LIBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA PRESENTED BY Mr. H. H. KM iani LIBRARY X THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF BALZAC VOLUME II. he Dramatic Works of j& Honore de Balzac FIRST ENGLISH TRANSLATION Rendered into English by E. de Valcourt-Vermont V O L U M E 2 THE STEP-MOTHER ME RCADET GEBBIE & COMPANY PHILADELPHIA VMH 1001. BY WILLIAM N. LEE nom OP THI LIBRARI.M OF Oo WMineTON, D. O. According to the respective dates of their produc- tion, the drama and the comedy included in this volume are the last ones that came from the pen of the indefatigable novelist. In fact, Balzac never witnessed the " first night " of Mer cadet, which was presented at the Theatre du Gymnase Dramatique, on August 24, 1851, i. e.,just one year and six days after the death of the great Frenchman. The reader will agree with the professional critics in recognizing, in both these plays, qualities that are lacking, to a certain degree, in the three dramatic efforts contained in Volume I. The action is more compact, the dialogue quicker and livelier, and the climaxes a great deal more satisfactory than in Quinola's Resources, for example. It seems as if the master had realized, to some extent, his deficiencies as a playwright and had forced himself, with his usual energy, to obey more closely the stern require- ments of the stage. In our time of " theatre popu- laire " and " theatre naturaliste " he would have met with a very different welcome. The influence of Scribe and his imitators, all-powerful in those days, has so completely vanished from French literary cir- cles that it seems to have never existed. The depth 5 of feeling and the pitiless logic which are paramount in the problem plays of the present generation are certainly much akin to the methods used by Balzac. In fact it is surprising how he seems to have had the intuition of the coming stage era; but, like most precursors, his own people refused to approve his innovations, and crushed them under their cruel Parisian ridicule. But posterity has declined to confirm the verdict of Balzac's contemporaries. As early as 1869, the Comedie Francaise, the proud and severe guardian of Gallic stage traditions added Mercadet to its regular repertoire and there is hardly a year when it is not produced in the beautiful Theatre of the Rue Richelieu. As Marcel Barriere wrote: "Never has the greed and lack of all principles that characterize a certain class of speculators been denounced more sea thingly and with greater in trepidity. ' ' Mercadet is the natural companion of that other terrible indictment against those modernized highway rob- bers and financiers: The firm of Nucingen. We have them still with us. E. de V-V. THE STEP-MOTHER A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS AND EIGHT TABLEAUS Presented for the first time at the Theatre Historique, Paris, May 25, 1848. CHARACTERS COMTE DE GRANDCHAMP, a retired general of Napoleon. EUGENE RAMEL, a public prosecutor. FERDINAND MARCANDAL, manager of General de Grandchamp's cloth-works. DR. VERNON, a physician. GODARD, a landed proprietor. AN INVESTIGATING JUDGE. FELIX, a trusted old servant of the General. CHAMPAGNE, a foreman in the cloth-works. BAUDRILLON, a druggist. NAPOLEON, son of the General by his second wife. GERTRUDE, second wife of the General. PAULINE, a daughter of the General by his first wife. MARGUERITE, Pauline's maid. Gendarmes, a court -clerk, a priest and his assistants. The action takes place in the Chateau of General de Grand- champ, near Louviers, in Normandy. THE STEP-MOTHER FIRST ACT The stage represents a well-furnished drawing-room on the walls of which hang, in prominent positions, the portraits of the great Napoleon and of his son, the King of Rome. Back of the stage, large double glass-doors open on a terrace and on a short flight of outside stairs leading down to the park visible in the background. A door leading to Pauline's suite of rooms is seen at the right of the spectator. A door to the left opens into the suites occupied by the General and his wife. On one side of the glass-door there is a table ; on the other side, a beautiful Boule chiffonier. A flower-stand is placed under a large looking-glass, next to the entrance to Pauline's rooms. Opposite is a marble mantlepiece with a beautiful bronze clock and candelabras. At the front of the stage, to the right, is a sofa, and to the left is another. SCENE I GERTRUDE. THE GENERAL (Enter Gertrude, holding flowers she has just gathered during a walk through the park, and which she busies her- self arranging in the flower-stand.) GERTRUDE. I tell you, dear, it would be foolish to wait any longer before finding a husband for your daughter. She is now twenty-two years old and has had plenty of time to make a selection. In such a 9 10 THE STEP-MOTHER case, parents must take matters in charge and find a suitable mate. Besides, I am personally interested in the affair. THE GENERAL. HOW IS that? GERTRUDE. A step-mother's position is always under criticism. Everybody in Louviers has been saying, for a long while, that I was the one who prevented Pauline from marrying earlier. THE GENERAL. These silly country peoples' tongues! I wish I could cut off a few! The idea of attacking you, Gertrude, who for twelve years have been a true mother to Pauline, and given her such an excellent education! GERTRUDE. That's the way of the world! They bear us a grudge for living so near their wretched little city and declining to visit there. "Society" pun- ishes us for dispensing with it. Did you imagine that our happiness caused no envy? Even our doctor THE GENERAL. Vemon? GERTRUDE. Yes, Doctor Vernon. He is terribly envious of you. He is furious never to have been able to inspire any woman with the affection I have for you. So, he does not hesitate saying that I am play- ing a part The idea of my playing a part for twelve continuous years ! Why, that's ridiculous! THE GENERAL. A woman could not deceive anyone for twelve years without being found out It's all foolishness So, Vernon, he also GERTRUDE. Oh, he is only joking, you know. Well, as I started to tell you, Godard is coming to see you; I am surprised he has not arrived yet. It would be sheer insanity to refuse such a wealthy suitor. He loves Pauline and although, of course, he has his little THE STEP-MOTHER u defects, and is, perhaps, a trifle provincial in his man- ners, he will make your daughter quite happy. THE GENERAL. I leave Pauline entirely free to choose her husband. GERTRUDE. Oh, you may feel quite at rest on that score Pauline is a thoroughly, good, gentle and well- behaved girl. THE GENERAL. Gentle! Why, she has my own tem- per, and a pretty quick one it is ! GERTRUDE. Pauline ! A quick temper! But you, general, are not quick-tempered You always do everything I please THE GENERAL. Oh, it's because you are such an angel, and have no wish I do not approve of. By the way, Vernon is coming to dine with us, after he is through with his autopsy. GERTRUDE. It wasn't necessary for you to tell me. THE GENERAL. Oh, I am mentioning the fact only to have you order up the wines he prefers. FELIX, entering. Monsieur de Rimonville! THE GENERAL. Let him come in. GERTRUDE, pointing to Felix to arrange the flower- stand. I shall go to Pauline's room while you two gentlemen are talking business. I want to give a last look to her toilet. Young girls, sometimes, do not know what suits them best. THE GENERAL. If she does not, it is not for lack of money spent on herself. During the last eighteen months, her toilet has cost double what it did before ; but after all it is the poor girl's only pleasure. GERTRUDE. Her only pleasure! For what do you count then, the delight of living in a family circle like ours? If I had not the happiness of being your wife I 12 THE STEP-MOTHER would like nothing better than to be your daughter! And I I will never leave you ! (She walks a few steps toward the door.) You say, for the last eighteen months? That's strange Well, now that I think of it, it is since then that she has begun to really care for jewelry, laces and other pretty things. THE GENERAL. Well, she is rich enough, in her own right, to allow herself those little fancies. GERTRUDE. Of course, she is of age. (Aside.) This love of dress that's the smoke but where is the fire? (She leaves the room through Pauline's door.) SCENE II THE GENERAL, alone. What a unique pearl this woman is! After going through twenty-six cam- paigns, receiving eleven wounds, and losing the angel she has replaced in my heart, truly kind Providence owed me this gift of my Gertrude, if only to console me for the loss of my emperor. SCENE III GODARD. THE GENERAL. GODARD, entering. General! THE GENERAL. Good morning, Godard. I hope you are coming to spend the day with us? GODARD. The day and perhaps the week, general, if you turn a favorable ear to the request which I hardly dare present to you. THE STEP-MOTHER 13 THE GENERAL. Fire away! I know all about your request My wife is on your side Ah, you true Norman, you have attacked the fortress at its weak point. GODARD. General, you are an old soldier, and hate roundabout ways. You go ahead as if you were on the firing line. THE GENERAL. Straight and at full speed. GODARD. Well, that fits me all right, because I, myself, am rather timid THE GENERAL. You timid! Then I'll have to apolo- gize, for I always took you for a man who knew his full value only too well GODARD. You mean that I am conceited As a matter of fact, general, I want to marry because I do not know how to pay court to women. THE GENERAL, aside. Oh, you, civilian. (Aloud.) What ! you ! If that's really so, sir, my daughter is not for you. GODARD. Oh, do not worry You misunderstand me I have a warm heart, general, and plenty of it ; I only want to be sure I shall not be refused. THE GENERAL. You feel full of valor when storm- ing an unfortified city, is that it? GODARD. That's not at all what I mean, general; you see, you are already intimidating me with your bantering. THE GENERAL. Explain yourself, then. GODARD. Well, the matter is that I understand nothing about women's ways. I never discover in time when their "yes" means "no" and when their "no" means "yes. " Besides, when I love, I want to be loved in return. 14 THE STEP-MOTHER THE GENERAL, aside. With his ways he has little chance to be GODARD. There are many men like me whom this skirmishing, made out of formalities and pretences, tires to a supreme degree. THE GENERAL. But that mock-resistance is the most delicious part of it all except the pleasure of the final victory ! GODARD. None of this for me, please. When I feel hungry, I do not begin flirting with my soup Although a Norman by birth, I like cases quickly settled and hate the law's tricks and delays. Every day I see, in society, fellows who succeed amazingly well with women by telling them, for instance : "Oh, how lovely your gown is ! What exquisite taste ! No other woman can compare with you" or words to that effect. And from this beginning they go on and on and they reach their goal all right ! they are sim- ply prodigious, on my word! For my part, I abso- lutely fail to understand how a few empty phrases like these may lead one to success. I would get mixed up a hundred times before being able to tell a pretty woman what love she inspires me with. THE GENERAL. Ah, these were not the ways of the men of the Empire! GODARD. It's this very awkwardness that has ren- dered me so bold in appearance! This assumed audacity, coupled with my forty thousand a year, is accepted as genuine and helps me to get ahead. That's the reason you took me for a conceited fellow. But when one has not a franc of mortgage on some of the finest grazing land in the valley of Auge, when one owns a pretty little chateau just furnished anew for THE STEP-MOTHER 15 my future wife will find the place supplied to the minutest details, including my late mother's laces and diamonds ; so that she need bring in nothing but her trunks when one possesses all these advantages, general, one may indulge in almost any whim. That's why I am now Monsieur de Rimonville. THE GENERAL. No, you are Godard. GODARD. Godard de Rimonville. THE GENERAL. Just plain Godard. GODARD. General, such changes are tolerated. THE GENERAL. No, sir; I, for one, do not tolerate that any man, even if he be my son-in-law, should dis- own the name of his father. Yours and a very de- cent fellow he was used to drive his cattle himself from Poissy to Paris and all along the way he was known as Godard, Father Godard. GODARD. He was a well-considered man. THE GENERAL. Well considered in his sphere But I see now your purpose. Your father's beeves pro- cured you your forty-thousand-a-year fortune. You count on another kind of cattle to get you called Monsieur de Rimonville. GODARD. Now, listen, general. Suppose you ask Mademoiselle Pauline's opinion on the subject. She belongs to the present day. We are now in 1829 under King Charles X. Ask her if she will not prefer, when leaving a ball-room, to have the lackey call out, "The carriage of Madame de Rimonville" rather than "The carriage of Madame Godard. ' ' THE GENERAL. Oh, if this foolishness amuses my daughter, she is welcome to it, as far as I am con- cerned. For people won't make fun of her but of you, my dear Godard. 16 THE STEP-MOTHER GODARD. De Rimonville. THE GENERAL. Godard ! Well, now, to business! You are honest, you are rich, you are young, you say that you will not flirt with other women and that my daughter shall be queen in her household If it's all to be so, go ahead. Obtain her consent and you shall have mine. But, understand me clearly ; my daughter shall marry none but the man she loves, be he rich or poor. There is only one exception, but it does not concern you. I had rather follow her coffin to the grave than to lead her to the mayor's office to marry the son, grandson, brother, nephew or cousin to the remotest degree of one of the four or five arch-scoun- drels who have betrayed for, you know, my soul's worship belongs to GODARD. To Emperor Napoleon Yes, yes, every- body knows that. THE GENERAL. First God, then France or the Emperor they are one to me, then my wife and my children. Whoever touches my deities, he is my enemy; I'd kill him like a dog, without a pang of remorse. These are my ideas on religion, country and family. My catechism is short but it is good. Do you know why, in 1816, after their accursed dis- missal of the Loire Army, I took my poor little orphan girl in my arms and came over here in Louviers? Do you know why I, a colonel in the young Guard, wounded at Waterloo, decided to turn cloth-manufac- turer? OODARD. I suppose you did not want to serve those now in power. THE GENERAL. I did not want to end my life under the guillotine, like a murderer. THE STEP-MOTHER 17 GODARD. Good Lord! What do you mean? THE GENERAL. I mean that if I had met one of these rascals, it would have been all up with him. Even now, after fifteen years, my blood boils in my veins if I happen to read their names in the papers, or if they are mentioned in my presence. I tell you, if I found myself with one of them, nothing could prevent me from rushing to his throat, to tear him to pieces, to throttle him. GODARD. And right you would be, by Jove ! (Aside. ) I'll humor him. THE GENERAL. Yes, sir, throttle him And if my son-in-law should torment my darling I ^jould act just the same GODARD. Ah! THE GENERAL. Oh, I do not want him to be led by her. A man must be king in his own household, just as I am here. GODARD, aside. Poor man! How he deceives him- self! THE GENERAL. What are you saying? GODARD. I was saying, general, that your threat does not frighten me. When one intends to love but one woman, you may be sure that she is loved in the right way ! THE GENERAL. Well said, my dear Godard. As to the dowry GODARD. Yes? THE GENERAL. My daughter's dowry is composed of GODARD. Is composed of? THE GENERAL. Of the fortune of her mother and of the inheritance of her uncle Boncoeur. Both are 1 8 THE STEP-MOTHER intact. They amount to 350,000 francs capital and one year's interest, for Pauline is twenty-two years old. GODARD. 367,500 francs all told. THE GENERAL. No. GODARD. HOW, HO? THE GENERAL. It's more than that. GODARD. More? THE GENERAL. 4oo,ooo francs. (Pleased movement of Godard.) I will give the balance! But from me, do not expect anything more You understand? GODARD. I must say, I fail to grasp your meaning. THE GENERAL. Here it is then. I idolize the little Napoleon. GODARD. What! The Duke of Reichstadt? THE GENERAL. No, my son, whom they refused to register, at birth, except under the name of Leon. But here (he strikes his breast) he is registered as Napo- leon! So, now, all I make and save is for him and his mother. GODARD, aside. Especially for the mother, who is a sly one! THE GENERAL. You know now how things stand, and if they do not suit, you'd better say so right away. GODARD, aside. We'll go to law about it, all right. (Aloud.) They are perfectly satisfactory in every respect, and if you wish me to, I'll assist you in your projects. THE GENERAL. You are all right, and you under- stand better now, my dear Godard GODARD. De Rimonville. THE GENERAL. No, Godard ; I prefer Godard you understand better why I, who have commanded the grenadiers of the young Guard, I, General Comte de THE STEP-MOTHER 19 Grandchamp, am now weaving cloth for our infantry soldiers' uniforms. GODARD. But it's splendid on your part, general! Keep on saving money, by all means. You could not think of leaving your widow without a fortune. THE GENERAL. She is an angel, Godard. GODARD. De Rimonville. THE GENERAL. Godard ! An angel to whom you owe the excellent education of your future wife. She has made her to her own image. Pauline is a pearl, a jewel; she never has been away from her father's roof ; she is as pure, as innocent as a baby in its cradle. GODARD. General, allow me to make a confession; there are a number of handsome girls in Normandy, very rich besides, richer than Mademoiselle Pauline. If you only knew how the fathers and mothers of these heiresses have been after me ! It is positively indecent the way they have been carrying on ! But I find it good fun I get myself invited from chateau to chateau, I am made a great deal of THE GENERAL. Conceited again GODARD. Oh, it is not for my sake, I know! I am not blind! It is t for the sake of my wide pastures, without the shadow of a mortgage; it is for my invested savings and for my well-known habit of never over-stepping my revenues. Now, do you guess what caused me t > look up an alliance with your family in preference t> all others? THE GENERAL. No; I must say, I do not. GODARD. There are even some rich and influential would-be-fathers-in-law who promise to obtain for me, from His Majesty, the title of Comte de Rimon- ville, and later, perhaps, a peerage. ao THE STEP-MOTHER THE GENERAL. A title and a peerage to you! GODARD. Yes. indeed, to me. THE GENERAL. And what battle did you win? When and how did you save your country? What deed of yours would they want to illustrate by a title? I tell you, it's pitiful GODARD. It's pit (Aside.) What am I saying? (Aloud.) We do not have the same opinion on the subject. Finally, do you wish to know why I prefer your adorable Pauline to all others? THE GENERAL. Because you love her, I imagine GODARD. Of course Of course But it is also because there reigns in this house such an atmosphere of harmony, of peace, of bliss! It is so attractive to enter a family of such pure, simple, patriarchal habits of life ! I am an observer, general. THE GENERAL. You mean, you have an inquisitive mind. GODARD. An inquisitive mind, general, is the father of observation. I am fully conversant with the right side and the seamy side of the society of our district. THE GENERAL. Well, what if you are? GODARD. Well, I've discovered hidden skeletons in the closets of our best families. The general public sees only a decent exterior, highly respectable mothers, kind fathers, model uncles! One feels like accepting them all to the communion table without the trouble of a confession ; one would almost place funds in their care Were you allowed to investigate all these good people, you would discover enough wickedness to frighten even an investigating magistrate. THE GENERAL. Oh, is this your way of looking at humanity? For my part, I prefer to keep my illusions. THE STEP-MOTHER 21 To rummage people's consciences, that's the duty of priests and judges. I hate those black gowns and I hope I may die without having had anything to do with them. I will say this, however, Godard; the feeling that induces you to prefer my family to any other, pleases me more than the amount of your for- tune Here is my hand on it You have my esteem, and I am not prodigal in bestowing it. GODARD. Thanks heartily, General. (Aside.) I have got the father-in-law properly nailed down. SCENE IV THE PRECEDING. PAULINE. GERTRUDE. THE GENERAL, noticing Pauline. Ah, here you are, little one GERTRUDE. Is she not lovely? GODARD. Madam GERTRUDE. Oh, excuse me, sir, I was absorbed in my masterpiece. GODARD. Mademoiselle is dazzling. GERTRUDE. We are to have company to dinner, and, as I am not in any way the traditional step- mother, I was delighted to help enhance the beauty of my daughter. GODARD, aside. They were expecting me! GERTRUDE, aside to Godard. I will leave you alone with her. Make your declaration. (To the General.) My dear, let us go to the gate to see if our dear doctor is in sight. 22 THE STEP-MOTHER THE GENERAL. I am at your service, as ever. (To Pauline.) Adieu, darling. (To Godard.) I'll see you again in a moment. (Gertrude and the General walk as far as the stairs on the other side of the large glass-doors, and stand there looking out. From time to time, Gertrude is noticed observing Pauline and Godard. Ferdinand shows his head at the door to Pauline's apartment, but, a curt sign from the young girl causes him to withdraiv'jit once, nobody else noticing this brief byplay.) GODARD, in front of the stage, aside. Now what could I say that would be dainty and delicate? Ah, I have it (Aloud.} This is very beautiful weather we are having to-day, Mademoiselle. PAULINE. Very beautiful, indeed, sir. GODARD. Mademoiselle PAULINE. Sir? GODARD. It depends on you to make me find it a hundred times more beautiful. PAULINE. How could that be, sir? GODARD. You do not understand me? Has not Madame de Grandchamp, your step-mother, told you anything concerning me? PAULINE. Oh, yes! A few minutes ago, as she was dressing me, she spoke of you in most complimentary terms. GODARD. And you, Mademoiselle, do you believe a few of the kindly things she said of me? PAULINE. Oh, every word of them, sir. GODARD, sitting in one of the arm-chairs, aside. It runs almost too smoothly. (Aloud.