela into the other room; Joseph remains behind.)

Joseph (aside) I wonder what they mean. They all talk of a sacrifice! And old Giraud won't say a word to me! Well, I can bide my time. I promised the advocate that I would give him my fourteen hundred francs, but before I do so, I would like to see how he acts with regard to me.

Dupre (going up to Joseph) Joseph Binet, you must leave the room.

Joseph And not hear what you say about me?

Dupre You must go away.

Joseph (aside) It is evident that they are concealing something from me. (To Dupre) I have prepared her mind; she is much taken with the idea of transportation. Stick to that point.

Dupre All right! But you must leave the room.

Joseph (aside) Leave the room! Oh, indeed! Not I.

(Joseph makes as if he had withdrawn, but, quietly returning, hides himself in a closet.)

Dupre (to Pamela) You have consented to see me, and I thank you for it. I know exactly what has recently taken place here, and I am not going to address you in the same way as you have been recently addressed.

Pamela Your very presence assures me of that, sir.

Dupre You are in love with this fine young man, this Joseph?

Pamela I am aware, sir, that advocates are like confessors!

Dupre My child, they have to be just as safe confidants. You may tell me everything without reserve.

Pamela Well, sir, I did love him; that is to say, I thought I loved him, and I would very willingly have become his wife. I thought that with his energy Joseph would have made a good business, and that we could lead together a life of toil. When prosperity came, we would have taken with us my father and my mother; it was all very clear--it would have been a united family!

Dupre (aside) The appearance of this young girl is in her favor! Let us see whether she is sincere or not. (Aloud) What are you thinking about?

Pamela I was thinking about these past days, which seemed to me so happy in comparison with the present. A fortnight ago my head was turned by the sight of M. Jules; I fell in love with him, as young girls do fall in love, as I have seen other young girls fall in love with young men-- with a love which would endure everything for those they loved! I used to say to myself: shall I ever be like that? Well, at this moment I do not know anything that I would not endure for M. Jules. A few moments ago they offered me money,--they, from whom I expected such nobleness, such greatness; and I was disgusted! Money! I have plenty of it, sir! I have twenty thousand francs! They are here, they are yours! That is to say, they are his! I have kept them to use in my efforts to save him, for I have betrayed him, because I doubted him, while he was so confident, so sure of me--and I was so distrustful of him!

Dupre And he gave you twenty thousand francs?

Pamela Ah, sir! He entrusted them with me. Here they are. I shall return them to his family, if he dies; but he shall not die! Tell me? Is it not so? You ought to know.

Dupre My dear child, bear in mind that your whole life, perhaps your happiness, depend upon the truthfulness of your answers. Answer me as if you stood in the presence of God.

Pamela I will.

Dupre You have never loved any one before?

Pamela Never!

Dupre You seem to be afraid! Come, I am terrifying you. You are not giving me your confidence.

Pamela Oh, yes I am, sir; I swear I am! Since we have been in Paris, I have never left my mother, and I have thought of nothing but my work and my duty. I was alarmed and thrown into confusion a few moments ago, sir, but you inspire me with confidence, and I can tell you everything. Well, I acknowledge it,--I am in love with Jules; he is the only one I love, and I would follow him to the end of the world! You told me to speak as in the presence of God.

Dupre Well, it is to your heart that I am going to appeal. Do for me what you have refused to do for others. Tell me the truth! You alone have the power to save him before the face of justice! You love him, Pamela; I understand what it would cost you to--

Pamela To avow my love for him? Would that be sufficient to save him?

Dupre I will answer for that!

Pamela Well?

Dupre My child!

Pamela Well--he is saved.

Dupre (earnestly) But--you will be compromised--

Pamela But after all it is for him.

Dupre (aside) I never expected it, but I shall not die without having seen with my own eyes an example of beautiful and noble candor, destitute alike of self-interest and designing reserve. (Aloud) Pamela, you are a good and generous girl.

Pamela To act this way consoles me for many little miseries of life.

Dupre My child, that is not everything! You are true as steel, you are high- spirited. But in order to succeed it is necessary to have assurance-- determination--

Pamela Oh, sir! You shall see!

Dupre Do not be over-anxious. Dare to confess everything. Be brave! Imagine that you are before the Court of Assizes, the presiding judge, the public prosecutor, the prisoner at the bar, and me, his advocate; the jury is on one side. The big court-room is filled with people. Do not be alarmed.

Pamela You needn't fear for me.