} I wonder if she committed the lucky indiscretion of telling you that I love you so dearly that I wish for no greater happiness than to see you the mistress of Rimonville castle? THE STEP-MOTHER 23 PAULINE. She said vaguely that you^were here for a purpose that honored me greatly. GODARD, on his knees. Mademoiselle, I am insanely in love with you. I prefer you to Mademoiselle de Blondville, to Mademoiselle de Clairville, to Made- moiselle de Verville, to Mademoiselle de Pont de Ville, to PAULINE. Oh, enough, sir, enough. I am bewil- dered by the many proofs of a love so recently born. They amount almost to a holocaust. (Godard rises from Ms uncomfortable position.) Your father, sir, was satisfied with driving his victims to the slaughter- house ; but you, you seem to sacrifice them yourself GODARD, aside. I am afraid she is making fun of me ! I'll get even with her, by and by PAULINE. It would have been better for you, per- haps, to have waited a little longer, for I must con- fess- GODARD. That you do not wish to marry yet You are happy with your father and you have no desire to leave him. PAULINE. You express my very thoughts. GODARD. In such cases, there are mothers who say that their daughters are too young, but, as your father stated to me that you are twenty-two, I supposed that you might wish to settle yourself for life. PAULINE. Sir! GODARD. I know that you are the final arbiter of your destiny and of mine, but, made bold by the approval of your father and your second mother, who believe you heart-free, may I beg of you to allow me some hope? PAULINE. Sir, your intentions concerning me, flat- 24 THE STEP-MOTHER tering though they are, give you no right to pursue such an impertinent inquiry. GODARD, aside. Is there a rival in the field? (Aloud.) No one, Mademoiselle, likes to give in with- out a struggle PAULINE. If you persist, sir, I shall have to with- draw. GODARD. Oh, I beg of you, Mademoiselle (Aside.) That's my revenge for making fun of me. PAULINE. You are wealthy, sir, and personally well- endowed by nature; you are so highly bred, so witty, that you will have no trouble securing a young lady, both handsomer and richer than I am. GODARD. But, Mademoiselle, when one is in love PAULINE. Well, sir, you have said it. GODARD, aside. She is in love with some one else I'll stay and find out who he is (Aloud.) Made- moiselle, for the sake of my wounded pride, will you permit me to remain here a few days? PAULINE. My father, sir, is the proper person to answer your request. GERTRUDE, coming fonuard and speaking to Godard. Well, how did you fare? GODARD. Refused point blank, harshly and without any future hope. Her heart is already taken. GERTRUDE, to Godard. What! Her heart taken! A child I have brought up ! Why, I should know all about it. Besides, nobody comes here who (Aside.) This man arouses a suspicion that pierces me like the deadly stab of a poniard. 'To Godard.) Why did you not ask her? GODARD. Ask her! At the first jealous insinuation of mine she flew into a tantrum. THE STEP-MOTHER 25 GERTRUDE. Well, then, I will question her myself. THE GENERAL, coming up from the glass-door. Here is the doctor At last we shall hear the truth concern- ing the death of Champagne's wife. SCENE V THE PRECEDING. DOCTOR VERNON. THE GENERAL. Well, what news? VERNON. I knew how it was, all the time. Ladies! (He lows to them.) As a general rule, when a man is in the habit of beating his wife, he never poisons her. He would lose too much. He grows attached to his victim. THE GENERAL, to Godard. Charming! GOD ARD. Charming ! THE GENERAL, to the Doctor, introducing Godard. Monsieur Godard. GODARD. De Rimonville. VERNON, he looks at Godard, wipes his nose and pro- ceeds with his narrative. If he kill her, it's all a mis- take ; he happened to hit too hard. And then, he is in despair; while, in this case, poor Champagne is frankly delighted to have become a widower by natural means. As a matter of fact, his wife died of Asiatic cholera. I am rather interested in the case, because it is a very rare one in our climate. I have not met with Asiatic cholera since the Egyptian campaign. If they had called me in time I might have saved her. GERTRUDE. How pleased I am with your conclu- sions, doctor ! A crime committed in our works that 26 THE STEP-MOTHER have been so free of any kind of scandal for over twelve years would have chilled me to the marrow. THE GENERAL. This affair is all due to wicked gos- siping. I trust you are absolutely sure of your ground, Vernon? VERNON. Of course I am! What a question to ask of a retired chief -surgeon, who has had twelve French armies under his care, from 1793 to 1815; who has practiced his art in Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Poland, Egypt a genuine cosmopolitan doctor THE GENERAL, slapping him on the shoulder. Ah, you big humbug, you (To the others.) He has killed more people in all these countries than I have. GODARD. May I ask what the trouble was? GERTRUDE. Oh, people hereabouts, were saying that Champagne, our foreman, had poisoned his wife. VERNON. Unfortunately for him, the day before she was taken ill, the couple had a rather noisy quarrel, out of which they seem to have come about even. Ah, these two did not imitate their master's example GODARD. And yet such happiness as we witness here ought to prove contagious. On the other hand, it is true, the perfection we admire in the countess is most rare. GERTRUDE. Where is the merit in loving such an excellent husband, and a daughter like this one? THE GENERAL. Now stop, Gertrude These things ought not to be told before people. VERNON, aside. It's the way they have to be told if you want people to believe them. THE GENERAL, to Vernon. What are you muttering now? VERNON. I say that I am sixty -seven, that I am THE STEP-MOTHER 27 your junior, and that I should be delighted to be loved in this wise. (Aside.) I should have to be sure though that it was the real article. THE GENERAL. You envious f ellow ! (To his wife.} Dear child, though I have not the power of God when I bless you, yet I believe he has granted it to me to love you the better. VERNON. My dear man, you forget that I am a doc- tor. What you say to Madame sounds like the refrain of a love song. GERTRUDE. There are love songs, doctor, that are pretty true to life. THE GENERAL. Doctor, if you continue teasing my wife in this manner, we shall quarrel. A mere doubt on the subject, I consider an insult. VERNON, aside. Of course, he does! (To the Gen- eral.) Oh, I only meant that with this God-given power of yours you have loved so many women in your life, that I, a medical man, am delighted to behold you such a good Christian at seventy years old. (While Vernon speaks, Gertrude walks slowly to the sofa on which the doctor is sitting.) THE GENERAL. Hush ! Don't you know that the last passions, my friend, are the strongest? VERNON. You are right. In youth we love with our whole strength which goes ebbing away; in old age, we love with our whole weakness, which goes increas- ing, increasing. THE GENERAL. Disagreeable philosopher! (He ivalks a few steps toward the glass-door.) GERTRUDE, aside to Vernon. Why do you, otherwise so kind, endeavor to cast doubts into Monsieur de Grandch amp's mind? You know him to be jealous 2 8 THE STEP-MOTHER enough to kill any one on a mere suspicion. I respect so much his feelings in that regard that my only call- ers now are you, the mayor and the rector of the parish. Do you wish me to give up your society, which is so pleasant to us all? Ah, here comes Napo- leon. VERNON, aside. This is a plain enough declaration of war. She has sent away everybody else, now comes my turn. GODARD. Doctor, you, who almost belong to this house, won't you tell me what you think of Made- moiselle Pauline? ( The doctor rises from his seat, stares at. Godard, then bloios his nose and walks away. First dinner bell.) SCENE VI THE PRECEDING. NAPOLEON. FELIX. NAPOLEON, coming in on a run. Papa, papa, didn't you allow me to ride Coco? THE GENERAL. Certainly I did. NAPOLEON, to Felix. Now, you see! GERTRUDE n mj0?wy PAULINE. Good-night, papa. THE GENERAL. Naughty child, you! (He kisses her.} PAULINE. Be discreet or I'll bring you a son-in-law that will make you shudder. SCENE VIII THE GENERAL, alone, There must be a solution to this enigma. It has to be found. The two of us, Ger- trude and I, will solve the riddle all right. (TABLEAU, CURTAIN.) 60 THE STEP-MOTHER SECOND TABLEAU (TJie stage now represents the bed-room of Pauline. It is very simply furnished, with the bed at the right back-ground, and a small round table at the left. The entrance is at the right: besides, there is a door cut into the high panelling and not visible unless opened. ) SCENE IX PAULINK. At last I am alone and not compelled to pretend any longer! Married! My Ferdinand mar- ried! If he were, he would be the most cowardly, the most infamous, the vilest of men! I would kill him! Kill him! Oh! No! I should not survive a minute if I were convinced of this horror! I abomi- nate my step-mother But if she shows herself my enemy, I'll give her war and it will be to the knife! I'll tell my father everything. (She looks at her watch.) Half past eleven He cannot come here before mid- night, when the whole house is asleep Poor Ferdi- nand, to so risk his life for one hour's chat with his future wife ! How he must love me ! One does not face such perils for all women ! And I, what would I not do for his sake ! Should my father suprise us he would surely kill me first ! Ah ! To doubt the man we love, what a torture ! It is worse than to lose him. In death, we can follow him But suspicion, that's the most cruel of separations! Hark! I hear him coming (Enter Ferdinand.) SCENE X FERDINAND. PAULINE. (She pushes the bolt of the door.) PAULINE. Are you married? FERDINAND. What a silly question! Wouldn't I have told you? THE STEP-MOTHER 61 PAULINE. Ah! (She falls on an arm-chair, then on her knees.) Holy Virgin, what pledge may I give you? (She kisses the hand of Ferdinand.) And, you, be blessed a thousand times! FERDINAND. Who could tell you such an absurdity. PAULINE. My step-mother. FERDINAND. She knows everything, or if she does not yet, she will spy upon us and discover all. With such women, suspicion equals certitude. Now, listen to me, for minutes are precious. It was Madame de Grandchamp who brought me to this house. PAULINE. And why did she do that? FERDINAND. Because she loved me. PAULINE. This is horrible! And my father? FERDINAND. She loved me before she married him. PAULINE. She loves you but you, do you love her? FERDINAND. Would I have remained in this house? PAULINE. Does she love you yet? FERDINAND. Unfortunately, she does. She was, I must confess it, my first attachment; but now I hate her with all my soul's might I hardly know why. Is it because I love you and because all true, pure love is, by its very nature, exclusive? Is it because the con- stant comparison between an % angel of purity like you and a she-devil like her awakens, in my soul, a hatred for everything evil as strong as my adoration for thee, my own, my bliss, my delicious treasure? I can not tell. But I do hate her and I love you so that I would not care if your father killed me for it. One of our little talks, just one brief hour spent together seems to me, even after it is over, worth my life. PAULINE. Oh, speak, speak on I am not troubled any longer! After listening to you, I feel able to par- 62 THE STEP-MOTHER don you the pain you caused me when confessing that I am not your first, your only love, as you are mine! It is just an illusion vanished. Don't you know, darl- ing, girls are foolish, they are so ambitious in their love that they would own all the past as well as all the future. But you hate her, and in this word "hate" there is more love for me than in anything you have said to me, these two years. Ah, if you knew with what cruelty this wicked step-mother of mine has turned me on the rack! Oh, I'll have my revenge! FERDINAND. Take care ! She is a dangerous woman ! Your father is in her power and she will fight a fight to the death. PAULINE. To the death That's just what I want! FERDINAND. Oh, but be prudent, my dearest one. We want to belong to each other, do we not? Well, then; my friend, the Public Prosecutor, insists that we must have the strength to stand a short separation if we are to triumph over the difficulties that surround us. PAULINE. Just give me two days' time and I shall have obtained everything from my father. FERDINAND. You do not know Madame de Grand- champ. She has gone too far not to risk everything rather than lose me. Before I leave, I will place in your hands terrible weapons against her. PAULINE. Oh, let me have them at once! FERDINAND. No, not yet. And you must give me your sacred promise not to use them unless your life is endangered ; for it is almost a crime against the higher laws of honor that I shall commit in arming you with them. But, for your sake, what would I not do? THE STEP-MOTHER 63 PAULINE. And they consist of ? FERDINAND. Of the letters she wrote me before her marriage and a few of a later date. You shall have them to-morrow. But, Pauline, you must swear upon our love, upon our future happiness, not to read a single one of them. It would be sufficient, in case an urgent necessity arose, that she should know that they are in your possession to bring her trembling to your feet. Then, all her wicked plotting will go to pieces ! But let it be your very last resource! And, above all, hide them well! PAULINE. What a duel! FERDINAND. A terrible duel, indeed ! And now, my Pauline, keep courageously, as you have done all this time, the secret of our love. Wait, before con- fessing it until it has to be confessed. PAULINE. Ah, why did your father betray the Emperor! Lord in heaven, if the fathers knew how cruelly their children were to suffer through their faults, there would be none but good people in this world ! FERDINAND. Perhaps this sad talk is to be our last joy, for some time to come? PAULINE, aside. I'll join him! (Aloud.) See, I am not crying any more ! Tell me, will your friend be in the secret of your retreat? FERDINAND. Eugene will be our intermediary. PAULINE. And these letters? FERDINAND. The letters ! You shall have them to-morrow. But where will you hide them? PAULINE. I will keep them about me. FERDINAND. And now, good-by ! PAULINE. Oh, no, not yet! 64 THE STEP-MOTHER FERDINAND. A moment's delay may ruin us! PAULINE. Or unite us for ever! Only let me lead you out a little way! I am always so anxious until I know that you have reached the garden safely. Come, come FERDINAND. One last look at this maidenly bovver where everything speaks of you where you will think of me (TABLEAU, CURTAIN.) SCENE XI (The scene shifts back to that of the First Tableau.) PAULINE, standing outside the glass-door, looking into the garden. GERTRUDE, in front of the door to her room. GERTRUDE, aside. She has escorted him to the gar- den door He was deceiving me And so was she (She ivalks to Pauline, takes her roughly by the hand and brings her to the front of the stage.) Will you dare tell me now, Mademoiselle, that you do not love him? PAULINE. I deceive no one, Madame. GERTRUDE. You deceive your father! PAULINE. And you, Madame? GERTRUDE. So, you two have agreed against me, have you? I'll go straight to PAULINE. You shall do nothing, Madame, either against me or against him. THE STEP-MOTHER 65 GERTRUDE. Do not compel me to use my power. You have to obey your father and he obeys me. PAULINE. We shall see about that! GERTRUDE. Your coolness makes me furious! I feel my blood rushing like fire through my veins! Everything looks black! Why, girl, don't you know that I'd prefer death to a life without him? PAULINE. And so would I, Madame. But I, I am free, I have not sworn fidelity to a husband, as you have And your husband is my father ! GERTRUDE, falling on her knees before Pauline. But what have I done to you to be treated in this wise? I have loved you, I have raised you, I have been a mother to you ! PAULINE. Be henceforth a faithful wife, and I prom- ise to keep silent. GERTRUDE, rising hastily. Ah! Speak, speak as much and to whom you please The fight has begun SCENE XII THE PRECEDING. THE GENERAL. THE GENERAL. I say, what is the matter here? GERTRUDE, to Pauline. Faint, faint away, quick (She actually drags her down on the floor.) The matter is, dear, that I heard meanings in Pauline's room. The dear child was calling for help, already half- asphyxiated by the flowers in her room. PAULINE. Yes, papa, Marguerite forgot to remove the flower-stand from my room. (The two women move toward the door of Pauline'' s apartment.) 66 THE STEP-MOTHER THE GENERAL. A moment, please Where are the flowers? PAULINE, to Gertrude. I don't know where Madame carried them. GERTRUDE. There, in the garden. (TJie General leaves the room in a rush, placing his candlestick on the card-table to the left.) SCENE XIII PAULINE. GERTRUDE. Later THE GENERAL. GERTRUDE. Go back to your room, and lock your- self in, I take the whole matter upon myself! (Paul- ine enters her room.)' I'll manage him. (Gertrude enters her room.) THE GENERAL, returning from the garden. I did not find any flower-stand, anywhere. I begin to believe that something extraordinary is happening here! Gertrude? Ah, Madame de Grandchamp, you are going to tell me all about it It would be strange, indeed, if my wife and daughter agreed in fooling me ! 'He picks up his candlestick and enters Gertrude's room.) (CURTAIN ON SECOND ACT.) THIRD ACT (The setting of the stage is unchanged, but night has given way to the day. ) SCENE I GERTRUDE. Later CHAMPAGNE. GERTRUDE, entering through the glass-door, carrying a small flower -stand. She puts it down in the room. I found it very hard to get him to give up his suspicion. One or two more scenes like this and my power over him will be gone. But I have secured these few minutes of liberty If only Pauline does not disturb me Happily, she must be asleep She. went to bed so late ! I wonder if I could not lock her in? (She walks to Pauline' 1 's door and finds that the key is not in the lock.) No, it can't be done CHAMPAGNE, entering. Monsieur Ferdinand is com- ing, Madame. GERTRUDE. Thank you, Champagne. Did he retire late, last night? CHAMPAGNE. As you know, Madame, Monsieur Ferdinand, patrols the factory every night and goes to bed about half-past one, in the morning. GERTRUDE. Does he sometimes stay up later? CHAMPAGNE. It depends on the time it takes him to make his inspection. GERTRUDE. That will do, thank you. (Exit Cham- pagne.) As the price of a sacrifice which has now lasted twelve long years and the cruelty of which 67 68 THE STEP-MOTHER only women can understand, I asked for so little! Just to have him near me, without another joy but the exchange of a stolen look once in a long while. I was satisfied with the knowledge that he was waiting for me, a knowledge which is all sufficient for us poor things, who are not entitled to the full delight of a pure, heavenly love. Men refuse to admit that we love them until they have dragged us down into the mire ! And see how he rewards me? By having night meetings with that stupid girl ! At any rate, he shall have to pass my death sentence right to my face ; and if he dares do it, I, in my turn, will dare to break their intercourse at once and forever! I know how to do it! But here he comes! I feel like fainting away Oh, Lord in Heaven ! Why do you allow us to love a man who loves us no more ! (Enter Ferdi- nand. ) SCENE II FERDINAND. GERTRUDE. GERTRUDE. Yesterday, you deceived me. You came here last night, opening this door with a false key so as to see Pauline, at the risk of being killed by Monsieur de Grandchamp. Oh, spare yourself a lie. I saw you, I caught Pauline just returning from her nocturnal promenade with you. I cannot congratu- late you upon your choice. If you had been at this very spot, yesterday and witnessed the audacity of this girl, the boldness with which she denied every- thing, you would tremble for your future, that future THE STEP-MOTHER 69 which is my own and for which I have sold myself, body and soul. FERDINAND, aside. The avalanche of reproaches I was expecting. (Aloud.) Now, Gertrude, let us try and talk calmly, both of us ! Especially don't let us drop to any mean accusations. Never shall I forget what you have been to me; my friendship for you will remain as deep, as unwavering as it is now. But my love is no more. GERTRUDE. For the last eighteen months? FERDINAND. For the last three years. GERTRUDE. Then you are bound to admit that I have the right to hate your love for Pauline and to fight it with all my might? For that love has made of you a coward and a criminal as far as I am concerned. FERDINAND. Madame ! GERTRUDE. Yes, you have cheated me Remain- ing here, as you did, between us two, you caused me to assume a role which was against my whole nature. As you know I am violent by instinct. Now, violent people are sincere, while I, I have been treading a road of infamous deceits. You do not know what it is to have to find every day, often at a minute's notice, some new lies and to utter them as with a poniard in one's heart Ah, lying, lying, that's true punish- ment for all stolen happiness ! It's shame if one suc- ceeds ; it's death if one fails. And you, you are envied by other men when women love you. You would be applauded, while for me there would be nothing but contempt. And you expect me not to defend myself ! And you have nothing but bitter words for a woman who has concealed everything from you her remorse, her tears! The wrath of heaven, I kept for myself 70 THE STEP-MOTHER alone ; alone I descended into the abyss of my soul, deepened by my sorrows! And, while repentance would try to force an entrance into my heart, my eyes, when looking at you were full of tenderness and even cheerful ! Ferdinand, it would be folly on your part to throw aside so well tamed a slave ! FERDINAND, aside. This thing has to stop. (Aloud.} Gertrude, listen to me. When we met, our mutual youth attracted us to each other. I succumbed to what you may call, if you like, a selfish impulse, such as is found in every man's nature, unknown to him, perhaps, and hidden under the flowers of early romance. There is so much wild thoughtlessness in our feelings at twenty-two. The intoxication that overpowers us gives us no chance to see life as it is or to think of the serious conditions of the future GERTRUDE, aside. How coolly he reasons the whole thing out! Oh, it is infamous! FERDINAND. I loved you then with absolute candor, with an entire surrender of my whole being. But since Well, since then the aspects of life have changed for both of us. And, if I did remain under a roof that ought never to have sheltered me, it was because I had chosen Pauline as the only woman with whom I could find happiness to the end of my days. Gertrude, I beg of you not to throw yourself against these decrees of Providence. Do not torment two beings who ask their life's bliss from you, and who, in exchange, will love you dearly. GERTRUDE. Ah, so, you are the martyr, and I the torturer ! But, should I not have been your wife for the past twelve years if I had not set your prosperity ahead of my happiness? THE STEP-MOTHER 71 FERDINAND. Then do the same thing again to-day, by granting me my liberty! GERTRUDE. You mean the liberty of loving another You did not speak in this wise, twelve years ago ! And now I'll die of it. FERDINAND. It is only in romance that one dies of love ; in real life time brings consolation. GERTRUDE. But do you not, you men, die for a word, a gesture that has offended your honor? Well, then, there are women who die for their love's sake, when this love is the treasure wherein their very soul is wrapped and I am one of these women! Since you have lived with us I have feared, almost every hour, some dreadful catastrophy! And I have had con- stantly in my possession the means to leave life on the minute, if fate should rule against us. Look. (She shows him a small phial.) Here is how I have lived all along! (She bursts out sobbing.) FERDINAND. Tears now ! GERTRUDE. I had promised myself to master them, but they choke me This coldly polite way you talk to me about your vanished love is the cruelest of insults ! You do not even pretend to display the faint- est sympathy ! I truly believe you would prefer to see me dead so as to be rid of me ! But, Ferdinand, you do not know me! I am resolved to confess everything to the General, for I will not deceive him any longer. I am deathly sick of all that lying! I shall take my child, and you and I shall flee together No more thoughts of Pauline ! FERDINAND. Should you attempt such a thing, I would kill myself! 72 THE STEP-MOTHER GERTRUDE. I would kill myself also, and thus, united in death, you would never be hers ! FERDINAND. What a truly infernal nature! GERTRUDE. Besides, the barrier that separates you from Pauline may never be overcome. What could you do then? FERDINAND. Pauline will know how to keep her freedom. GERTRUDE. But her father may compel her to marry some one else? FERDINAND. I would die of it. GERTRUDE. It is only in romance that one dies of love ; in real life, time brings consolation And one does one's duty by keeping true to the woman to whom one has pledged eternal fidelity. THE GENERAL, from the outside. Gertrude! Ger- trude ' GERTRUDE. I hear my husband. (The General is seen entering.) That's the reason, Monsieur Ferdi- nand, I want you to hasten your business and come back to me. (Exit Ferdinand.) SCENE III THE GENERAL. GERTRUDE. Later PAULINE. THE GENERAL. What is the meaning of this early interview with Ferdinand? Anything about the fac- tory? GERTRUDE. I'll tell you what is the matter; for you are like your son, you are bound to get an answer to all your questions. Well, the fact is, that I imag- THE STEP-MOTHER 73 ined that Ferdinand was somewhat the cause of the refusal of Pauline to marry Godard. THE GENERAL. Thinking of it, you may be correct GERTRUDE. So, I had Monsieur Ferdinand come to me, for the purpose of enlightening my doubts. You interrupted "our conversation just as I was on the point of discovering something. (Pauline listens at her half -opened door.) THE GENERAL. But, if my daughter does love Ferdi- nand PAULINE, aside. Oh, I must hear that THE GENERAL. I only wonder why, last evening, when I was questioning her in a fatherly, gentle way, she concealed from me such a very natural feeling. She knows I leave her her freedom. GERTRUDE. Oh, you must have gone at it in the wrong way, or questioned her when her heart was still hesitating A girl's feelings are such a mixture of contradictions. THE GENERAL. As a matter of fact, why should I oppose her? This young man is a hard worker, strictly honest and, doubtless, belongs to a good family. PAULINE, aside. Oh, I understand now! (She with- draws into her room and closes the door.) THE GENERAL. He will gladly furnish us the neces- sary information. He has always been very reticent concerning himself. But, by the way, you must know all about his family; didn't you discover this treasure yourself? GERTRUDE. Oh, he came here on the recommenda- tion of old Madame Morin. THE GENERAL. She is dead. 74 THE STEP-MOTHER GERTRUDE, fixide. That's just why I mentioned her name. (Aloud.) She told me his mother, a widow, was still alive, and living somewhere in Brittany. He has been a model son to her ; she belongs to an old family, over there the Charnys. THE GENERAL. The Charnys? Well, anyway, if he loves Pauline and Pauline loves him, I would prefer him to Godard, in spite of the latter's fortune. Ferdi- nand knows everything about cloth manufacturing ; he might buy the factory off my hands with Pauline's dowry; it would prove most convenient all round. He simply needs to tell us where he comes from, who he is, who his father was And then we'll see his mother. GERTRUDE. Madame Charny? THE GENERAL. Yes, Madame Charny; she lives in Brittany, doesn't she? Well, Brittany is not the end of the world. GERTRUDE. Use some of your diplomatic tact, some of your old soldier's shrewdness, with lots of gentle- ness, and you are sure to be told by the child THE GENERAL. Of course, lots of gentleness Why should I get angry? Ah, here comes Pauline. SCENE IV THE PRECEDING. MARGUERITE. Later PAULINE. THE GENERAL. Ah, is that you, Marguerite? You very nearly caused my daughter's death, last night, through a very bad mistake You forgot MARGUERITE. I, cause the death of my child! THE STEP-MOTHER 75 THE GENERAL. You forgot to remove from her room a flower-stand containing some highly-scented plants and she was almost asphyxiated. MARGUERITE. I, do such a thing! Why, Madame must remember that the flower-stand had already been removed from Mademoiselle's room when we were dressing her before Monsieur Godard's arrival GERTRUDE. You are mistaken, it was there MARGUERITE, aside. This is a tall one, this is (Aloud.} Doesn't Madame remember she wanted to place some natural flowers in Mademoiselle's hair and she remarked, at the time, that the flower-stand was Hot there? GERTRUDE. You are making up a story. Well, you tell us where you placed the stand. MARGUERITE. At the bottom of the porch stairs. GERTRUDE, to the General. Did you find it there, General? THE GENERAL. 1 did not. GERTRUDE. I took it out of the room myself and placed it there. (She points out to the porch just beyond the glass-door.) MARGUERITE, to the General. Sir, I could swear on my hopes of getting to heaven GERTRUDE. No iisc of your swearing. (Calling out.) Pauline! THE GENERAL. Pauline ! (The girl appears on the threshold of her room.) GERTRUDE. Was the flower-stand in your room, last night? PAULINE. Yes, it was Dear old Marguerite, you must have forgotten all about it. MARGUERITE. You had better say, Mademoiselle, 76 THE STEP-MOTHER that somebody carried it back to your room on purpose to make you sick ! GERTRUDE. Who is that somebody, if you please? THE GENERAL. You silly old thing, if your memory fails you, do not, at least, accuse other people of your blunders. PAULINE., to Marguerite. Keep silent! (Aloud.) Mar- guerite, it was there; you do not remember, that's all. MARGUERITE. You are right Now I think of it, it was the day before yesterday I removed it. THE GENERAL, aside. She has been in my house for over twenty years There is something strange in her insisting so persistently. (He takes Marguerite aside.) What's that you said about flowers in the hair? MARGUERITE, Pauline makes signs to Tier behind the General' s back. I must have been the one who spoke of it, sir I am getting so old that my memory is not what it used to be. THE GENERAL. Then why do you hint at such a wicked thought coming to any one's mind in this honse? PAULINE. Please excuse her, father, the dear crea- ture is so fond of me that sometimes she does not know exactly what she is saying. MARGUERITE, aside. Just the same I am absolutely sure I took the stand away THE GENERAL, aside. Are my wife and daughter trying to deceive me? There's something queer in the whole matter, but an old trooper like me is not bam- boozled so easily. GERTRUDE. Marguerite, we shall take tea here, as soon as Monsieur Godard comes down from his room. Tell Felix to bring in all the newspapers. MARGUERITE. Yes, ma'am. THE STEP-MOTHER 77 SCENE V . GERTRUDE. THE GENERAL. PAULINE. THE GENERAL, to Pauline. You did not even say good-morning to me, you undutiful daughter. (He kisses her.) PAULINE, returning the kiss. But you begin scolding for trifles ! I tell you, father, it is about time I under- took your education. At your age you ought not to lose your temper so easily ! Why, a young man is a lamb compared to you. You frightened Marguerite almost to death, and when a woman is frightened she is likely to tell a little lie or two and then one does not get at the truth THE GENERAL, aside. Rather hard on us, isn't it? (Aloud.) Your conduct, daughter, is hardly such as to quiet my temper. For instance, now I wish to marry you to a young man PAULINE. A remarkably handsome and well-man- nered young man THE GENERAL. Keep silent while your father is talk- ing to you, Missie. You refuse a man whose fortune is at least six times larger than yours ! Of course you are at liberty to do so, but then you must tell me whom you do want, especially as I know it already PAULINE. Then, father, you know more than I do. Won't you tell me his name, please? THE GENERAL. Well, he is a man between thirty and thirty-five, and I really like him better than I do Godard, although he is penniless ; but, then, he almost belongs to our family, already. 78 THE STEP-MOTHER PAULINE. I did not know we had any relatives liv- ing with us. THE GENERAL. What grudge can you possibly have against poor Ferdinand that you PAULINE. Oh, is he the man? Who could tell you such a story? Madame de Grandchamp, I'll wager. THE GENERAL. A story ! So you never thought of him, eh? PAULINE. Never. GERTRUDE, aside to the General. She is lying; observe her. PAULINE. Madame doubtless has good reasons for suspecting me of being in love with my father's clerk. Oh, I understand, she wants you to tell me : "Daughter, if you are heart-free, why not marry Godard?" (Aside to Gertrude.) This move of yours is infamous! To compel me to deny my love to my own father! But, you just wait, I'll have my revenge! GERTRUDE, answering in the same way. Do your worst, but marry Godard, you shall ! THE GENERAL, aside. Are they quarreling? I'll have to talk to Ferdinand about it. (Aloud.} What are you saying to each other? GERTRUDE. Your daughter, dear, is furious because I suppose her in love with a mere employe of yours ; she is deeply humiliated. THE GENERAL. Then, it is quite sure, you do not love him? PAULINE. Father, I I do not ask you to find a husband for me I am happy as I am now! There is only one thing that God has given us women, as our very own, and that is our heart I fail to understand why Madame de Grandchamp, who is not my mother, THE STEP-MOTHER 79 should have anything to do with my feelings in this matter. GERTRUDE. My dear child, all I want is to see you happy. I know I am only your step-mother, but should you have loved Ferdinand, I THE GENERAL, kissing his wife's hand. How good and kind you are ! PAULINE, aside. I am choking! How I wish I could crush her! GERTRUDE. Yes, I should have thrown myself at your father's knees to obtain his consent, in case he had refused it. THE GENERAL. Here is Ferdinand. (Aside.) I am going to do some questioning in my own way, and I'll find out the lay of the land. SCENE VI THE PRECEDING. FERDINAND. THE GENERAL, to Ferdinand. Come to me, my dear fellow. Sit down here. You have been three years with us now, and I owe to you my restful sleep at night. Although our business is a very large one, you are almost as much the head of the works as I am myself. If you have shown yourself satisfied with a salary, which, although fair, was, perhaps, not in proportion to the services you have rendered me, I think I under- stand at last the motive of your disinterestedness. FERDINAND. My self-respect is my motive, General. THE GENERAL. Of course, of course ; but does not your heart count for a great deal in the matter? Now listen, Ferdinand, you have known, for a long time, 8o THE STEP-MOTHER what my ideas are concerning class distinctions ! We are all self -made men: I rose from the ranks. That's why I want your whole confidence! I have been told everything! You are greatly attracted toward a young person now in this room If she likes you, she is yours. My wife pleaded your cause, and it is already won in my heart. FERDINAND. Is it possible, General? Madame de Grandchamp has pleaded my cause? Ah! Madame! (He kneels on one knee before her.) How can I fittingly proclaim the loftiness of your soul ! You are sublime, Madame, you are an angel ! (He rises and rushing to Pauline.) Pauline! My Pauline! GERTRUDE. My surmises were correct, General, he loves Pauline. PAULINE. Sir, have I ever by a word, by a look, given you the right to address me in this manner? I am deeply astonished to have inspired in you the feel- ings you express now ; they might flatter some other woman ; for me, I have higher ambitions. THE GENERAL. Pauline, my child, you are unneces- sarily hard There must surely be some misunder- standing Ferdinand, come to me, please nearer FERDINAND. But, Mademoiselle, since your step- mother, since your father consent PAULINE, aside to Ferdinand. Lost! THE GENERAL. Oh, but I am going to play the tyrant Tell me, Ferdinand, of course you belong to a respectable family? PAULINE, aside to Ferdinand. You see now! THE GENERAL. Certainly your father did not occupy a lower position than mine, who was a plain sergeant of the Watch. THE STEP-MOTHER 81 GERTRUDE, aside. They will be separated forever! FERDINAND. Ah! (Aside to Gertrude.) I under- stand you! (Aloud.) General, I admit that in a dream, the sweetest of dreams, alas, a far-off one, such as the unfortunates, without family or money abandon themselves to are not dreams their only wealth? I admit that I did dream to, some day, become one of you a happiness intense enough to drive one wild. But the reception given by Mademoiselle to the expression of these hopes has driven them away never to return. I am fully awake, now, General ? A poor man has his pride, and it ought not to be wounded any more than your attachment for Napoleon. (Aside to Gertrude.) The part you play is terrible. GERTRUDE, aside to Ferdinand. She shall marry Godard. THE GENERAL. Poor young man! (To Pauline.) A fine fellow! I like him! (He takes Ferdinand aside.) I, in your place and at your age, I would By Jove, I'm forgetting that she is my daughter! FERDINAND. General, I address myself to your honor Promise me solemnly that what I am going to tell you will be kept a profound secret and that you will not tell it even to Madame de Grandchamp. THE GENERAL, aside. I declare, he also, like my daughter, is suspicious of my wife. By I am going to know what all this means. (Aloud.) You have my word, sir, the word of a man who never failed to keep it. FERDINAND. Having been induced to reveal that which was buried at the bottom of my heart, and the contemptuous attitude of Mademoiselle Pauline hav- ing literally struck me down, it will be impossible for 8z THE STEP-MOTHER me to remain here. I shall put my accounts in order at once and leave to-night for Havre, where I hope to find a ship starting at once for South America. THE GENERAL, aside. Just as well let him go now. He'll come back! (To Ferdinand.) May I announce your 'decision to my daughter? FERDINAND. 'Yes, but to her alone. THE GENERAL, aside to Pauline. Pauline, my dear child, you have so cruelly humiliated this poor fellow that the factory will be deprived of its head ; Ferdi- nand leaves us to-night for South America. GERTRUDE, aside to Ferdinand. She shall marry Godard. FERDINAND, to Gertrude. If I am unable to punish you for such atrocious conduct, God will do it ! THE GENERAL, to Pauline. South America is very far and the climate is murderous. PAULINE. Yes, but fortunes are made there. THE GENERAL, aside. She does not love him! (To Ferdinand.) My friend, you will not go without allow- ing me to supply you with the funds needed for a busi- ness start? FERDINAND. I thank you heartily, General; but what is due me as salary will suffice ! On the other hand, you will hardly miss me, at the works, for Champagne has been carefully trained by me to take my place as the head of the manufacturing department of the establishment. If you will kindly walk over to the office with me I can show you THE GENERAL. All right, I will do so. (Aside.) Everything is getting so mixed up here that I am going to send for Vernon. The advice and the wide- awake eyes of my old doctor will prove mighty useful THE STEP-MOTHER 83 to help me discover what is troubling the peace of my home That there is something amiss I feel certain. (Aloud.) I am ready, Ferdinand. Ladies, we shall be back right away. (Aside.) There is something there is something (The General and Ferdinand leave.) SCENE VII GERTRUDE. PAULINE. PAULINE, locking the door. Madame, is it your opin- ion that a pure love, a love that concentrates and broadens all human happiness and allows us to taste heavenly bliss, is it your opinion that such a love is to us more dear, more precious than life itself? GERTRUDE. You must have been reading Rousseau's Nouvelle Heloise, my dear; the words used are rather high-flown, but, in the main, true. PAULINE. If it be so, Madame, you have made me force a man to commit suicide. GERTRUDE. A fell deed that you would like me to be guilty of And if you had succeeded in compelling me to it, your soul would now be flooded with the bliss that fills mine. PAULINE. My father always told me that war between civilized nations had its laws, but the war you wage against me, Madame, is that of the savages. GERTRUDE. Then do the same if you can! But you are helpless, and you shall marry Godard. He is an excellent match and I assure you that he has all the qualities that will make you a most happy wife. PAULINE. And do you believe that I will permit you to become Ferdinand's wife? 84 THE STEP-MOTHER GERTRUDE. After the things we told to each other, last night, why should we resort to hypocritical for- mulas? I was in love with Ferdinand, my dear Pauline, when you were eight years old. PAULINE. Yes, but you are now over thirty, and I, I am young! Besides, he hates you, he abominates you! He has told me so, and he will not have any- thing to do with a woman capable of the black treach- ery you are guilty of against my father. GERTRUDE. In the eyes of Ferdinand my love for him absolves me of any crime. PAULINE. He shares my feelings towards you, Madame; he loathes you! GERTRUDE. Is that so? Well, then, it only strength- ens my resolve. Pauline, if I did not want him out of love, I would claim him out of sheer revenge. When he came here, did he not know who I was? PAULINE. You must have caught him in some snare, just as you entrapped us a moment ago. GERTRUDE. Now, listen, my dear ; a few words will end everything between us. Didn't you say to your- self a hundred, a thousand times, in the hours when the whole soul is carried away, that you would make for his sake the very greatest sacrifices? PAULINE. I have, Madame. GERTRUDE. Such sacrifices as to give up your father, your country, to yield him your honor, your salvation ? PAULINE. Yes yes ! One only dreams of something more to offer; of something even more precious than one's self, the world and heaven! GERTRUDE. Well, Pauline, everything you have dreamed of giving him, I have actually given him. That means that nothing can stop me now, not even death! THE STEP-MOTHER 85 PAULINE. By saying this, you have furnished me the right to defend myself . (Aside.) O Ferdinand! She says it herself, our love is more than life! (To Ger- trude, who has taken a seat on the sofa while Pauline is talking to herself.) Madame, all the harm you have done you can yet repair ; you will know how to over- come the difficulties that oppose my marriage to Fer- dinand. Your power over my father is such that you will induce him to even give up his hatred for General Marcandal's son GERTRUDE. I shall, shall I? PAULINE. Yes, Madame, you shall. GERTRUDE. And what formidable means will you employ to compel me to do this? PAULINE. You said just now that the war between us is a war of savages? GERTRUDE. Say a woman's war, that's more ter- rible ! Savages only torture the body ; we send our arrows through the heart, the pride, the self-respect, the inmost soul of our enemies ; we pierce their very happiness ! PAULINE. Yes, our war is all that; and it is truly the whole woman I propose to attack now Listen. My dear and deeply-esteemed step-mother, either, before to-morrow, all the obstacles that separate me from Ferdinand, shall have been removed, or my father will be apprised, through me, of every detail of your con- duct, before and since you married him. GERTRUDE. Oh, that's your great weapon, is it? My poor girl, he will never believe you ! PAULINE. Oh, I know the extent of your power over my father's mind but I have proofs ! GERTRUDE. Oh, proofs ! proofs! 86 THE STEP-MOTHER PAULINE. In Ferdinand's absence I visited his rooms You know how inquisitive I am ! and I dis- covered your letters to him, Madame! I appropri- ated a number of them and their mere reading will, in a second, dissipate my father's delusions con- cerning you, for they will prove to him GERTRUDE. They will prove what? PAULINE. Everything ! GERTRUDE. Wretched child, this is robbery, and it will lead to murder At your father's age PAULINE. Did you not murder my happiness just now when you forced me to deny to the face of my father, of Ferdinand, my love, my glory, my life ? GERTRUDE, aside. I'll swear it is a mere trick and that she knows nothing! (Aloud.} This is a trap I never wrote him a line It's a lie It's impos- sible Where are these pretended letters? PAULINE. I have them. GERTRUDE. In your room? PAULINE. They are where you never will get at them. GERTRUDE, aside. I feel the wild fancies of insanity clutching at my brain ! It seems as if murder were oozing through my fingers! It is in just such moments that one kills ! Ah ! how I could kill her ! Lord God, do not forsake me, do not let me lose my reason! Now, I must think! PAULINE, aside. Ah, Ferdinand, how can I thank you enough? I see now how dearly you love me; I have been able to return her in kind the harm she did me an hour ago! And, besides, she shall save us! GERTRUDE, aside. She must have them somewhere about her person! But how can I make sure of it? THE STEP-MOTHER 87 Ah! (Coming closer to Pauline.} Pauline! If you had had these letters long you would have known that 1 loved Ferdinand ; therefore they have been in your possession only a few hours ! PAULINE. I have had them since this morning. GERTRUDE. You have not had time to read them through, then? PAULINE. Oh, I have read enough to know that they are your ruin. GERTRUDE. Pauline, life is just beginning for you. (A knock at the door.) Ferdinand is the first man endowed with youth, manners and talents for he is full of talent he is the first man of the kind you ever met. But there are many others like him in the world. Ferdinand lived almost under our own roof ; you saw a great deal of him; nothing more natural than that the first quickening of the beatings of your heart should have been caused by him. In your place, I admit it would have been just the same with me. But you, little one, know neither society nor life. And what if you have made a mistake, as so many women have done before you? You have your whole life in which to make another choice ; for me, every- thing is ended : I have no more chance to choose ! I am past thirty; Ferdinand is the whole universe to me; I have sacrificed for his sake that which ought to be sacred to all the honor of an old man ! To you the future is wide open, you may love some one else even more passionately than you are loving him at the pres- ent time such things do happen! O Pauline! do give him up, and in me you will have the most devoted of slaves ! I will be more than a mother, more than a friend your ever-willing and passive tool! See me 88 THE STEP-MOTHER now at your feet ! (She throws herself on her knees before Pauline , her hands almost touching the girPs bosom.) Yes, I, your rival, am here, prostrated before you! Am I humiliated enough? And if you knew what this costs a woman to do ! Have mercy, have mercy upon me! (Repeated and angry knocks at the door. Seeing Pauline very much bewildered, Gertrude manages to press the place where the letters are hidden, and feels them through the dress.) Ah, give me life again! (Aside.) She has them, all right PAULINE. Do not handle me in this way, Madame, or I shall call for help! (She pushes her step-mother away and rushing to the door, opens it wide.