Dupre A court officer brings you in; you have given your name and surname! Then the presiding judge asks you "How long have you known the prisoner, Rousseau?"--What would you answer?

Pamela The truth!--I met him about a month before his arrest at the Ile d'Amour, Belleville.

Dupre Who were with him?

Pamela I noticed no one but him.

Dupre Did you hear them talk politics?

Pamela (in astonishment) Oh, sir! The judges must be aware that politics are matters of indifference at the Ile d'Amour.

Dupre Very good, my child! But you must tell them all you know about Jules Rousseau.

Pamela Of course. I shall still speak the truth, and repeat my testimony before the police justice. I knew nothing of the conspiracy, and was infinitely surprised when he was arrested in my room; the proof of which is that I feared M. Jules was a thief and afterwards apologized for my suspicion.

Dupre You must acknowledge that from the time of your first acquaintance with this young man, he constantly came to see you. You must declare--

Pamela I shall stick to the truth--He never left me alone! He came to see me for love, I received him from friendship, and I resisted him from a sense of duty--

Dupre And at last?

Pamela (anxiously) At last?

Dupre You are trembling! Take care! Just now you promised me to tell the truth!

Pamela (aside) The truth! Oh my God!

Dupre I also am interested in this young man; but I recoil from a possible imposture. If he is guilty, my duty bids me defend him, if he is innocent, his cause shall be mine. Yes, without doubt, Pamela, I am about to demand from you a great sacrifice, but he needs it. The visits which Jules made to you were in the evening, and without the knowledge of your parents.

Pamela Why no! never!

Dupre How is this? For in that case there would be no hope for him.

Pamela (aside) No hope for him! Then either he or I must be ruined. (Aloud) Sir, do not be alarmed; I felt a little fear because the real danger was not before my eyes. But when I shall stand before the judges!--when once I shall see him, see Jules--and feel that his safety depends upon me--

Dupre That is good, very good. But what is most necessary to be made known is that on the evening of the twenty-fourth, he came here. If that is once understood, I shall be successful in saving him; otherwise, I can answer for nothing. He is lost!

Pamela (murmuring, greatly agitated) Lost!--Jules lost!--No, no, no!--Better that my own good name be lost! (Aloud) Yes, he came here on the twenty-fourth. (Aside) God forgive me! (Aloud) It was my saint's day--my name is Louise Pamela--and he was kind enough to bring me a bouquet, without the knowledge of my father or mother; he came in the evening, late. Ah! you need have no fear, sir--you see I shall tell all. (Aside) And all is a lie!

Dupre He will be saved! (Rousseau appears) Ah! sir! (running to the door of the room) Come all of you and thank your deliverer!

SCENE SIXTH

Rousseau, De Verby, Madame du Brocard, Giraud, Madame Giraud, Dupre, and later Joseph Binet.

All Does she consent?

Rousseau You have saved my son. I shall never forget it.

Mme. du Brocard You have put us under eternal obligations, my child.

Rousseau My fortune shall be at your disposal.

Dupre I will not say anything to you, my child! We shall meet again!

Joseph (coming out of the closet) One moment! One moment! I have heard everything--and do you believe that I am going to put up with that? I was here in concealment all the time. And do you think I am going to let Pamela, whom I have loved and have wished to make my wife, say all that? (To Dupre) This is the way you are going to earn my fourteen hundred francs, eh! Well, I shall go to court myself and testify that the whole thing is a lie.

All Great heaven!

Dupre You miserable wretch!

De Verby If you say a single word--

Joseph Oh, I am not afraid!

De Verby (to Rousseau and Mme. du Brocard) He shall never go to court! If necessary, I will have him shadowed, and I will put men on the watch to prevent him from entering.

Joseph I'd just like to see you try it!

(Enter a sheriff's officer, who goes up to Dupre.)

Dupre What do you want?

The sheriff's officer I am the court officer of the Assizes--Mlle. Pamela Giraud! (Pamela comes forward.) In virtue of discretionary authority of the presiding judge, you are summoned to appear before him to-morrow at ten o'clock.

Joseph (to De Verby) I will go also.

The officer The porter has told me that you have here a gentleman called Joseph Binet.

Joseph Here I am!

The officer Please take your summons.

Joseph I told you that I would go!

(The officer withdraws; every one is alarmed at the threats of Binet. Dupre tries to speak to him and reason with him, but he steals away.)

Curtain to the Third Act.