} GERTRUDE, aside. She has them, she has them on her person, but they must be got from her within an hour! SCENE VIII THE PRECEDING. THE GENERAL. VERNON. THE GENERAL. Locked in together! Why did you utter that shriek, Pauline? VERNON. Your face is quite disturbed, my dear girl; let me feel your pulse. THE GENERAL, to his wife. You also seem all upset? GERTRUDE. Oh, it was all a joke, we were just laughing; were we not, Pauline? PAULINE. Indeed, we were, papa; my dear mamma and I were frolicking like school-girls. VERNON, aside to Pauline. That's a pretty tall lie, young lady. THE GENERAL. Yon did not hear the knocking? THE STEP-MOTHER 89 PAULINE. Oh, we heard it all right, but we did not know you were the one knocking, papa. THE GENERAL, to Vernon. They seem to be leagued against me. (Aloud.) Now tell us what was really the matter? GERTRUDE. Oh, my dear, you always want to know everything, the beginning and the end, without a minute's delay! At least, let me ring for the tea. THE GENERAL. Well, Well! GERTRUDE. You are a regular tyrant! Now, then, if you must know, we locked ourselves in so as not to be disturbed. Is that clear enough? VERNON. It is certainly clear enough! GERTRUDE, aside to her husband. I wanted a chance to get her secret out of your daughter ; for she has a secret, I feel sure of it ; and then you come rushing in ! You, for the sake of whom I do all this, for Pauline is not my child, you charge upon us as if we were the enemy's troops, and you interrupt me just when I am about learning something of importance! THE GENERAL. Madame, since Godard's arrival GERTRUDE. Ah, now, you bring in Godard THE GENERAL. Please, do not make fun of my state- ments! Yes, since yesterday, nothing here runs in the usual way. And, by God, I am going to find out GERTRUDE. Oaths now ! It is the first time, sir, that an oath has been uttered in my presence. (To Felix who enters the room.) Felix, the tea, please. (To the General.) Have you become tired of your twelve years of continued happiness? THE GENERAL. I am not, and never shall be, a tyrant! But I think it strange that when I came in, a few moments ago, and you were talking with Ferdi- po THE STEP-MOTHER nand, I was made to feel de trop and that the very same thing should happen again, just now, when I found you locked in with my daughter. And then, last night VERNON. General, General, you may quarrel with Madame as much as you please but not before people. (Godard is heard coming.) I hear Godard. (Aside to the General.) Is this what you promised me? Didn't I tell you that with women and God knows how many of the sweet things I have had confessing to me, their doctor with women it is better to let things go their way until they betray themselves. If they are treated differently, and the least violence comes into play, down flow the tears and the hydraulic system once started, they are capable of drowning Hercules ! SCENE IX THE PRECEDING. GODARD. GODARD. I came down, some time ago, to offer my respects, but I found the door of this room locked. General, I wish you good-morning. (The General con- tinues looking over his papers and waves his hand toward Godard.) Ah, here is my adversary of yesterday Are you coming for your revenge, doctor? VERNON. No, I am coming for some tea. GODARD. Ah, so you are cultivating here this Eng- lish, Russian and Chinese habit? PAULINE. Would you prefer coffee? GERTRUDE, to Marguerite, who is standing near the door. Marguerite, bring some coffee, please. THE STEP-MOTHER 91 GODARD. Not for me, Madame, with your permis- sion. I shall take tea; it will be a change. Besides, you have your luncheon at noon, I understand, and coffee now would cut my appetite for that meal. The English, the Russians and the Chinese may not be so very wrong, after all. VERNON. Tea, sir, is an excellent drink. GODARD. Especially good tea. PAULINE. This is caravan tea, sir. GERTRUDE. Doctor, here are the newspapers. (To Pauline.} Go over, and talk with Monsieur de Rimon- ville, my dear child. I'll make the tea. GODARD. Perhaps Mademoiselle de Grandchamp does not care any more for my conversation than she does for my person? PAULINE. You are mistaken, Monsieur THE GENERAL. Godard. PAULINE. If you will do me the kindness not to wish me any longer for your wife, you will be immediately endowed in my eyes with the qualities that attracted so powerfully Mesdemoiselles de Boudeville, de Clin- ville, de Derville, etc. GODARD. Ah, please, show some mercy, Made- moiselle! Why must you make such fun of a suitor you rejected in spite of his forty thousand a year? And I tell you, the longer I stay here the more I regret your cruel decision. What a happy man this Monsieur de Charny is ! PAULINE. And why happy, the poor fellow? Because he is my father's chief clerk? GERTRUDE. Monsieur de Rimonville THE GENERAL. Godard GERTRUDE. Monsieur de Rimonville 92 THE STEP-MOTHER THE GENERAL. Godard, my wife is speaking to you. GERTRUDE. Do you like a little or much sugar in your tea? GODARD. Just SO SO. GERTRUDE. And very little cream, I suppose? GODARD. On the contrary, lots of it, if you are so kind? (Aside to Pauline.) So Monsieur Ferdinand is not the man you have distinguished Well, I can assure you that he is very much to the taste of your step-mother. PAULINE, aside. What a plague these inquisitive people are! GODARD, aside. I must have some fun before taking my leave; I want to get my money's worth! GERTRUDE. Monsieur de Rimonville, if you wish something more substantial, here are sandwiches. GODARD. Thank you, Madame. GERTRUDE, aside to Godard. Everything is not lost for you yet. GODARD. Oh, Madame, Mademoiselle Pauline's refusal has led me to do lots of thinking. GERTRUDE. Is that so? (To the doctor.) Your tea as usual, doctor? VERNON. If you please, Madame. GODARD, aside to Pauline. The poor fellow, did you say, Mademoiselle? Why, Monsieur Ferdinand is not so poor as you believe him to be. He is richer than I am! PAULINE. How do you happen to know that? GODARD. Oh, I am certain of it, and I am going to tell you the whole secret. " PAULINE, aside. Lord in heaven! does he know his real name? THE STEP-MOTHER 93 GERTRUDE, aside. A few drops of opium in her tea will put her to sleep and I shall be saved ! GODARD. You would never guess who put me on the track. PAULINE. O, sir! for pity's sake GODARD. It was the Public Prosecutor. I remem- bered that, at the Boudevilles, they were saying that your chief clerk PAULINE, aside. He is torturing me GERTRUDE, to Pauline. Here is your cup, Pauline. VERNON, aside. Am I crazy? I thought I saw her put something in Pauline's cup ! PAULINE. And what did these people say? GODARD. Ah, how you listen to me ! I should feel flattered indeed if I knew you would look as inter- ested, if something concerning me was mentioned in your presence, as you are now that I speak of Mon- sieur Ferdinand. PAULINE. What a strange taste this tea has! Do you like yours? GODARD. Oh, now, you are talking about the tea to hide your interest in the present subject. That's an old dodge Well then, I am going to excite your curiosity to the highest pitch by telling you that Mon- sieur Ferdinand is PAULINE. Is? GODARD. A millionaire! PAULINE. You are making fun of me, Monsieur Godard. GODARD. On my word of honor, I am doing nothing of the kind, Mademoiselle; he really owns a treasure (Aside.} She is wildly in love with him. PAULINE, aside. What a fright the stupid fellow gave 94 THE STEP-MOTHER me ! (She rises with her cup in hand ; Vernon takes it from her as she walks to the tea table.') VERNON. Allow me, my dear child. THE GENERAL, to his wife. What is the matter, dear? You seem VERNON, rapidly exchanging his cup for that of Pauline, nobody noticing him. (Aside, after tasting the half -full cup.} It is laudanum, but happily the dose is small. Well, we may expect some startling developments very soon. (To Godard.) Monsieur Godard, you are a very shrewd man. (Godard pulls out his handkerchief and pretends to blow his nose.) Ah! (Vernon laughs.} GODARD. Doctor, no ill-feeling on my part VERNON. Now, listen: Do you think you could manage to get the General over to the factory and keep him there for an hour? GODARD. I should need the boy. VERNON. Unfortunately, he is at school until luncheon time. GODARD. May I know your purpose? VERNON. I can only tell you that it is a very praise- worthy one, and as you are a courteous gentleman Do you really love Pauline? GODARD. Oh, I did love her yesterday, but this morning (Aside.} I'll manage to discover what he wants me to do that for ! (To Vernon.) All right, I'll do it. I shall walk down the outside steps and return at once saying that Ferdinand wants the General at the works. I'll fix the thing for you It's no use, though. Here is Ferdinand himself coming in. (He goes toward the glass-door.) PAULINE. It's strange how sleepy I feel! (She walks to the sofa and stretches herself on it. Ferdinand comes forward chatting with Godard.) THE STEP-MOTHER 95 SCENE X THE PRECEDING. FERDINAND. FERDINAND. General, your presence is needed at the office to verify my accounts. THE GENERAL. Of course ; I am coming. GODARD. General, with your permission, I'll take this occasion of visiting your establishment. I have never been through it. THE GENERAL. All right, come along, Godard. GODARD. De Rimonville. GERTRUDE, aside. They leave the room; Fate is with me. VERNON, who has overheard her aside. In this case I happen to be Fate. SCENE XI GERTRUDE. VERNON. PAULINE. Later MARGUERITE. GERTRUDE. Doctor, do you want another cup of tea? VERNON. No, thank you. I have been so absorbed in these electoral returns, that I have not finished my first cup. GERTRUDE, pointing to Pauline. The poor child is asleep. VERNON. What, asleep! At this time of day? GERTRUDE. Oh, it is not surprising. I must tell you, doctor, that she did not go to sleep until past three o'clock this morning. We had quite a scare dur- ing the night. 96 THE STEP-MOTHER VERNON. I am going to help you carry her to her room. GERTRUDE. Oh, no, thank you; here is Marguerite, who will assist me. (Marguerite who for some time lias been seen near the glass-door comes over, upon a sign from her mistress.) Let us carry the child to her bed; she'll be more comfortable. (Gertrude and Marguerite leave the room carrying Pauline,) SCENE XII VERNON. FELIX, ivho has just stepped in. VERNON. Felix! FELIX. What can I do for you, sir? VERNON. Is there a closet in this room where I could store something? FELIX, opening a closet. Here, sir. VERNON, carrying into it Pauline's tea-cup. That'll do very well. Now, Felix, don't say a word of this to anybody. (Aside.) The man is sure to remember the incident. (Aloud.) It's a practical joke I want to play on the General, and it would miss fire if you talked about it. FELIX. I'll be as dumb as a fish, sir. VERNON, turning the key of the closet and putting it into his pocket. Now, when your mistress returns, leave me alone with her and don't let anybody disturb us for a few minutes. FELIX, aside as he goes out. Marguerite was right; there is something in the air, sure. THE STEP-MOTHER 97 MARGUERITE, to Vernon as she re-enters the room. There is nothing the matter with Mademoiselle. She sleeps peacefully. SCENE XIII VERNON. What it is it that will suddenly set a-quar- reling two women who previously have been living in peace? All physicians of a philosophic turn of mind know pretty well the infallible cause. Poor General, who all his life thought he could escape the common fate! Still the only men in his house are Ferdinand and I I hardly think I am the one, and I never noticed that Ferdinand Here she conies! To my gtins! SCENE XIV VERNON. GERTRUDE. GERTRUDE, aside. I have got the letters and I'll burn them at once in my room. (She finds herself face to face with Vernon. ) Ah ! VERNON. I have sent everybody away, Madame. GERTRUDE. And why did you do that? VERNON. Because we had to be alone for an expla- nation. GERTRUDE. An explanation! What do you mean, sir! You, the parasite of this house, what right have you to ask an explanation from the Comtesse de Grand- champ? VERNON. I a parasite! Why, madame, I have a for- 98 THE STEP-MOTHER tune of ten thousand a year, besides my pension. I rank as a retired general and all I possess I have willed to the children of my old friend! I, a parasite! Oh! But I am not here only as a family friend, I am also a physician and I saw you pour drops of lauda- num into Pauline's tea. GERTRUDE. You saw me ! ! VERNON. I did and I have the cup in my possession. GERTRUDE. You have the cup? Why, I washed it. VERNON. You washed my cup, thinking it was Pauline's. Oh, I was not reading the paper, I was watching you! GERTRUDE. What an occupation! VERNON. You will have to admit that the occupa- tion has its good points, as you may have to call me to your assistance if the drug should have a serious effect on Pauline. GERTRUDE. Serious effect? How could it have since I poured a few drops only? VERNON. So you acknowledge that you did put opium in her tea? GERTRUDE. Doctor, you are infamous! VERNON. Infamous, because I made you confess? That's the way women are sure to speak in all similar cases ! I am used to it. But you had better not stop at the beginning, for you have many more avowals to make to me. GERTRUDE, aside. A spy! The only thing I can do now, is to make him my accomplice. (Aloud.) Doc- tor, you can be too useful to me for me to quarrel with you. In a minute, I shall answer all your questions with absolute frankness. (She enters her room and locks the door behind her.} THE STEP-MOTHER 99 VERNON. She pushes the bolt I am tricked But, after all, I could not use violence. What is she doing now? Hiding her opium bottle, I suppose. It is always a sad mistake to attempt to render such serv- ices as my old friend, the poor General, expects of me. She'll fool me yet Ah, here she comes. GKRTRUDE, aside. Burned to ashes I am saved! (Aloud.} Doctor! VERNON. Madame? GERTRUDE. My step-daughter, Pauline, whom you believe to be such an angel of candor, had managed in a most cowardly, criminal manner, to secure pos- session of a secret upon which depended the honor, the life, of four people. VERNON. Four people! (Aside.) Herself, the General ah, her son, perhaps and the unknown one. GERTRUDE. This secret, now, she is forced to keep, even if her own life be at stake ! VERNON. I fail to understand! GERTRUDE. Well, all evidence concerning this secret has been destroyed! And, you, doctor, you who say you love us, would be as infamous as she, more infamous even, for you are a man and cannot find an excuse in the mad passions of a woman you would be nothing less than a monster if you took one step more in the direction you started upon just now. VERNON. So you are trying intimidation! Ah, Madame! Since human beings have congregated together, nothing but crime has grown from such seed as you are sowing now ! GERTRUDE. Think of it, doctor, four lives in jeopardy! (Aside.) He is weakening! (Aloud.) Therefore, strong in my knowledge of this great dan- 100 THE STEP-MOTHER ger, I tell you that you are going to help me preserve peace in this home, and that, in a few minutes, you will go out and procure what is needed to arouse Pauline from her present state. If it's necessary, you even will find some explanation to give to the General concerning Pauline's sudden fit of sleepiness. The cup, you will return to me, now, will you not? And after this, every step that it is necessary to take I'll explain to you fully in advance. VERNON. Madame ! GERTRUDE. Go now, go for this awakening draught. The General may return at any moment. VERNON, aside. I keep my hold on you just the same. My weapon is here (Exit Vernon.) SCENE XV GERTRUDE, leaning against the closet in which the cup is locked. For heaven's sake where did he hide the cup. (CURTAIN ON THIRD ACT.) FOURTH ACT (The stage shows the bed-room of Pauline, arranged as in the second tableau in the second act.} SCENE I PAULINE, asleep in a large arm-chair to the left. GERTRUDE. GERTRUDE, entering on tip-toes. She is still asleep t And that doctor told me she would awaken almost at once! This sleep frightens me! So here lies the woman he loves ! I do not find her pretty at all ! And yet yes, she is beautiful ! How is it men do not under- stand that beauty is but a promise and that it takes love to (A knock at the door.} Ah, here is somebody coming. VERNON, from the outside. Pauline, may I come in? GERTRUDE. It's the doctor. SCENE II THE PRECEDING. VERNON. GERTRUDE. You told me she would be awake by this time. VERNON. Do not worry. (Calling out.} Pauline! PAULINE, opening her eyes. Doctor Vernon ! Where am I? Ah, in my room! How did it happen? 101 102 THE STEP-MOTHER VERNON. My dear child, you went to sleep while drinking your tea. Madame de Grandchamp was a little afraid, as I was myself, that it might prove the beginning of some indisposition ; happily, there does not seem to be anything the matter with you and you have merely suffered the consequences of a sleepless night. GERTRUDE. And now, Pauline, how do you feel? PAULINE. I feel sleepy! And Madame was here while I slept? (She rises in the greatest excitement.) Ah! (She presses her hand upon her bosom.) Ah! This is infamous! (To Vernon.) Doctor, is it possible that you could be the accomplice GERTRUDE. The accomplice of whom? What were you going to say? VERNON. I, child, I, the accomplice of any evil- doer, and against you whom I love as I would my own daughter! You can't mean it! Now, tell me PAULINE. Nothing, doctor, I have nothing to tell. GERTRUDE. Please, let me say a few words to her in private. VERNON, aside. What can be the reason that pre- vents this young girl from speaking out, after being the victim of such a plot? (The two women talk together a few steps from Vernon.) GERTRUDE. Now, Pauline, you have no longer in your possession the proofs of the foolish accusation you proposed to bring against me before your father! PAULINE. I understand all! You have drugged me to rob me ! GERTRUDE. Each of us is as inquisitive as the other. I have done to you just what you did in Ferdinand's rooms. THE STEP-MOTHER 103 PAULINE. You are triumphing now, Madame, but it will soon be my turn ! GERTRUDE. So, the war is to go on, is it? PAULINE. War! Say the duel to a finish, Madame! There is one too many of us two on this earth. GERTRUDE. You are melodramatic, my dear. VERNON, aside. There is no explosion Appar- ently no disagreement! Why should I not go for Ferdinand. (He takes a step to the door.) GERTRUDE. Doctor? VERNON. Madame? GERTRUDE. We must have a talk together. (In a low voice. ) I will not leave you until you have returned to me VERNON. You know my condition PAULINE. Doctor? VERNON, going to her side. What is it, child? PAULINE. Don't you know that my sleep just now was not a natural one? VERNON. I know it; you were put to sleep by your step-mother ; I have the proof of it. And you, do you suspect why she did it. PAULINE. Certainly, doctor, it is because GERTRUDE, from the door, where she has been waiting for Vernon. Well, doctor PAULINE. Later, I shall tell you everything. VERNON, aside. From one or the other I am pretty sure to soon know all Ah, my poor General ! GERTRUDE. Are you not coming, doctor? (He bows and they both walk out.) 104 THE STEP-MOTHER SCENE III PAULINE, she goes to the bell rope and pulls it. Yes, all that remains for me to do is to flee with him. If we keep on fighting as we are now doing, my step- mother and I, my poor father's honor soon will be gone! Is it not a hundred times better to disobey him. Besides, I'll write him some sort of an explana- tion. I shall be generous, since, after all, I shall be triumphing over her I will leave my father's belief in her unsullied, and my reason for taking to flight will be his hatred against the name of Marcandal and my love for Ferdinand SCENE IV PAULINE. MARGUERITE. MARGUERITE. Is Mademoiselle well again? PAULINE. Yes, well in body but not in mind. Oh, I am desperate! My poor old Marguerite, how ter- rible it is for a girl to be left without a mother ! MARGUERITE. Especially if her father takes for his second wife a woman like the present Madame de Grandchamp. But, tell me, Mademoiselle, have I not been to you a devoted, though a humble, mother? Indeed, my love as your nurse since your babyhood has been rendered twice as strong by the hatred your step-mother has harbored against you. PAULINE. Oh, no, Marguerite, you can't love me so deeply! You think so, perhaps, but THE STEP-MOTHER 105 MARGUERITE. Oh, Mademoiselle, put me to the test! PAULINE. Let me see now Would you leave France with me? MARGUERITE. I'd follow you to the Indies ! PAULINE. And at once? MARGUERITE. At once Ah, my baggage does not amount to much ! PAULINE. Well, if it be so, Marguerite, we shall leave to-night, and secretly. MARGUERITE. We shall leave? And why? PAULINE. Why? Don't you know that Madame de Grandchamp drugged me to sleep an hour ago? MARGUERITE. Yes, I knew it, and so did Doctor Vernon ; for Felix told me that he had locked up the cup in which you had drunk your tea. But why should she do such a thing? PAULINE. Not a word more about it, if you love me And if you are really as devoted as you say you are, go now to your room and gather up all your belongings; don't let anybody have the least suspicion that you are preparing to leave. We shall go shortly after midnight. You will take from here to your room my jewels and such things as I may need during a long journey. Be clever and cautious about it; for, if my step-mother gets the slightest inkling of my inten- tions, I am lost. MARGUERITE. Lost ! In the name of heaven, Mademoiselle, what is happening in this house that you should be compelled to leave it in this way? PAULINE. Do you want to see me die? MARGUERITE. Die! You die! Oh, Mademoiselle, I will do anything you say. PAULINE,- Now, you must go to Monsieur Ferdinand io6 THE STEP-MOTHER and tell him to bring me my income for the year ; I must see him at once. MARGUERITE. He was walking under your windows when I came in. PAULINE, aside. Under my windows! He thought he would never see me again ! Poor Ferdinand ! SCENE V PAULINE, alone. So I am going to leave the paternal roof I know my father For a long time, he will search for me, the world over What treasures does love offer us that can pay for such sacrifices? For I give up everything for Ferdinand's sake my country, my father, my home But then, this wicked woman will have lost him forever! Besides, I shall come back! The doctor and Monsieur Ramel will secure forgiveness for us Isn't that Ferdinand's step? Yes, yes, it is ! SCENE VI PAULINE. FERDINAND. PAULINE. Oh, my precious one, my Ferdinand! FERDINAND. And I, who thought never to see you again! So, Marguerite knows all? PAULINE. She knows nothing yet, but to-night she will find out that we are taking our flight together, you and I. For you shall take away your wife with you! FERDINAND. Oh, Pauline, do not deceive me ! PAULINE. I had decided in any case to join you wher- THE STEP-MOTHER 107 ever exile should take you ; this odious womati simply hastened the execution of my plans. And there is no merit in my doing so, Ferdinand; my life is in danger. FERDINAND. Your life! What did she dare do? PAULINE. She almost killed me, this morning by drugging me to sleep, so as to gain possession of her letters which I had secreted upon my person ! From what she has dared, already, in her determination to keep you for her own, judge of what she is capable ! Therefore, if we are ever to belong to one another, our last resort is flight. No more good-bys then. To-night we shall be numbered among exiles Where we shall go, is for you to decide. FERDINAND. I feel beside myself with joy! PAULINE. But, O my Ferdinand! Neglect no pre- caution; first of all, drive right away to Louviers and see your friend, the Public Prosecutor, about the passports ; also order a post-chaise and fast horses, so that my father, urged by this wicked step-mother of mine, will be unable to capture us in our flight : he would kill us both, for, in the letter I shall leave I shall tell him the fatal secret of your birth and say that it forces us to have recourse to flight. FERDINAND. Have no anxiety. Eugene Ramel has been busy since yesterday making everything ready for my departure. I have here the amount your father owed me. (He shows her a pocket-book.} Here are also funds that belong to you out of your regular income. Just sign me a receipt that I may turn it in with my final accounts. (He places on the table, a feiv rolls of aold napoleons.) Leaving at midnight, we shall reach Rouen at three in the morning and Havre in io8 THE STEP-MOTHER good time to get on board a fast American packet which is announced to start to-morrow. Ramel has dispatched a confidential agent ahead to secure pas- sage accommodation for me. Nobody on board will find it strange that at the last minute I should have decided to take my wife with me across the water. So, you see, there is no obstacle SCENE VII THE PRECEDING. GERTRUDE. GERTRUDE. And what of me? PAULINE. We are lost! GERTRUDE. So, you were going to leave without a word to me, Ferdinand? Oh, no use denying I heard everything? FERDINAND, to Pauline. Will you kindly give me your receipt, Mademoiselle; I need it to close my accounts with the General before leaving. (To Ger- trude.) Madame, you may, perhaps, prevent Made- moiselle's departure, but you certainly can do nothing to prevent mine. So, go I will, and to-day. GERTRUDE. No, sir, you shall stay. FERDINAND. Against my will? GERTRUDE. What Mademoiselle, here, was planning to do, I will do myself, and fearlessly! I am going to send, this instant, for Monsieur de Grandchamp, and you will soon find out that you shall be compelled to leave this place, but with me and my child. (She has rung the bell; Felix appears in answer to it.} Please ask Monsieur de Grandchamp to be kind enough to come to this room. THE STEP-MOTHER 109 FERDINAND, to Pauline. I see what she wants to do. Keep her here while I prevent Felix from reaching the General. Ramel will tell you how to act. Once we are away from Louviers, Gertrude can do nothing against us. (To Gertrude.) Good-by, Madame; your attempt against Pauline's life has torn asunder the last bonds between us. GERTRUDE. You are always accusing me of some- thing or other But you don't know that this young lady was about to reveal to her father everything about you and me? FERDINAND. I love her and will love her all my life I will find means of defending her against you, and I trust her enough to leave the country for her sake ! Good-by ! PAULINE. Oh, dear, dear, Ferdinand! SCENE VIII GERTRUDE. PAULINE. GERTRUDE. Now that we are alone, do you want me to tell you why I have sent for your father? Listen I am going to tell him all about the name and the par- entage of Ferdinand! PAULINE. Oh, Madame, you cannot do such a thing? As soon as my father is informed that the man who has gained his daughter's love is General Marcandal's son, he will start at once for Havre and get there as soon as Ferdinand ; and then GERTRUDE. I prefer Ferdinand dead to seeing him belong to any other woman, especially when I feel for no THE STEP-MOTHER that other a hatred equal in strength to my love for him. This is the final incident of our duel, Made- moiselle. PAULINE, falling on her knees as she begins to plead. Oh, Madame, I am now down on my knees before you, just as you were before me yesterday Let us kill each other, if you so decide, but don't let us mur- der him! My life, my life I offer in exchange for his! GERTRUDE. You give him up then? PAULINE. Yes, Madame, I give him up. GERTRUDE, as she speaks, her handkerchief drops from her hand. You are deceiving me ! You speak this way because he loves you; because he insulted me a few minutes ago by confessing this love; because you think he never will be mine again Pauline, Pauline, I must have more than your word, I must have a pledge of your sincerity ! PAULINE, aside. Her handkerchief has dropped In a corner of it she keeps the key of her desk and the poison is there (Aloud.) Pledge You want a pledge? I'll do anything you say What is it to be? GERTRUDE. I know of only one absolutely convinc- ing proof You must marry another man ! PAULINE. I will marry another man. GERTRUDE. And pledge your word to him at once? PAULINE. You mean Godard? Well, you may notify him immediately of my willingness. Madame, bring my father here and I will GERTRUDE. YOU Will PAULINE. Give my word then and there. It will be like giving my life. THE STEP-MOTHER in GERTRUDE, aside. How resolutely she speaks out, and without a tear She must be keeping something back. (Aloud.) So, you are resigned? PAULINE. I am. GERTRUDE, aside. I'll test her. (Aloud.) If you speak the truth PAULINE. You are deceit itself and always think others are lying Ah, go from me, Madame! You disgust me! GERTRUDE, aside. Ah, now she is sincere! (Aloud.) I am going to notify Ferdinand of the resolution you have just taken. (Pauline nods her assent.) But he may not believe me You had better write him a few words yourself. PAULINE. To tell him to stay (She scribbles a few lines on the table.) Here they are, Madame. GERTRUDE, reading. "I have decided to marry Monsieur de Rimonville Therefore you may remain. Pauline." (Aside.) I can't understand her I am afraid of a trap I had better let him leave and notify him of this marriage when he will be far from here. (Exit Gertrude.) SCENE IX PAULINE, alone. Yes, yes, I see it now, Ferdinand is lost to me! I always felt it would be so Life is either a paradise or a prison I, a young girl, dreamt of paradise! Well, anyway, I have the key of her desk and can easily return it after securing what poison I need to escape from this horrible position! I'll do it at once. H2 THE STEP-MOTHER SCENE X PAULINE. MARGUERITE. MARGUERITE. Mademoiselle, your trunks are all packed. I'll begin here now. PAULINE. That's all right. (Aside.) I shall have to let her go on. (Aloud.) Here, Marguerite, take this gold to your room and hide it there. MARGUERITE. Are your reasons for going so very strong, Mademoiselle? PAULINE. Oh, my poor Marguerite, if I ""were only sure to go! Still you had better proceed. (Exit Pauline.) SCENE XI MARGUERITE, alone. And I imagined that the wicked woman would not allow Mademoiselle to marry! Has the dear child kept from me some love affair opposed by her father? He is so fond of her and professes to leave her free to choose Ought I not to speak to him? No, I can't do it; my child might be the sufferer. SCENE XII PAULINE. MARGUERITE. PAULINE, aside. Nobody saw me take it (Aloud.) Don't forget the money, Marguerite. Then, leave me to think of what I must do. MARGUERITE. In your place, Mademoiselle, I would go and tell everything to Monsieur. PAULINE. Tell everything to my father! Oh, for THE STEP-MOTHER 113 heaven's sake, do not betray me! Let us respect the illusions he lives under ! MARGUERITE. Illusions ! Yes, that's the right word! PAULINE. Now, go, dear, go! SCENE XIII PAULINE. Later VERNON. PAULINE, holding in her hand .a small package. So, this is death ! Doctor Vernon told us yesterday, when talking of Champagne's wife, that it took this terrible drug several hours, sometimes a whole night, to do its work and that, at first, it can be fought against suc- cessfully. Now, if the doctor is in our house during the next few hours, he'll fight the poison and prob- ably (A Tcnock at the door.} Who is there? VERNON, from the outside. It is I. PAULINE. Come in, doctor.* (Aside.) Curiosity brings him here, curiosity will send him away. VERNON. My dear child, is it true that there are between you and your step-mother life and death secrets? PAULINE. Yes, death secrets. VERNON. Well then I am right in my element. Tell me now, have you not had recently some violent quarrel with Madame de Grandcamp? PAULINE. Oh, do not speak to me of this wicked creature ! She deceives my father shamefully ! VERNON. I know it. PAULINE. She never loved him. VERNON. I was sure of it. 114 THE STEP-MOTHER PAULINE. She has sworn to ruin me. VERNON. Does she want to break your heart? PAULINE. Perhaps she is after my life! VERNON. Oh, my poor child, what a suspicion! But I love you, dear Pauline, and if you are right, I'll save you. PAULINE. For me to be saved, my father would have to have radically different opinions. Listen now, I love Monsieur Ferdinand. VERNON. This also, I know. But what prevents you from marrying him? PAULINE. You'll keep our secret, will you? He is the son of General Marcandal ! VERNON. Good God! Is it possible! Oh, you may be sure that I will keep that secret Why, your father would fight a duel to the death with him, for no other reason than that he has lived under his roof for three years. PAULINE. Now, you see, there is no hope. (She drops into an arm-chair, as if absolutely crushed. ) VERNON. Poor girl! Poor girl! I am afraid of hysterics! (He pulls the bell and calls out at the same time.) Marguerite, Marguerite! SCENE XIV THE PRECEDING. GERTRUDE. MARGUERITE. THE GENERAL. MARGUERITE, rushing in. What do you want, sir? VERNON. Bring in a tea-pot of boiling- water and prepare an infusion of orange leaves. THE STEP-MOTHER 115 GERTRUDE. What is the matter with you, Pauline? THE GENERAL. My daughter! My darling child! GERTRUDE. Oh, it's nothing serious I understand it all It comes from the emotion of deciding her life's future. VERNON, to the General. Her life's future And what is it to be? THE GENERAL. She is to marry Godard. (Aside to Vernon.) My wife just told me that she had given up at last some love she entertained for a fellow whose rascality she discovered only a few hours ago. VERNON. And you believe that story? Do not hurry things, General. We shall look into the matter quietly, to-night. (Aside.) Before that time, I shall have spoken to Madame de Grandchamp, privately. PAULINE, to Gertrude. The doctor knows every- thing GERTRUDE. Ah ! PAULINE, placing the handkerchief containing the key in Gertrude's pocket without the latter noticing it. Find some means to get him away, or he will tell my father all about Ferdinand and we are bound to save him, at any cost. GERTRUDE, aside. She is right. (Aloud.) Doctor, I have just been told that Frangois, one of our best workmen, was taken seriously ill yesterday. He is not able to get up. Would you be kind enough to go and see what is the matter with him? THE GENERAL. Did you say Francois? Oh, do go to him, Vernon. VERNON. Does he not live at Pre-1'Eveque? (Aside.) More than three leagues from here THE GENERAL. You are not anxious about Pauline? n6 THE STEP-MOTHER VERNON. No, it's just a spell of old-fashioned hys- terics. GERTRUDE. Then, doctor, you think it perfectly safe that I should take your place by her side? VERNON. Yes, Madame, I do. (To the General.) I'll wager that Francois is no sicker than I am now. Some one thinks me too clear-sighted and wants me out of the way. THE GENERAL, growing angry. Some one? Who, some one? What do you mean? VERNON. Are you going to get mad again? Now, hold yourself in check, General, or you will cause your- self life-long remorse. THE GENERAL. Remorse? VERNON. Never mind about this now. Just keep things as they are until I return. THE GENERAL. But GERTRUDE, to Pauline, who is coming to. Well, well, and how are you feeling now, darling. THE GENERAL, to Vernon. Just look at them. VERNON. Oh, women will commit murder under cover of a kiss. SCENE XV THE PRECEDING minus VERNON. Later MARGUERITE. GERTRUDE, to the General who stands there, bewildered, after the last words of Vernon. Well, what is the mat- ter with you? THE GENERAL, crossing over to Pauline. Nothing, nothing is the matter. Now, tell me, my own little THE STEP-MOTHER 117 Pauline, do you really accept Godard out of your free will? PAULINE. I do. Freely and willingly. GERTRUDE, aside. Ah! THE GENERAL. He is coming in directly. PAULINE. I await him. THE GENERAL, aside. There is much disappoint- ment in those words. (Marguerite enters, a cup in her hand.) GERTRUDE. It is too soon, Marguerite. The infusion won't be strong enough. (She tastes the tea.) I'll fix this myself. MARGUERITE. I thought I used to take proper care of Mademoiselle. GERTRUDE. What do you mean by such language? MARGUERITE. But Madame THE GENERAL. Marguerite, one word more like this, and we shall have to quarrel, my dear old woman PAULINE. Marguerite, you had better do what Madame de Grandchamp tells you. (Marguerite goes out ivith Gertrude.} THE GENERAL. So, you refuse to give your full con- fidence to a father who loves you so dearly? I only want you to tell me why you accept Godard to-day after refusing his offer so positively yesterday? PAULINE. Oh, it's just a young girl's changeable mind. THE GENERAL. You are not in love with any one else? PAULINE. It is just because I am not in love with anybody else that I am ready to marry your Monsieur Godard. (Gertrude and Marguerite return.) THE GENERAL. Ah! u8 THE STEP-MOTHER GERTRUDE. Here is your infusion, my dear girl; take care when you drink it, it's burning hot. PAULINE. Thank you, mother. THE GENERAL. Mother? Why, it's enough to make one crazy! PAULINE. Marguerite, the sugar - bowl, please. ( While Marguerite is out of the room and Gertrude talking at one side with the General, she drops the poison in the cup, and the paper the powder was in falls, unnoticed, on the floor. ) GERTRUDE, to her husband. What is the matter? THE GENERAL. My dear, I am like Godard, I cannot read women. (Marguerite returns.) GERTRUDE. Oh, you are like all men! PAULINE, after drinking hurriedly the poisoned cup. Ah! THE GENERAL. What is it, child? PAULINE. Nothing ! Nothing ! GERTRUDE. I'll make you another cup. PAULINE. No, thank you, Madame. We had better await the doctor's return. (She places the empty cup on the small table.) SCENE XVI THE PRECEDING. FELIX. Later GODARD. FELIX. Monsieur Godard asks if he may come in? (They look questioningly at Pauline who nods affirmatively. ) PAULINE. Certainly he may. GERTRUDE. What are you going to tell him? PAULINE. Just wait and listen. GODARD, entering. Oh, I am so sorry to hear that THE STEP-MOTHER 119 Mademoiselle is not quite well ! I will not intrude (A seat is pointed out to him.) Then, allow me to thank you for thus admitting me within this sanctuary of innocence. Mademoiselle, Madame de Grandchamp and your kind father have just informed me of a decision that would have filled me with rapture had it been reached yesterday, but, to-day, I confess, it rather surprises me. THE GENERAL. What is that you are saying, Mon- sieur Godard? PAULINE. Do not feel vexed, my clear father; the gentleman is right. You do not know all I told him yesterday. GODARD. You are much too clever, Mademoiselle, not to consider as very natural the curiosity of an honest young fellow endowed with forty thousand- a- year plus his savings, who would like to know some- thing of the reasons that lead you to accept him twenty-four hours after a positive refusal. For, (pulling out his watcli and looking at it) it was at this very same hour half-past five that you THE GENERAL. What are you talking about? You claim to be deeply in love and you begin to scold an adorable young girl, at the very moment when GODARD. I should certainly not act in this wise, if it were not a question of marriage. But, as you well know, General, marriage is a mixture of business and sentiment. PAULINE, to Godard. Sir* (Aside.) Oh, how I suffer! (Aloud.) Why, sir, you must know that we, poor young girls GODARD. Poor! You are not poof, Mademoiselle. You are worth four hundred thousand francs. 120 THE STEP-MOTHER PAULINE. I'll say then, weak young creatures GODARD. Why weak? PAULINE. Let us say innocent young maidens, then. Why should we not like to discover something of the temper of the man who wants to become our lord and master? If you truly love me, will you punish your- self, will you punish me, because I have ventured to test you? GODARD. Oh, of course, if it was meant that way! THE GENERAL. O Women ! Women! GODARD. You may exclaim just as correctly: O Maidens ! Maidens ! THE GENERAL. Any way, this proves that my daugh- ter is cleverer than her father. SCENE XVII THE PRECEDING. GERTRUDE. NAPOLEON. GERTRUDE. Well, Monsieur Godard? GODARD. Ah, Madame! Ah, General! I am delighted ! My dream is realized ! To enter a family like yours! I, so unworthy! Ah, Madame! Ah, General! Ah, Mademoiselle! (Aside.) There is a mystery not yet unfolded, for she does not love me ! I will penetrate it. NAPOLEON, running in. I have the medal, this week. Good afternoon, mamma. Where is Pauline? (He discovers her on the arm-chair.) Are you sick, poor little sister? I say, tell me, where does justice come from? GERTRUDE. Who has been speaking to you about THE STEP-MOTHER 12 1 this? You naughty boy, how you have mussed your clothes ! NAPOLEON. Teacher spoke about it. He said, jus- tice came from God. GODARD. I don't believe your teacher is from Nor- mandy. PAULINE, in a low voice to Marguerite. Oh, Mar- guerite ! Dear Marguerite ! Do manage to get them out of the room ! MARGUERITE. Gentlemen, I think Mademoiselle needs rest. THE GENERAL. Well, then, we'll leave you, Pauline. I hope you will feel like coming to the dinner-table, by and by. PAULINE. I will, if I can. Father, won't you kiss me? THE GENERAL, kissing her. Oh, you darling child! (To Napoleon.) Come, little one. (They all leave the room except Pauline, Marguerite and Napoleon.) NAPOLEON, to Pauline. And me! you are not kiss- ing me? What's the matter? PAULINE. Oh, I am dying! NAPOLEON. Who is dying? Pauline, tell me, what does death look like? PAULINE. Death it looks like this ! (She faints away in Marguerite" 1 s arms.) MARGUERITE. Oh, my God ! Help! Help! NAPOLEON. O Pauline! You frighten me! (He runs out of the room, crying.) Mamma! Mamma! (CURTAIN ON FOURTH ACT.) FIFTH ACT (The stage setting is unchanged.) SCENE I PAULINE. FERDINAND. VERNON. (Pauline lies upon her bed. Ferdinand holds her hand in an attitude of profound grief and absolute despair. It is just before dawn ; a lamp is still burning in the room.) VERNON, seated near the little round table. I have seen thousands of dead on battlefields and in flying hos- pitals; yet the death of this young girl under her father's roof moves me a hundred-fold more than all these sufferings borne so heroically. In war, death is foreseen, almost expected ; while here, it is not only a human existence that vanishes, but a whole family plunged into grief and precious hopes scattered to the winds. To see this child, I love so dearly, murdered poisoned and by whom? Marguerite did solve the riddle of this struggle between the two rivals. I felt it my sworn duty to go and reveal everything to the Public Prosecutor. And God knows that I did all that was humanly possible to snatch this life from the grasp of death. (Ferdinand lifts his head and listens to Vernon.) I have even procured this violent poison that is known to counteract the effects of the drug that is killing her. But I dare not administer it in the THE STEP-MOTHER 123 absence of some of those lights of the medical world to whom such daring experiments are permitted. Alone, one cannot risk such a throw of the dice! FERDINAND, he rises and walks to the doctors side. Doctor, as soon as the prosecuting magistrates arrive, tell them about this drug ; they will surely sanction the experiment. And God, yes, God, will listen to me By some miracle he will give her back to me! VERNON. I would have acted alone, if the poison had not gone so far. Now, I might be taken for the poisoner. No, dear friend, this (he pulls out a small phial from his pocket and places it on the table absent- mindedly} is of no use now and my desperate effort would only make me out a criminal. FERDINAND, placing a mirror before Pauline's lips. But everything is not lost yet She is still breath- ing VERNON. She will not see the rising day. PAULINE. Ferdinand ! FERDINAND. She just uttered my name. VERNON. Oh, a twenty- two year old girl is strong in her struggle against destruction. Besides, she will preserve her intelligence to the last breath. She may even rise, walk about and speak, in spite of the ter- rible sufferings caused by the poison. SCENE II THE PRECEDING. THE GENERAL, at first, outside. THE GENERAL. - VERNON, to Ferdinand. The General. ( Overwhelmed, Ferdinand drops into an arm-chair, to the left, hidden 124 THE STEP-MOTHER from the new-comer by the led hangings.) What do you want? THE GENERAL. 1 mUSt S66 Pauline ! VERNON. If you listen to me, you will wait; it will make her worse. THE GENERAL, he forces the door open. I will come in! VERNON. General, General, do stop, please ! THE GENERAL, entering the room and approaching the bed. I'll listen to nothing. Why, she is motionless and cold as ice Oh, Vernon ! VERNON. Now, General (Aside.) I must send him away! (Aloud.) Alas! I have but a faint hope of saving her THE GENERAL. What are you saying? Have you dared to deceive me all this time? VERNON. My old friend, you must look at this bed with the fearlessness you had when facing loaded bat- teries ! And for the present, in the awful suspense I am in, you ought to go and (Aside.) Oh, what an inspiration ! (Aloud.) You ought to go yourself and secure the presence of a priest. THE GENERAL. Vernon, I must see her, embrace her (He leans over the bed.) VERNON. Take care what you do! THE GENERAL, after kissing Pauline. Oh, so cold! VERNON. It is one of the symptoms of her malady, General Now, go as fast as you can to the manse, for, if I should fail, your daughter, raised as a Chris- tian girl, should not be left to die without the rites of the church. THE GENERAL. Yes, yes, I am going, I am going! (Instead of walking to the door he starts toward the other side of the bed.) THE STEP-MOTHER 125 VERNON, showing him the door. This way out. THE GENERAL. My friend, I feel beside myself I have not an idea in my head Vernon, a miracle, work a miracle ! You who have saved so many, will you not, can you not, save my child? VERNON. Come, come with me (Aside.} I must accompany him outside the house, for if he should meet the magistrates, what awful consequences would follow. (They leave the room together.) SCENE III PAULINE. FERDINAND. PAULINE. Ferdinand ! FERDINAND. O Merciful God ! Is this her last effort? Oh, Pauline, my Pauline, you are my life itself, and if Vernon does not save you, I will follow you We shall be united forever! PAULINE. If it is so, I die without a regret. FERDINAND, picking up the small phial left behind by Vernon. This, which might have saved you if the doctor had reached you sooner, shall deliver me from life. PAULINE. No, live and be happy! FERDINAND. Never, never without you! PAULINE. You make me live again. SCENE IV THE PRECEDING. VERNON. FERDINAND. She speaks, her eyes are opened! VERNON. Poor thing! There she falls back into her I 2 6 THE STEP-MOTHER stupor! What will her awakening be? (Ferdinand resumes his seat by the bedside and takes Pauline's hand in his own.) SCENE V THE PRECEDING. RAMEL. THE INVESTIGATING JUDGE. A COURT CLERK. A PHYSICIAN. A POLICE OFFICER. MARGUERITE. MARGUERITE. Monsieur Vernon, here are the magis- trates. Monsieur Ferdinand, come out this way. (Exit Ferdinand by the door at the left.} RAMEL. Officer, you will have your men watch the various exits of this house and hold yourself ready to obey further orders from us. Doctor, may we stay here a few minutes without endangering the life of your patient? VERNON. She is sleeping, sir ; sleeping her last sleep. MARGUERITE. Here is the cup containing ;what remained of the infusion, and there is arsenic in it. I noticed it the minute I took it away. THE COURT PHYSICIAN, examining^ the cup and tasting the dregs at the bottom. There is no doubt that this contains some poisonous substance. THE JUDGE. You will please take possession of it and analyze it. (He notices Marguerite picking a small piece of paper off the floor.} What is this paper? MARGUERITE. Oh, it's nothing! RAMEL. In a case like this, nothing is insignificant to a magistrate! (He starts as he looks at the paper.) This will have to be examined closely, later on. Can THE STEP-MOTHER 127 we have Monsieur de Grandchamp kept away for a little while? VERNON. He is gone to the manse, but he will be back soon. THE JUDGE, pointing out the bed to the Court Physician. Give your attention here please. (The two doctors converse in a low voice at the foot of the bed.) RAMEL, to the Judge. Should the General return while we are here, we shall act toward him as circum- stances may dictate. (Marguerite is sobbing, kneeling at the foot of the bed. The two physicians, the Judge and Ramel are grouped at the front of the stage.} RAMEL, speaking to the Court Physician. If I under- stand you correctly, sir, your opinion is that the illness of Mademoiselle de Grandchamp, whom we saw, the day before yesterday, so full of life and happiness, is due to a crime? THE COURT PHYSICIAN. The poisoning symptoms are of the most convincing nature. RAMEL. And are the remains of the poison, yet in this cup, sufficient to consitute legal evidence on this particular point? THE COURT PHYSICIAN. They are, sir. THE JUDGE, to Vernon. Doctor, this woman, here (pointing to Marguerite) claims that yesterday you ordered an infusion of orange leaves prepared for Mademoiselle de Grandchamp, who was suffering from the effects upon her nerves of a discussion with her step-mother. She adds that Madame de Grand- champ, who managed to have you sent four leagues away on a fool's errand, made it a point to prepare this tea and give it herself to her step-daughter. Is all this correct? i 2 8 THE STEP-MOTHER VERNON. Yes, sir, it is. MARGUERITE. By insisting that I should care for Mademoiselle, I brought upon myself a scolding from my good old master. RAMEL, to Vernon. Where did Madame de Grand- champ send you? VERNON. Gentlemen, there seems to be a fatality ruling this whole matter. There is no doubt in my mind that Madame de Grandchamp wanted to have me away from the house, for the workman she sent me to treat was enjoying himself at the village inn when I got there. I scolded Champagne for deceiving Madame as to the cause of the man's absence, but he assured me he never had said the fellow was ill. FELIX. Gentlemen, the clergy is at the door. RAMEL. Let us take the two pieces of evidence we have found into the parlor and proceed there with our inquiries. VERNON. This way, gentlemen, this way. (They all leave the room.) (TABLEAU, CURTAIN.) SCENE VI (The scene changes to the drawing-room of the First Act. ) RAMEL. THE INVESTIGATING JUDGE. THE COURT-CLERK. VERNON. RAMEL. Then, the facts stand as follows. According to the statements of Felix and Marguerite, first, Mad- ame de Grandchamp, in this room, administered to her step-daughter a dose of opium, and you, Doctor Ver- THE STEP-MOTHER 129 non, noticing the criminal action, managed to get pos- session of the cup and had it locked up. VERNON. That's correct, but RAMEL. How is it, Doctor Vernon, that, having been a witness to this criminal deed, you did not stop Madame de Grandchamp from proceeding on the dan- gerous road she was traveling? VERNON. Believe me, sir, everything that prudence could dictate and my long experience suggest, I have done. THE JUDGE. Your conduct, sir, is somewhat strange and will need explaining. Yesterday you did your duty in securing this material proof, the cup, but why did you stop short in that direction? RAMEL. One moment, if you please, Judge. This old gentleman is sincere and honorable. (He takes Vernon aside.) Now, tell me, have you not discovered the cause of this crime ! VERNON. Its motive lies in the rivalry of two women, urged to extremes by pitiless passions > More, I must not say. RAMEL. I know everything. VERNON. What! You, sir, know everything? RAMEL. And, like you, I have done my best to pre- vent a catastrophe; for Ferdinand was to leave to-night. In the old days, I knew Mademoiselle de Meilhac. VERNON. If that is so, sir, I beg of you, to be merciful! Have pity on an old soldier, with as many wounds perhaps as he has illusions ! He is about to lose his wife and his daughter Let him not lose his honor as a husband. RAMEL. We understand each other As long as 130 THE STEP-MOTHER Gertrude makes no confession that compels us to open our eyes to the real situation, I'll endeavor to persuade the investigating judge a very shrewd and unwavering magistrate that cupidity alone has directed Madame de Grandchamp's criminal hand. Help me to succeed. (The Judge walks over to them. Ramel assumes at once a stern tone of voice, as he adds:} Why should Madame de Grandchamp have wished to put her step-daughter to sleep? As the old friend of the family, you must know that. VERNON. Pauline was about to confide her secret to me. Doubtless, Madame de Grandchamp got an ink- ling that I was to be informed of things she preferred to keep concealed ; I think this is also the reason why she managed to have me called away professionally to see a perfectly healthy man. She did not try to prevent help from reaching Pauline in good time, for Louviers is close by and there are lots of physicians to be had there. THE JUDGE. What a degree of premeditation! (To Ramel.} She is doomed unless we find the proofs of her innocence locked up in her own desk. She does not expect us She will be thunderstruck ! SCENE VII THE PRECEDING. GERTRUDE. Then MARGUERITE. GERTRUDE. I hear church chants Oh, the magis- trates again What is happening here? (She walks over toward Pauline's door, when it is suddenly thrown open and Marguerite stands on the threshold. She starts back in an awful fright.} Ah ! THE STEP-MOTHER 131 MARGUERITE. They are saying prayers on your vic- tim's body! GERTRUDK. What? Pauline? Pauline dead? THE JUDGE. And you poisoned her, Madame. GERTRUDE. I! I! I! Tell me, am I awake? (To Itd-mcL) You here, how lucky You'll be able to explain everything! For you know all! And you do not believe me capable of a crime, do you? Anyhow, what am I accused of? I, try to kill her! I, the wife of an old man who is the soul of honor! I, the mother of a child who must never have cause to blush on my account! Ah, law and justice will be on my side, I know Marguerite, let no one leave this room And won't somebody tell we what has happened since I left Pauline merely ailing a little? THE JUDGE. Collect yourself, Madame. You are now in the presence of your country's magistrates. GERTRUDE. Oh! I feel chilled, all over THE JUDGE. The magistrates, in France, Madame, remain strictly impartial in the pursuance of their duties. They set no traps, they act openly, strong in the feeling of their truth-seeking mission. For the present, you are in the preliminary stage of an accusation, and I owe you my protection. But the truth you must tell me, the whole truth. The rest will take care of itself. GERTRUDE. If it is so, sir, just bring me to Pauline's bed, and, standing there, I will cry out that I am innocent of her death ! THE JUDGE. Madame! GERTRUDE. Let us stop all these long phrases you delight to wrap around those you accuse My grief is inexpressible! I weep over Pauline's death as if I3 2 THE STEP-MOTHER she were my own child Everything she has done against me I pardon her What else do you want of me now? Proceed, I'll answer your questions! RAMEL. What is it you have to pardon? GERTRUDE. I meant RAMEL, in a low voice to Gertrude. For heaven's sake, be prudent GERTRUDE, answering Mm. How right you are Around me nothing but yawning chasms ! THE JUDGE, to the Court Clerk. You will take down the name, etc. later on; just now limit yourself to jot- ting down brief notes of the interrogatory. (To Ger- trude.) Did you, yesterday, about noon, administer opium to Mademoiselle de Grandchamp, by pouring some of the drug in her teacup? GERTRUDE. So, doctor, VOU ? RAMEL. Do not accuse Doctor Vernon of any unkindness He has compromised himself only too much for your sake. Answer the Judge's ques- tion. GERTRUDE. Yes, it is true. THE JUDGE, presenting the cup to her. Do you identify this as being the cup in question? GERTRUDE. I do. What next? THE JUDGE, to his clerk. Write down that Madame identifies the cup and admits that she poured opium into it. That will be sufficient, for the present, con- cerning this first accusation. GERTRUDE. So you are accusing me of something else? Of what? THE JUDGE. Madame, if you are unable to properly explain the action concerning which I am now going to question you, you will stand accused of the crime of THE STEP-MOTHER 133 murder by poison. Let us look together for the proofs of your innocence or your guilt. GERTRUDE. And where shall we look for them, please? THE JUDGE. In your bed-room. Yesterday, you caused Mademoiselle de Grandchamp to drink an infusion of orange leaves out of this other cup, here, in which arsenic has been found. GERTRUDE. Arsenic in that cup! Can such a thing be possible? THE JUDGE. You told us the day before yesterday, that the desk in which you kept a package of arsenic was always locked, with a key that never left your person. GERTRUDE. It is now in the pocket of this dress! Ah ! thank you for remembering that, sir ; this torture will now end! RAMEL. So, you made no use of this ? GERTRUDE. None whatever; you'll find the package sealed as it was when last you had it in your hands. RAMEL. I truly hope so, Madame. THE JUDGE, to Ramel. I doubt it We have to deal with a most audacious criminal GERTRUDE. My room is all upset, allow me THE JUDGE. No, no, the three of us shall go in together. RAMEL. Your innocence is at stake, Madame. GERTRUDE. Well then, come in, gentlemen. SCENE VIII VERNON, alone. My poor old friend, kneeling now at his daugther's bedside! No one but God can give her back to him, now I 3 4 THE STEP-MOTHER SCENE IX VERNON. GERTRUDE. RAMEL. THE JUDGE. THE COURT CLERK. GERTRUDE. Am I awake? Am I dreaming? Am I? RAMEL. You are lost, Madame. GERTRUDE. I know I am, sir! But who has done this deed? THE JUDGE, to Ms clerk. Write down that Madame de Grandchamp, having herself opened the desk in her bed-room, and, having handed over to us the package of arsenic that had been sealed by Monsieur Baudril- lon, we have found this package, which we had left, the day before yesterday unopened and untouched, with its seal broken and an amount abstracted from it sufficient to cause death. GERTRUDE. To cause death ! I!! THE JUDGE. It was not without a reason, Madame, that I picked up this scrap of torn paper, inside your desk. We found in Mademoiselle de Grandchamp's room this other scrap which fits perfectly the one we thus secured. This is a proof that when you opened your desk to obtain the poison, you picked up this piece of paper to hold the amount of the drug you took from the package. Then, in the bewilderment that often accompanies the commission of a crime, you threw away the fragment after emptying it. GERTRUDE. Did you not say, a moment ago, that you would act as my protector ! And is this ? THE JUDGE. One moment, Madame. The witness' summons, which I had caused to be prepared for you, THE STEP-MOTHER 135 must now be changed to an order of arrest. (He signs the paper which his clerk hands him.) Now, Madame, you must consider yourself a prisoner. GERTRUDE. I suppose it has to be as you say But you told me also, that your mission was to find the truth. Shall we not look for it together, sir? THE JUDGE. We shall, Madame. GERTRUDE, to Ramel, as she bursts into tears. Ah, Monsieur Ramel, Monsieur Ramel! RAMEL. Have you anything to say in your defense that might induce us to release you? GERTRUDE. Gentlemen, I am innocent of this hor- rible crime of murder, but I find everything to be against me ! I beseech you, instead of torturing me, assist me just a little! For instance, the key must have been taken from me Some one must have entered my room in my absence. Ah ! I understand it all now (Aside to Ramel.) Pauline loved as I love She poisoned herself RAMEL. For the sake of your honor as a wife do not say a word of this without absolute proof THE JUDGE. Madame, is it true that yesterday, knowing that Doctor Vernon was to dine at your house, you sent him away GERTRUDE. Ah, your questions are like so many stabs through my very heart And you go on, and you go on THE JUDGE. Did you or did you not send him to attend a workman, at Pr6-l'Eveque? GERTRUDE. 1 did. THE JUDGE. This workman, Madame, was at the inn, in perfect health. GERTRUDE. Champagne had said he was ill. 136 THE STEP-MOTHER THE JUDGE. Champagne, whom we questioned, denies this. He never said the man was ill. Your object was to keep help from the sick girl. GERTRUDE, aside. And it was Pauline who had me send the doctor away! Ah Pauline! Pauline! You'll drag me to the grave with you, but I'll go down to it a branded criminal! Oh no! Never! Never! (Aside to Ramel.) I have but one resource left me, sir. (To Vernon.) Is Pauline still alive? VERNON, pointing to the General, who is entering the room. Here comes my answer! SCENE X THE PRECEDING. THE GENERAL. THE GENERAL. She is dying, Vernon, dying! If I lose her, I shall never survive her death! VERNON. My dear, dear friend ! THE GENERAL. There seems to be many people here What are they doing? Oh, save her, save her! Where is Gertrude? (They lead the feeble old man to the rear of the stage and make Mm sit down.) GERTRUDE, on her Tcnees before the General. Poor father! Dear friend! (Speaking half to herself. ) Oh, if only they would kill me now without a trial! (She rises suddenly.) No, it is impossible! Pauline has wrapped me up in her shroud and I feel her icy fingers around my throat And yet, I had given up the struggle, yes, I had decided to bury with me the secret of this horrible domestic drama Such a lesson it would be for other women ! But I cannot stand this fighting with a corpse that has got hold of me, THE STEP-MOTHER 137 that instills within me the chill of death. Ah! But now, my innocence will come out of my confession! If it is at the expense of somebody's honor, what do I care? At least I shall not be branded a vile, cowardly poisoner! Yes, I am going to tell everything! THE GENERAL, rising and walking threateningly toward her. Then you are going to tell the magistrates what you have hidden obstinately from me, for the last two days ! Oh you contemptible and deceitful creature ! You, with your lying caresses ! You have killed my daughter. Whom else do you want to destroy? GERTRUDE, to herself. Must I keep silent? Must I speak? RAMEL. General, I beseech you, withdraw from this room. It is the law's command. THE GENERAL. The law ! You stand here for the law of man I represent the law of God Far, far above you, gentlemen I am the accuser, the court, the jury, the executioner! And now, Madame, speak out GERTRUDE, on her Tcnees before her husband. Oh, have mercy, sir Yes, I am RAMEL. Oh, the wretched woman! GERTRUDE, to herself. No, No! I will not speak He must never know the truth! (Aloud.) If the whole world thinks me guilty, to you I will say, to my last breath, that I am innocent! Some day, out of two graves, truth, cruel, pitiless truth, will rise and pro- claim that you, you also, are guilty, that you also have been blinded by your hatred THE GENERAL. I! I! Guilty ! Am I losing my reason? How dare you accuse me! (Seeing Pauline walking into the room.) Ah! Ah! My God! 138 THE STEP-MOTHER SCENE XI THE PRECEDING. PAULINE, leaning on FERDINAND. PAULINE. I have been told everything. This woman is innocent of the crime of which she is accused. My Christian faith tells me that I can expect no forgiveness in the other life if I do not par- don all in this world. It was I who took the key of Madame's desk and secured the poison; I, who tore the scrap of paper to wrap in it the drug that was to end my miserable life. GERTRUDE. Ah, Pauline ! Take my life, take from me everything I hold dear Doctor, doctor, save her! THE JUDGE. Mademoiselle, are you telling us the truth? PAULINE. The truth! Dying persons always tell the truth ! THE JUDGE, to Ramel. We shall never reach the bottom of this mystery. PAULINE, to Gertrude. And do you know why I have thus appeared to save you from certain ruin? It is because Ferdinand just whispered into my ear a word that has aroused me from my deathly sleep. He has such a horror of remaining in this life with you that he prefers to follow me to the, grave where we shall rest together, united in death. GERTRUDE. Ferdinand dead! My God! At what price am I saved? THE GENERAL. But unhappy child, why should you die? Have I not been, am I not still the most affec- THE STEP-MOTHER 139 tionate of fathers? They dare to say that I am the guilty one. FERDINAND. And so you are, General. I am the only one able to solve this terrible riddle and to tell you why you are the guilty one THE GENERAL. How dare you speak thus, Ferdi- nand ! You, to whom I offered my daughter, you of whom I was so fond FERDINAND. My name is Ferdinand, Comte de Marcandal, son of General Marcandal Do you understand now? THE GENERAL. Ah, son of a traitor, you were fated to bring to my home treachery and death! Defend yourself ! (He makes one threatening step toward Ferdi- nand as if to attack him.) FERDINAND. Do you want to fight a dead man, Gen- eral? (He falls dead at his feet.) GERTRUDE, utters a shriek and rushes toward Ferdi- nand. Oh ! (She throws herself back as the General walks toward his daughter. She pulls out a phial but almost at once throws it a-iuay.) No, No! I condemn myself to live for this old man's sake! (The General kneels before his daughter, breathing her last stretched on the sofa.) Doctor, doctor, what is he doing? Is his reason for- saking him? THE GENERAL, stuttering like a man who cannot find his words. I I I VERNON. What are you doing, General? THE GENERAL. I ^1 am trying to pray over my dead child ! ! x (FINAL CURTAIN.) MERCADET A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS AND IN PROSE Presented for the first time at the Theatre du Gymnase-Dramatique, in Paris^ August 24, 1851. CHARACTERS MERCADET, a promoter. MADAME MERCADET, his wife. JULIE, their daughter. MINARD, a clerk in Mercadet's office. VERDELIN, a friend of Mercadet. GOULARD, ~\ PIERQUIN, V creditors of Mercadet. VlOLETTE, ) MERICOURT, an acquaintance of Mercadet. DE LA BRIVE, a suitor to Julie's haud. JUSTIN, a valet, } THERESE, a chamber-maid, V in the service of Mercadet. VIRGINIE, a cook, ) SUNDRY CREDITORS OF MERCADET. The three acts take place in the richly furnished apartments of Mercadet. Time, about 1845. MERCADET FIRST ACT (A Drawing-room. A door at the back. Doors on the right and on tlie left. At the front of the stage, to the left, a mantel- piece with a looking-glass. To the right, a window ; next to it a small table with writing material upon it; arm-chairs to the right and to the left.) SCENE I JUSTIN. VIRGINIE. THERESE. JUSTIN, going on with his dusting. Yes, my dears, this poor Monsieur Mercadet may swim a while longer, but drown he will, you take my word for it. VIRGINIE, her marketing-basket on her arm. Do you really think so? JUSTIN. Do I! I tell you, he has gone to pieces, and, although there are lots of pickings for servants in the house of a financially-embarrassed master, he owes us now a whole year's back wages, and we would do well to have ourselves bounced. THERESE. Bounced! That's easier said than done Some masters are so obstinate I have been mighty impertinent to Madame half a dozen times lately, but she doesn't seem to notice VIRGINIE. Well, I've served as cook in a score of I 4 4 MERCADET houses, but this family beats them all ! When I get tired of kitchen-work, I'll just go straight on the stage ; it's a right smart actress I am now. JUSTIN. That's what we are all doing acting a regular comedy VIRGINIE. Why, this morning, one of the creditors came to the door and asked for Monsieur. "Mon- sieur !" I exclaimed, with well-feigned surprise, "don't you know that he left this morning for Lyons?" "For Lyons?" says the party. "Yes, he has gone to close a big deal that's going to make him richer than ever, a marvelous coal mine, they say" "Is that so? Well, well, and when is he expected back?" "Ah, that we don't know." Yesterday, another of these fellows called ; I answered the bell with a face as long and as sad as if I had lost my best beloved JUSTIN, aside. She means her money, of course. VIRGINIE, mimicking a weeping woman. "Ah, Sir, Monsieur and Mademoiselle are in great grief Poor, poor Madame, the doctors say there is no hope for her the family had to leave in a hurry for the south of France" Ha! (She bursts out laughing.) THERESE. 'T isn't always such fun Some of these creditors are very insolent they talk to us as if we were the masters of the house ! VIRGINIE. Well, it's decided this time I'll tell Madame that she must settle with me at once Any- way, the storekeepers won't deliver any more supplies except for cash and, sure, I'm not going to advance my own money JUSTIN, walking up the stage. Let us all ask for our wages. MERCADET 145 VIRGINIE and THERESE, together. Yes, yes, let us all ask for our wages ! VIRGINIE. And they call themselves capitalists! Why, the real capitalists are always spending money for their table JUSTIN, coming back to the front. And are devoted to their servants. VIRGINIE. And remember them handsomely in their wills That's the kind of capitalists I care to serve. THERESE. Well said, Virginie All the same, I can't help pitying Mademoiselle, their daughter, and young Minard, her beau. JUSTIN. Bosh! You don't expect Monsieur Mer- cadet to give his daughter to a no-account clerk, with i, 800 a year salary He aims higher than that, Monsieur Mercadet THERESE and VIRGINIE. Does he? And who is the man? JUSTIN. I don't know, for sure; though two young men drove to our door in a trap and their groom told Father Gruneau, the doorkeeper, that one of them was to marry Mademoiselle Mercadet. VIRGINIE. What! You don't mean those two gen- tlemen, with light-colored gloves and stunning waist- coats want to marry Mademoiselle? JUSTIN, laughing. Not both of them, certainly. VIRGINIE. Their trap was varnished to kill, the horse had rose-buds here. (Pointing to her ear.) It was left in charge of a little groom hardly eight years old, pink and white and frizzled, with top-boots, and the looks of a mouse gnawing at some lace work and he swore like a Tartar! His master is as handsome as can be, with a big diamond in his necktie You 146 MERCADET don't mean to tell me that Mademoiselle Mercadet is to marry such as he Never ! JUSTIN. Oh! well! you don't know Monsieur Mer- cadet! Listen! I have been in this house for six years, but it is only since he began to go down, down financially and since I have seen him handle his creditors the way he does, that I have understood that this man can do most anything even get rich again. One day, I'd say to myself: This time he is smashed for good and all ! The auction notices would be pasted on the gate; constables and lawyers' clerks would be dumping summons and protests by the ream I could have sold pounds of them as waste paper without his noticing it. Then, in a jiffy, everything would change and he would be on top again! You have no idea of that man's inventions! Something brand new every day in the week ! And such schemes ! Paving stones made out of almost anything! Ducal estates, duck-ponds, wind-mills, every thing you can think of turned into stocks and bonds ! But his cash- box must have a big hole somewhere : fill it as fast as he can, it's always empty! Only the creditors remain. But how he jollies them! One time, after I had seen them come here in a towering rage, threaten- ing to carry off every stick of furniture, to have him arrested on the spot; he began talking to them in his fetching way and, in a moment, they were the best friends he had in the world and withdrew smiling and shaking hands. People speak of lion-tamers, of tiger- tamers that's nothing Monsieur Mercadet tames creditors \ THERESE. One of them though is hard to fool that fellow Pierquin. MERCADET 147 JUSTIN. A regular jackal feeding on bankrupts! And poor father Violette VIRGINIE. Half beggar half creditor, he is I always feel like giving him a bowl of soup. JUSTIN. And that man Goulard! THERESE. A discounter who wants to discount me! (They laugh.) VIRGINIE. I hear Madame. JUSTIN. Let us be nice to her We'll hear some- thing about the marriage. SCENE II THE SAME. MADAME MERCADET. MADAME MERCADET, enters from the right. Justin, did you attend to the errand I gave you? JUSTIN. Yes, ma'am, but they refuse to deliver the dresses, the hats, everything your ordered, until VIRGINIE. I must also tell Madame that the butcher and grocer decline to MADAME MERCADET. I understand. JUSTIN. Monsieur's creditors are at the bottom of this Ah ! if I only knew how to make them rue it. MADAME MERCADET. They have to be paid ; nothing else will do. JUSTIN, aside. Wouldn't they be surprised? MADAME MERCADET. It is useless to hide from you my growing anxiety concerning Monsieur's business. We may have to count upon your discretion Will you be true to us? ALL, speaking together. Sure, we will. 148 MERCADET VIRGINIE. We were just saying how kind our employers are. THERESE. And that we would throw ourselves into the fire for their sake. JUSTIN. Our very words! (Mercadet appears at the back.} MADAME MERCADET. Thank you, you are kind- hearted people. (Mercadet^ still unnoticed, shrugs his shoulders.} All Monsieur needs is a little more time He is so clever. And then there is a brilliant offer for the hand of Mademoiselle and if only SCENE III THE SAME. MERCADET. MERCADET, interrupting his wife. Please, my dear! (The servants move away.} MERCADET, aside to his ivife. The way you talk to your servants ! They'll turn impertinent, next (To Justin.} Justin, go at once to Monsieur Verdelin, and ask him to come over to talk with me on a most press- ing business If you are reticent enough, he is sure to come You, Therese, you return right away to the stores where Madame ordered the goods, and tell them, curtly, that if they deliver everything this after- noon, they'll be paid yes, paid in cash You may go. (Justin and TJierese move toward the door.} Stay let me see Ah! if these gentlemen call again, show them in here. (Madame Mercadet takes a seat at the right.} JUSTIN. These gentlemen What gentlemen? MERCADET 149 THERESE and VIRGINIE. Yes, what gentlemen? MERCADET. Why! Don't you know them by this time? My "gentlemanly" creditors, of course. MADAME MERCADET. Your creditors ! MERCADET, taking a seat by the table to the right. Why, yes, my dear. I am feeling lonely ; I need their company. (To Justin and Therese.) That's all right. (They withdraw, but Virginia lingers.} SCENE IV MERCADET. MADAME MERCADET. VIRGINIE. MERCADET, to Virginie. Has not Madame given you her orders for the day? VIRGINIE. No, sir, besides, the butcher and MERCADET, not heeding her. You'll have to distin- guish yourself to-night We'll have four guests for dinner, Monsieur Verdelin and his wife, Monsieur de Mericourt and Monsieur de la Brive; we'll sit seven at the table. These small meals are the triumph of great cooks. After a clear soup, give us a fine fish and two entries, delicace and savory. VIRGINIE. But, sir, the grocer MERCADET, continuing. The next service Oh! that must be brilliant and toothsome ; at the same time, substantial and dainty Let us see VIRGINIE. But the butcher, the grocer, sir MERCADET. What? the butcher, the grocer? How can you talk of these people the very day my daugh- ter's future husband is to be introduced to her! I 5 o MERCADET VIRGINIE. But they won't deliver any more goods, sir MERCADET. What's that? Storekeepers that won't deliver goods! Why, my good woman, patronize other dealers Go to their competitors, tell them I'll trade with them, and they will be so glad that they'll tip you. VIRGINIE. And when I leave, how am I going to pay them? MERCADET. Don't worry about that. It's their business. VIRGINIE. But suppose they hold me responsible Now, really, I can't do it! MERCADET, rising. (Aside.} This girl has money. (Aloud.) Virginie, you ought to know by this time, that credit is the very basis of government. Indeed, the storekeepers would show positive contempt for the laws of their country, they would be little short of radicals and enemies of the constitution, if they did not leave me in peace Don't bother me by talking about people in open insurrection against the vital principle of all 'well-ordered nations You just go and take care of the dinner, and show us what an A-i cook like you can do in her line! And if, Madame Mercadet, the day after her daughter's marriage, should happen to owe you I'll settle it myself! VIRGINIE, hesitating. Well, sir MERCADET. Just go away ! I'll make your money earn you 10 per cent, interest every six months That's better than any savings bank, isn't it? VIRGINIE. I should think so, it hardly pays me 4 per cent MERCADET, aside to his wife. Now, don't you see? MERCADET 151 (To Virginie.) What! you invest your money in a stranger's hands! I should have thought you shrewd enough to take care of your savings yourself, and in this house. VIRGINIE, aside, walking to the door. Ten per cent, interest ever}'- six months! (Turns around.) I'll attend to the dinner, sir; please have Madame instruct me about it. Now, I'll cook the luncheon. (Exit Virginie.) SCENE V MERCADET. MADAME MERCADET. MERCADET, looking at Virginie as she leaves the room. This girl has put in the savings bank three thousand francs she squeezed out of us We don't need to worry about her department for a while. MADAME MERCADET. Oh! Monsieur Mercadet, can you allow yourself to sink so low? MERCADET. Madame, there is no detail too small for the wise man to attend to Do not judge my ways A moment ago, when you were trying to humor your servants, they had to be ordered about, curtly, as Napoleon did. MADAME MERCADET. How am I to order them about, when we have stopped paying them? MERCADET. That's just it They have to be paid in audacity. MADAME MERCADET. But can we not obtain from their attachment what they would refuse to ? MERCADET. Their attachment! Oh how little you 152 MERCADET know our times ! To-day, Madame, there is no more household attachment nothing but individual selfish- ness. Everybody's heart is in a cash-box! Even a wife hardly counts upon her husband She prefers an insurance policy on his life. We pay our debt to our country by hiring a man to play soldier in our place ! All our duties are turned into contracts ! Our servants as frequently changed as France does its constitution have no staid attachment for their mas- ters. They will be devoted to you as long as you have their money in your hands MADAME MERCADET. O sir! What are you saying? You, always so honorable, so honest ! MERCADET. You mean that from words to acts there is but a step? Well, you may depend on it that I'll do everything to save myself, for (pulling a five-franc piece from his pocket] here is Modern Honor! Do you know why dramas with rascals as chief heroes are so pop- ular? It's because the audience goes home, after the play, thinking: "How much more virtuous we are than those scoundrels!" MADAME MERCADET. My dear husband MERCADET. Yes I know I have an excuse I am crushed under the weight of my partner's crime That man, Godeau, who ran away after embezzling our firm's capital! Anyway, there is nothing dis- honorable in owing something to somebody! Every man owes his father his life. Does he ever return it? Mother Earth is in a state of chronic insolvency toward the Sun. Life, Madame, life itself is a constant succession of borrowing, borrowing And it's not every one that can get into debt! Am I not my creditors' superior? I have their money, they are MERCADET 153 awaiting mine I ask nothing of them, tney are ceaselessly importuning me. A man without debts! why, nobody cares a fig about him ! while my credit- ors are thinking of me all the time ! MADAME MERCADET. Yes, and rather too much, I should say. Of course, to owe when one can pay is right enough, but to borrow when you know in advance that you cannot pay MERCADET. Oh! why bestow such pity upon my creditors, they trusted us. MADAME MERCADET. Because they believed in us MERCADET. No, Madame because they wanted to make money out of us ! The speculator and the stock- holder are two birds of the same breed they want to get rich in a day and an hour. In my time, I have helped every one of these creditors of mine, and now they want to extract something more out of me. Where should I be, had I not a thorough knowledge of their interests and of their weaknesses? You'll see in a few minutes, how I can sing to each one the tune that suits him. (He takes a seat to the left.) MADAME MERCADET. Yes ! I heard you say MERCADET. That I was ready to receive them. I have to. (Taking her hand.) I have just come down to my last resource, dear friend ; now is the time for a bold stroke and Julie will help me succeed. MADAME MERCADET. Our daughter! MERCADET. My creditors are pressing me, harass- ing me, I must marry Julie brilliantly in order to dazzle them into giving me more time to turn around But to bring about this marriage, those kind gentlemen will have to let me have some more money. MADAME MERCADET. They, give you money! 154 MERCADET MERCADET. Must we not have spot cash to pay for the gowns you are expecting to-day and to purchase a trousseau worthy of my daughter? By the way, with a dowry of 200,000 francs, nothing less than a 15,000 franc trousseau will do don't you think so? MADAME MERCADET. But you have no such dowry to give away. MERCADET, rising. All the more reason, then, to give the trousseau. Now, listen: We must have 12,000 to 15,000 francs for the trousseau and at least three thousand more to settle pressing household accounts. It would not do to let Monsieur de la Brive suspect that we are in the least financially embarrassed ! MADAME MERCADET. But the idea of asking your creditors for that money? MERCADET. Why not? Have they not become, so to speak, members of the family? Find -me any relative as anxious as they are to see me wealthy and rich! Relatives are always somewhat envious of any happiness or lucky turn Providence may send our way our creditors, never. Should I die now, there would be more creditors than relatives to follow my hearse ; the first might mourn me in their hearts and show it in their clothes ; the latter would feel my loss in their account-books and in their purses; that's where death creates a real void ! The heart forgets after a year or less; crepe is thrown aside but the unpaid debt remains unpaid and the gap is ever yawn- ing. MADAME MERCADET. But, my dear husband, I know your creditors you'll not obtain anything from them. MERCADET. I'll obtain from them time and money. (Madame Mercadet makes a movement of surprised MERCADET 155 protest.) Don't you know, my dear, that once they have opened their purses, creditors are like gamblers, and will continue throwing good money after bad. (Excitedly.) Oh, they are simply inexhaustible mines! If you have no father to leave you a fortune, your creditors will act the part of delightfully generous uncles they'll never tire of helping you ! JUSTIN, entering from the back. Monsieur Goulard asks whether Monsieur really wants to see him? MERCADET, to liis wife. He is amazed. (To Justin.) Ask him to walk in. (Exit Justin.) Goulard, thie most intractable of the lot! With never less than three constables in his employ! Luckily, he is a cowardly and greedy speculator who puts his money in the most risky enterprises and trembles with fear lest they miscarry JUSTIN, announcing. Monsieur Goulard. (Exit Jus- tin. ) SCENE VI THE PRECEDING. GOULARD. GOULARD, in an angry voice. So you consent to be at home, sir, when it pleases you! MADAME MERCADET, aside to Mercadet. He seems to be furious. MERCADET, with a reassuring gesture. Monsieur is my creditor, my dear. GOULARD. Yes, I am and I won't leave this place until I receive my money. MERCADET, aside. You shall not leave this place until you have given me some money. (Aloud.) You have 156 MERCADET hounded me pretty hard, Goulard, just as if we had not had so many dealings together. GOULARD. Dealings that were not all profitable. MERCADET. Of course they were not all profitable; if all dealings were, everybody would go into business. GOULARD. You don't suppose I came here to get new evidence of your clever wit. I know you are brighter than I you have my money. MERCADET. Well! money has got to be somewhere, you know. (To his wife.) You see here, my dear, a man who has hunted me as if I were a rabbit. Yes, Goulard, you have treated me shamefully, and any one else, in my place, would take his revenge I could make you lose a big sum of money GOULARD. So you will, if you don't pay what you owe me But I'll take care of that The order of arrest is in the Sheriff's hands. MADAME MERCADET. The order of arrest! MERCADET. Is in the Sheriff's hands! I declare, you must have gone crazy! But, wretched man, you don't know what you are doing! You are ruining me, and ruining yourself, by one fell blow GOULARD, anxious. What's that? You, I don't deny, but not me ! How could it be? MERCADET. You are ruining us both, I tell you! Quick, don't lose a minute, and write GOULARD, mechanically sitting down and picking up a pen. Write What? To whom? MERCADET. To Delannoy,your cashier, asking him to have proceedings against me stopped at once and to send me 3,000 francs, of which I am in pressing need. GOULARD, throwing the pen away. Three thousand francs I guess not MERCADET 157 MERCADET. You hesitate, when I am just about to marry my daughter to a powerfully rich man You want me arrested You throw away your claim, your capital and interest You GOULARD. Are you really going to marry your daughter? MERCADET. To the Count de la Brive, worth as many thousands a year as there are years in his age! GOULARD. Then if he is a man of age all the better I might give you a little time But no, that's no use, I won't be fooled again No delay nothing; good- by (He turns to go.} MERCADET, with great energy. All right you may go, ungrateful man but, remember that I tried to save you GOULARD. To save me from what? MERCADET, aside. I've got him (Aloud.) From what? From total ruin! GOULARD. From ruin! That's preposterous! MERCADET, taking a seat to the right. How can it be that you, an intelligent, shrewd man, whom I thought so clever so very clever, could make such a deal ! I tell you, it makes me furious to think of it, furious against you Not that I have such great affection for you simply because I have looked upon your future somewhat as my own. I used to say to myself: I owe him so much already that I can depend upon his coming to my help on some great occasion like this one for instance ! And here you are, risking all you have in the world in one enterprise ! Ah! You were right in refusing me those three thousand francs! Better sink them with the rest. Send me to the 158 MERCADET debtor's prison, my dear fellow Then you'll know where to look for a friend when all is gone GOULARD, coming closer to Mercadet. Mercadet! My dear Mercadet! Is what you say really true? MADAME MERCADET, indignantly. Sir MERCADET. What a disaster! If I were not here to save him : GOULARD. Mercadet! Are you speaking of the Basse-Indre Mining Co. ? MERCADET. Of course I am. (Aside.) Ah! rascal so you have got Basse-Indre stock, have you? GOULARD. But I thought the deal a splendid one MERCADET. Splendid Yes, for those who sold out yesterday. GOULARD. Sold out! Who? What? MERCADET. Of course they sold out, yesterday after- noon, after the close of the Exchange, a secret deal GOULARD. Good -by then, and many thanks; Madame, my best regards MERCADET, stopping him. Goulard! GOULARD. What is it? MERCADET. And those few lines for Delannoy? GOULARD. I'll tell him to delay proceedings. MERCADET. No, sit down right here and send him a written order; in the meantime I'll tell you of some- one who will buy your stock. GOULARD, sitting at the table. All my Basse-Indre stock? (He takes tip a pen.) And who is he? MERCA'DET, aside. Now look at this honest man, ready to rob his neighbor. (Aloud.) Write down "three months' time" GOULARD. All right It's down "Three months' time." MERCADET 159 MERCADET. My man, who is buying on the quiet for fear of a rise, wants three hundred shares I sup- pose you have as many as that? GOULARD. I have three hundred and fifty. MERCADET. Fifty more ! Never mind, he'll swal- low them. (Looking at the writing.') By the way, did you write about the three thousand francs? GOULARD. What's the man's name? MERCADET. His name? You did not write about GOULARD. His name! MERCADET. The three thousand francs! GOULARD. What a fellow you are! (He writes.} Well it's here now. MERCADET. His name is Pierquin. GOULARD, rising. Pierquin! MERCADET. That is, he is the man in charge en the purchases. Go straight home ; I'll send him to you You must not seem to be running after a buyer. GOULARD. Of course not! You have saved my life! Good- by, friend. Madame, please accept my best wishes for your daughter's happiness. (Exit Goulard.} MERCADET. One of them bagged! I'll get them all, one after the other ! SCENE VII MADAME MERCADET. MERCADET. Later JULIE. MADAME MERCADET. Was it the truth you told this man just now? I have given up trying to unravel what you tell them. MERCADET. It is to my friend Verdelin's interest to create a panic on Basse-Indre stock. The business of 160 MERCADET the company, which has been quite poor so far, will be marvelously improved by the discovery of new veins of ore ; but only the insiders know of it. Oh, if only I was able to buy two or three hundred thousand francs' worth of that stock I'd be a made man again Well, never mind this, just now, Julie's marriage is the first matter to attend to. MADAME MERCADET. I hope you know everything about this Monsieur de la Brive, my dear husband. MERCADET. I dined at his place yesterday. A most charming flat superb silverware all marked with his crest! Couldn't have borrowed it! Ah! this is a splendid match for our daughter As for the young man Well, well, when one of the two parties to a matrimonial contract is satisfied that's a pretty good average, I tell you (Julie enters from the right.) MADAME MERCADET. Here is our daughter, dear. Julie, your father and I wish to talk to you on a sub- ject which is always welcome to a young girl. JULIE. Oh! Has Monsieur Minard spoken to you, papa? MERCADET. Monsieur Minard! Madame, did you expect a Monsieur Minard to be master of your daughter's heart? By the way, that Monsieur Minard, is he not a petty clerk of mine? JULIE. Yes, papa. MERCADET. And you love him? JULIE. Yes, papa. MERCADET. To love is easy enough ; to be loved is the main thing. MERCADET 161 MADAME MERCADET. DOCS he loVC yOU? JULIE. Yes, mamma. MERCADET. Yes, papa Yes, mamma That's baby talk How is it that full grown girls must speak as if they had just emerged from the nursery? Be kind enough to call your mother, ma'am, so that she may get the benefit of her beauty and persistent youth. JULIE. Yes, sir, I will. MERCADET. Oh! you may call me papa I don't mind it. Now tell me, what proof have you that he loves you. JULIE. The best of all proofs He wants to marry me MERCADET. These young girls, like nursery chil- dren, have answers that knock one down Now listen, Mademoiselle A clerk with eighteen hundred a year salary does not know how to love He hasn't got the time for it he owes it all to his firm MADAME MERCADET. My pOOr child MERCADET. Oh, I have it! Let me talk to her! Listen, Julie, I will let you marry Minard. (Joyful movement on the part of Julie.} Wait You have no money to bring him, understand What will become of you, a week after you are married? Have you thought of that? JULIE. Yes, papa, I have. MADAME MERCADET, kindly to her husband. The dear child must be crazy MERCADET. No, she is in love. (To Julie.) Speak out, Julie ; I am not your father now, I am your con- fidant; go on. JULIE. After we are married, we will keep on lov- ing each other. 1 62 MERCADET MERCADET. But is Cupid to offer you gold on the tip of his arrow? JULIE. Papa, we shall live in a small flat, on the fifth story, if need be and in the most unpretentious of suburbs! I'll be his maid-of -all- work Oh! with what delight will I busy myself with household duties, thinking all the time that I am doing it for him ; he will be working for me while I work for him ! I will save him all the worry I can He will hardly notice how poor we are ; our home will be so neat, so dainty Good taste needs so little to display itself it comes from the soul, and happiness is its cause as well as its effect. I can earn enough with my brush to be of no expense to him and even to bear my share of his load ; and then, love will help us live over the hard days Adolphe is full of ambition, like all high-minded men, and he is sure to succeed MERCADET. He might succeed as a bachelor; once married, he'll wear himself out settling household bills and spend his spare time running after a thousand- franc banknote as a dog follows a carriage JULIE. But, papa, Adolphe has such strength of character and such talents that he'll reach almost any position! Why, he may be Secretary of State some day MERCADET. Of course he may In our time every- body thinks he'll be a minister of something or other. They hardly graduate from college before they believe themselves poets, orators, statesmen! Do you know what your Adolphe really will be? A father of chil- dren, who will quickly upset your plan of a thrifty and saving life, and, through the piling-up of debts, will land his excellency in the debtor's jail What you MERCADET 163 just described, my dear girl, is the romance, not the reality of life. (He walks up the stage.) MADAME MERCADET. My daughter, there is nothing serious in this love affair. JULIE. It is a love for the sake of which he and I would sacrifice everything. MERCADET, coming to tlic front again. By the way, your Adolphe believes we are wealthy, does he not? JULIE. He never has mentioned money matters to me. MERCADET. Of course I understand Julie, be kind enough to write to him at once asking him to call upon me JULIE. Oh, papa! (She kisses him.) MERCADET. And you shall marry Monsieur de la Brive Instead of a fifth floor flat in a humble suburb, you will have, for a home, a fine mansion on the Chausse"e d'Antin, and if you are not a Secretary of State's wife, you may become the life companion of a Peer of France. 1 am sorry, my child, not to have anything better to offer you. Besides, you will have no choice : Monsieur Minard will give you up of his own accord. JULIE. Never, papa, never. But he will touch your heart MADAME MERCADET. And suppose he really loves her? MERCADET. I tell you, she deceives herself. JULIE. I only wish never to be worse deceived. (The door bell rings.) MADAME MERCADET. The bell is ringing, and there's no servant in the house to open the door. 164 MERCADET MERCADET. Well, let it ring. MADAME MERCADET. I cannot help imagining that it is Godeau returning to us MERCADET. After his eight years' absence you still hope for Godeau's return ! My dear, you remind me of the old Grenadiers, forever awaiting their Napo- leon! MADAME MERCADET, listening to the door bell. It is still ringing. MERCADET. Julie, you may as well go to the door. Tell the caller that your mother and I are both out If he does not believe a young girl's statement, he must be a creditor and you may let him in. (Exit Julie, at the back.) MADAME MERCADET. This love outburst has touched me. MERCADET. You women are full of sentimental notions. JULIE, entering. It's Monsieur Pierquin, papa. MERCADET. A full fledged usurer a low, crawling creature who will cringe just as long as he thinks I have any resources left a kind of ferocious jackal held in check by my audacity.. If, for a minute, I showed the white feather he would devour me (Stepping to the door.) Come in, Pierquin, come in. SCENE VIII THE SAME. PIERQUIN. PIERQUIN. I offer my congratulations I know all about the splendid match you contemplate Made- MERCADET 165 moiselle is about to marry a millionaire It's the talk of the town. MERCADET. A millionaire. Oh, no! He is hardly worth more than nine hundred thousand. PIERQUIN. This splendid advertisement will give patience to many people That tale of Godeau's return was getting somewhat stale, and I myself MERCADET. You were thinking of having me arrested JULIE. Arrested ! MADAME MERCADET. Oh! Sir! PIERQUIN. Well, you see, my claim is two years overdue, and I never allow my collections to fall so much in arrears. However, this new invention of yours MADAME MERCADET. Invention! MERCADET. Let me tell you, sir, that my future son-in-law, Monsieur de la Brive, is a young man of PIERQUIN. What! A real, live young man? How much do you pay that young man? MADAME MERCADET. Oh! MERCADET, silencing his wife with a gesture. Enough impertinence, sir or you will force me to ask for a detailed settlement of our account and I should n't be surprised if such proceedings were to cost you a pretty penny, Master Pierquin. At the rate you are loaning your money, why, I bring you in more profit than a regular gold mine PIERQUIN. Sir MERCADET, haughtily. Sir, I'll soon be rich enough not to have to stand any joking not even from a creditor. PIERQUIN. But 1 66 MERCADET MERCADET. Not a word or I'll pay you your just dues! Come into the library, and we'll settle the business for which I sent for you. PIERQUIN. At your service, sir. (Aside.) The extraordinary man! (Exit to the left into Mercadefs library, and as he passes the ladies, he bows respectfully.) MERCADET, walking behind him, to his wife. The wild beast is tamed Things will go my way. SCENE IX MADAME MERCADET. JULIE. Later THE SERVANTS. JULIE. Oh! Mamma! I can never marry Monsieur de la Brive ! MADAME MERCADET. But he is a rich man. JULIE. I prefer poverty and happiness to wealth and wretchedness. MADAME MERCADET. My child, there is no possible happiness in poverty; there is no wretchedness that wealth does not alleviate. JULIE. What disheartening words! MADAME MERCADET. The parents' experience ought to be the children's lesson. The trials we are going through now are a cruel illustration of life as it really is My dear daughter, be wise and marry money. JUSTIN, entering through the door at the back, followed by Therese and Virginie. Madame, we have executed all Monsieur's orders. VIRGINIE. Everything is on hand for the dinner. THERESE. The tradespeople will send their goods this afternoon. JUSTIN. As to Monsieur Verdclin MERCADET 167 SCENE X THE SAME. MERCADET, entering with papers in his hand. MERCADET. Well, what of my friend Verdelin? JUSTIN. He'll be down in a moment. He was on his way to bring some funds to Monsieur Bredif, the owner of this house. MERCADET. Bredif is a millionaire You watch for the arrival of Monsieur Verdelin and have him come to me first. Well, Therese, what about the milliner, the dressmaker? THERESE. Oh! as soon as I spoke of cash payment, sir, they were all smiles. MERCADET. All right and the dinner, Virginie, will it be a success? VIRGINIE. Monsieur will compliment me. MERCADET. And the storekeepers? VIRGINIE. They'll have to wait, that's all. MERCADET. I'll settle with you to-morrow I'll settle with all of you You may go now! (Exeunt the servants.) Just have your servants on your side and you are better off than a minister with every newspaper singing his praise MADAME MERCADET. And Pierquin. MERCADET, showing the bundle of papers. Here is all I could get out of him a stoppage of the proceedings against me and these papers, in exchange for a few shares of stock I had left. This is a claim, with judg- ment all complete, for 47,000 francs against a man called Michonnin, a very insolvent specimen of a gen- tleman-rider, a very industrious kind of a chevalier, with an old aunt living somewhere near Bordeaux. 168 MERCADET Monsieur de la Brive has his estate over there. I'll ask him if the claim is worth anything. MADAME MERCADET. But all our tradespeople are coming in a few moments MERCADET. Let them come, my dear; I'll be on hand to receive them. (The two ladies leave the room.) SCENE XI MERCADET. Later VIOLETTE. MERCADET, pacing the floor. Yes, they are coming! Everything now depends on Verdelin's doubtful friendship. Verdelin, a man whose fortune is my work ! Ah ! When a man has passed forty he ought to know that the world is peopled with ingrates But I'll be blown if I see where the benefactors are! Verdelin and I have the highest esteem for each other. He owes me lots of gratitude, I owe him some money ; neither of us pays his debts. And to-day, to secure Julie's marriage, I must find three thousand francs in a pocket that he will surely declare to be empty I must break into his heart to break into his safe What an undertaking! Adored women are the only beings that succeed in that line. JUSTIN, speaking outside. Yes, sir, he is in. MERCADET. Ah! here he comes. (Walks to the back of the stage. Violette appears.) My dear friend Oh! is that you Father Violette? VIOLETTE. This is my eleventh call in a week, my MERCADET 169 dear Monsieur Mercadet, and want, actual want com- pelled me to wait for you 3 T esterday, three hours, on the sidewalk ; finally I had to believe what they said, that you had gone into the country, .but to-day well, here I am. MERCADET. My poor,,Father Violette, we are just as hard up, you and I ! VIOLETTE. I hardly think so At home we have had to pawn everything we possessed. MERCADET. That's just what we have begun to do here. VIOLETTE. I never before have approached you with the tale of my absolute financial ruin You thought you would make us both rich But talk pays no bills, so I am compelled to ask you for a little some- thing to apply on the interest due I don't ask I actually beg of you, for the sake of a starving family MERCADET. Father ^Violette, you break my heart! Be of good cheer, I'll divide with you. (Lowering Ms voice.} We have hardly one hundred francs in the house and it's my daughter's own pin money VIOLETTE. Is that possible! You, Mercadet, whom I have known so rich! MERCADET. I am hiding nothing from you. VIOLETTE. Unfortunates owe each other the truth ! MERCADET. Oh! if they owed only that, how quickly accounts would be ignored! Bat, keep my secret; my daughter is just about to marry. VIOLETTE. I have two daughters, sir, and they both work, work without hope of ever marrying I hate to trouble you in the circumstances you mention but my wife, my girls, are awaiting my return with such anguish 1 70 MERCADET MERC ADET. All right then, I'll give you sixty francs. (Goes out by the door at the left.) VIOLET TE. How my wife and daughters will bless you, sir. (Aside while Mer cadet is absent from the room.) The others harass him and get nothing; but, by com- plaining and begging as I do, I manage to get my little interest money, he! he! (He chuckles^ while tapping his waistcoat pocTcet.) MERCADET, entering, sees the gesture of triumphant gl ee . (Aside.) What? Oh, the old miserly beggar! Sixty francs on account, paid ten times, come to 600 francs ! Well I have sowed enough, now is harvest time! (Aloud.) Here is the money. VIOLET TE. Sixty francs! and in gold! How long it is since I have seen as much Good-by, sir; we shall pray for Mademoiselle's happiness! MERCADET. Good-bye, Father Violette. (Keeping the hand he has grasped.) Poor fellow, every time I see you, I feel almost ill Your misfortune touches me to the quick And, think of it, yesterday I thought I saw myself on the eve of paying back all I owe, principal and interest VIOLETTE. Of paying me back everything MERCADET. It came within a hair's breadth! VIOLETTE. Oh, tell me about it! MERCADET. Just imagine, my dear man, the most brilliant discovery, the most stupendous speculation, the most sublime invention! Something that appeals to all, that will open every purse, and for the realiza- tion of which a stupid banker refused me the pitiful sum of three thousand francs when there is a clear million in sight! VIOLETTE. A million! MERCADET 171 MERCADET. A million to start with, because, when fairly launched, nobody knows where the popularity of the of the "conservative pavement" will stop VIOLET TE. The "conservative MERCADET. Pavement. " A pavement that renders all barricades, all rioting, impossible. Hence, the name VIOLETTE. Yon don't say so! MERCADET. I do You see how every govern- ment, deeply interested in the continuance of peace and order in the streets, will become our first stock- holders Nothing but ministers, princes, kings even are to be our original subscribers In their train will come the Napoleons of finance, the great capital- ists, bankers and speculators of all grades and sizes even the socialistic agitators, foreseeing the ruin of their business will have to buy our stock to get some money to live on ! VIOLETTE. Ah! That's splendid! That's great! MERCADET. More than that It's sublime! It's philanthropic ! And to think of those poor fools refus- ing me 4,000 francs for the expenses of promotion. VIOLETTE. Four thousand francs ! I thought it was MERCADET. Four thousand francs! Not a franc more! And I offered half the profits! A fortune, ten fortunes ! VIOLETTE. Listen! Listen! I'll look around I'll speak to somebody ! MERCADET. On your life, don't say a word! Why they would rob us of the idea or again, they might not grasp it as quickly, as intelligently as you did, just now These moneyed people are so stupid ! Then, besides, I expect Verdelin, every minute 172 MERCADET VIOLETTE. Verdelin Well, one might perhaps MERCADET. Lucky Verdelin ! What a fortune for him if he'll just put up six thousand francs VIOLETTE. But you spoke of four thousand francs, a moment ago. MERCADET. They refused me four thousand francs but the business needs six thousand! By just invest- ing six thousand francs, Verdelin, whom I have already made a millionaire will become two, three, four times, a millionaire and it will be fair enough, for, after all, Verdelin is a wide-awake fellow! VIOLETTE. Mercadet, I'll find you that amount. MERCADET. No, no, it's no use. He is on his way here, and if I am not to close the deal with him, it will have to be closed with another before his arrival. This, of course, being out of the question, all I can do is to say, to you, good-by and be of good cheer you'll get back your 30,000 francs. VIOLETTE. But I say, couldn't we? couldn't I ? MADAME MERCADET, entering. Monsieur Verdelin has just arrived, my dear. MERCADET, aside. That's pat (Aloud.} Please keep him in the next room a few minutes. (Exit Madame Mercadet.) Good-by, Father Violette VIOLETTE, pulling out a greasy pocketbook. Stay just a moment I have the amount with me, and I'll close the deal right now. MERCADET. You with 6,000 francs in your pocket! VIOLETTE. Yes a friend of mine asked me to find him an investment MERCADET. You could find no better one Later in the afternoon, we shall sign an agreement! (He MERCADET 173 takes iht banknotes.) Here goes Verdelin is losing the chance of his life ! VIOLETTE. Until later MERCADET. Yes, I'll send for you Come this way. (He leads him out through the library door to the left ; as the door closes Madame Mer cadet enters.) MADAME MERCADET. Monsieur Mercadet! MERCADET, coming do^un the stage. My dear wife, I am a fool, a wretched fool, I ought to blow my brains out! MADAME MERCADET. Oh, Lord! what is the matter? MERCADET. The matter! Why, a minute ago I struck father Violette this humbug of a pretended broken-down capitalist for six thousand francs MADAME MERCADET. And he refused you? MERCADET. On the contrary, he handed them over right away MADAME MERCADET. Well then? MERCADET. Why, like a fool, I had to take the paltry six thousand when it would have been just as easy to have gotten ten thousand francs out of him. MADAME MERCADET. What an extraordinary man you are ! By the way, you have forgotten that Ver- delin is waiting for you in the next room. MERCADET. That's all right. Tell him to come in here. I have now collected enough money for Julie's trousseau; next, I must get hold of the funds neces- sary for household expenses and your dressmaker's bill, so as to carry us through until after the marriage has actually taken place. By all means, send Ver- delin to me. MADAME MERCADET. Oh! He is our friend; he'll let you have what you need. (Exit Madame Mercadet.) 174 MERCADET MERCADET, alone. A friend a friend We'll see. He is all puffed up with his money He has not been swindled yet by a scamp of a Godeau. (Looking round to see if he is alone.} Godeau Well, I wonder whether the fellow's embezzlement has not helped me make more money than he took away with him SCENE XII MERCADET. VERDELIN. VERDELIN. How do, Mercadet? What is it you want? Your man stopped me on my way up to Bredif's. MERCADET. Oh! Bredif can wait! I am surprised that a man like you should call on such a fellow. VERDELIN, laughing. If we called only on the people we respect I'm afraid one's visiting list would be rather short. MERCADET, laughing and shaking him by the hand. One might even feel like not returning home. VERDELIN. Well, now what do you want of me? MERCADET. You do not leave me time enough to gild the pill Have you not guessed what I am after? VERDELIN. My poor comrade, I can do nothing more for you. I have not the ready money, and" even if I had it, I feel I have gone far enough. All I could possibly spare I have let you have, and you'll admit that I never have asked you to return one franc. I am your friend, as well as your creditor. But, honestly, if I were not by nature a grateful man, if I were an MERCADET 175 ordinary, everyday individual, the creditor in me would have killed the friend long ago I tell you, there is a limit to everything MERCADET. There are limits to friendship none to misfortune. VERDELIN. If I were rich enough to save you for good and all, to pay your debts in full, I'd do it at once, and with my whole heart; for I admire your indomitable pluck. But it can't be done, and so you had best give in to the inevitable. Your latest under- takings, clever though they were, have utterly failed ; you are in the way of losing your reputation ; in fact, you are becoming quite a dangerous man You did not even manage to make the best of the short- lived success of your operations! Now, let me tell you, Mercadet, the moment you are really gone to pieces, you will find me ready to furnish you something to live on Until then Well, a friend's duty is to tell us such things. MERCADET. What would friendship be worth if it did not give us the right to find ourselves as wise as our friends appear foolish, of feeling comfortable when they are in trouble, of paying ourselves compli- ments while telling them all sorts of disagreeable things? So, then, on the Bourse, they rate me a scamp? VERDELIN. Not quite as bad as that, yet; they still consider you an honest man, but you are driven now to such expedients MERCADET. And they are not being justified by suc- cess I understand. Ah! Success! Of how many infamies is it made, I wonder? Now, here is a case, listen This morning I started a bear campaign 176 MERCADET against the Basse- Indre mining stock; I know you want to get it under your control, before the latest engi- neer's report comes out, with its favorable VERDELIN. Hush! Hush! You are right, Mer- cadet, how clever you are! (He pats him on the back.} MERCADET. I just want you to understand that I need none of your advice and moralizing nothing but your money. Alas! I am not begging for myself, but for my daughter's sake She is about to be mar- ried, and, here, in this house, we have reached the limits of secret want. You are in a home where dire poverty is covered from view by a thin layer of lux- ury. But we have reached the point, where credit is dead, promises are of no avail, and if I cannot provide the cash for a few indispensable outlays, this marriage will fall through. I need but two weeks of apparent wealth, just as you want but twenty-four hours of time in which to fool the Stock Exchange. Verdelin, I'll not come to you twice with the same request; I have but one daughter. Must I tell you the worst? My wife and Julie have not a decent gown to their backs VERDELIN, aside. He has acted so many comedies for my benefit, that I can hardly believe this story about his daughter's marriage Who would marry her, under the circumstances ? MERCADET. To-night I am giving a formal dinner to my future son-in-law, whom a mutual friend is to introduce to the ladies ; and my silverware is gone you know where Not only do I need three thousand francs, but also the loan of your silver Besides, you and your wife must dine with us. VERDELIN. Three thousand francs, Mercadet ! Why, MERCADET 177 nobody has such a sum in his house ; not to lend, any- way; if one loaned such sums all the time, one would never have anything for his own use (He walks to the mantel-piece. ) MERCADET, following him, aside. I'll land him yet. (Aloud.) Verdelin, you know how dearly I love my wife and daughter; that love has been my sole conso- lation in my recent disaster ; they are both so gentle, so patient If I only could see them out of this awful situation! Ah! This is my greatest sorrow! (They come down the stage arm in arm.) In these last few years, I have had to swallow the bitterest pills, I have slipped upon my wood pavement; I have organized monopolies only to see myself swindled out of my share of the profits! But all these disappointments would be as nothing compared to a refusal on your part in such a critical time. I will not tell you to what rash act it might lead me, for I am not appealing to your pity VERDELIN, sitting down, at Mercadefs right. Three thousand francs! Now, what use would you make of that money? MERCADET, aside. It is mine! (Aloud.) Don't you know, my dear fellow, that a prospective son-in-law is a bird the least little blunder will frighten away? For him, a yard of lace missing on a gown might prove a revelation! Now, I have ordered the dresses; the tradesmen will be here in a few moments with all our purchases of finery Yes, I was rash enough to send them word to bring along their goods, and that they would be paid on delivery I felt so sure of you! Verdelin, three thousand francs won't break you, with your sixty thousand a year, and it will be like giving 1 78 MERCADET a new lease of life to the poor child you are so fond of. For you love Julie ! She dotes on your little girl ; they play together like the blessed darlings they are! Will you allow your daughter's friend to wither on the branch? Have a care, it's contagious! It brings ill- luck! VERDELIN. My dear man, I tell you I have not three thousand francs in ready cash; I'll lend you my silver, all right, but MERCADET. Signing a check will take but a minute VERDELIN, rising. I Once for all, no! MERCADET. O, my poor child! your fate is settled! (As if crushed he drops into an arm-chair.) May God pardon me for closing abruptly this sad nightmare of a life, to awaken in His bosom ! VERDELIN, crosses the stage silently. Now, tell me the truth Have you really found a son-in-law? MERCADET, jumping out of his chair. Have I found a son-in-law! You doubt my word? Ah! Verdelin, you may refuse me the means of securing my daugh- ter's happiness, but to insult me like this! For three thousand francs, I would not have harbored such a thought concerning you ! You can only win pardon by letting me have that money VERDELIN, starting for the door. I'll see whether I can manage it MERCADET. No, that's only a way of getting rid of me. What ! You, whom I have seen so often spend much larger amounts for a petty satisfaction of vanity, for a passing fancy, you refuse to invest a paltry three thousand in a generous action VERDELIN. Good investments are rare nowadays. (He laughs.) MERCADET 179 MERCADET, laughing also. A capital joke! You laugh, I am saved. ( Verdelin, laughing still, drops his silk hat. Mercadet picks it up and brushes it on his sleeve.} Say, old man, didn't we have fun together in the old days? For we began life hand in hand; we were to be chums until death us did part, don't you remember? VERDELIN. Indeed I do. Say, don't you recall our trip to Rambouillet when I had to fight a duel with an officer in the Royal Guard, all on your account MERCADET. I thought you fought for the lovely eyes of Clarissa, your former sweetheart? How young we were then And, to-day, we have daughters of mar- riageable age ! Ah ! If Clarissa were alive, now, she would reproach your for your hesitation in coming to my rescue. VERDELIN. Had Clarissa lived I should never have married any one else. MERCADET. That shows how truly you can love! And that's why I count upon you to come to dinner to-night, and to give me your word to send me VERDELIN. My silverware, yes MERCADET. And the three thousand francs also. VERDELIN. You insist ! I told you I could not pos- sibly do it. MERCADET, aside. This man certainly will not die of heart trouble. (Aloud.) Shall it be that my best friend will cause my death? Alas! It's always so! Nothing can move him Not even the remembrance of Clarissa or the despair of a father reduced to the last straits! (Shouting in the direction of his wife's room.) All is over! No use struggling any longer! You'll see me blow out my brains 180 MERCADET SCENE XIII THE PRECEDING. MADAME MERCADET. JULIE. MADAME MERCADET, in great agitation. What is it? What is it? JULIE. Father, your voice frightened us! MERCADET. The poor things heard me! You see, they rush in, as my two guardian angels ! (He takes them by the hand.) My dears, you move me deeply. (To Verdelin.) Verdelin, do you really want to kill us all? This proof of their devoted love gives me the courage to fall at your feet. (He almost kneels down.) JULIE, stopping her father. Ah! sir, let me be the one to implore him for you (To Verdelin.) What- ever it may be he is asking of you, grant it to him, sir he must be in grievous need, if he has to beg for it in this manner. MERCADET, coming down the stage again. My darling! (Aside.) What accents she has! I cannot be so true to life. MADAME MERCADET. Monsieur Verdelin, listen to us! VERDELIN, to Julie. Have you any idea of what he wants of me? JULIE. None, whatever. VERDELIN. He wants three thousand francs to help marry you JULIE. If that is his purpose, sir, never mind my request I'll not accept a husband bought with my father's humiliation ! MERCADET, aside. She is splendid! VERDELIN, much moved. Julie, I will go straight home and get you that money. (He walks out through the center door back of the stage.) MERCADET 181 SCENE XIV THE PRECEDING, minus VERDELIN. Then THE SERVANTS. JULIE. Oh father! Why didn't you tell me ? MERCADET, kissing her. You simply saved us, dear Ah ! When shall I be rich and powerful again to make him pay for his kindness ! MADAME MERCADET. Do not be unfair He did give in, after all. MERCADET. He gave in to Julie's appeal, not to my supplications. My dear, he has put me through more than three thousand francs worth of humilia- tions! JUSTIN, entering from the back, with Therese and Vir- ffinie. They are all here, sir. VIRGINIE. The milliner and the dressmaker. THERESE. And the clerks from the dry-goods stores. MERCADET, to himself. I have succeeded! My daughter shall yet be Countess de la Brive. (To the servants.) Bring them all to me! I'm waiting! The cash is here. (Head erect, he walks toward the door of his study; the servants look at him amazed.) (ACT CURTAIN.) ACT SECOND. (Mercadet's private study, in his apartment, A door at the back of the stage. Windows in the corners. Bookcases between the windows and the door. To the left, in the foreground, a large safe. To the right, an upright desk. To the left, toward the back of the stage, aflat desk used by Mercadet, forming a right angle with a bookcase and an arm-chair, the back of the latter being turned to the window. To the left, near the safe, another arm- chair. To the right, near the upright desk, a sofa. ) SCENE I MINARD. JUSTIN. Later JULIE. MINARD, from the back. You say that Monsieur Mer- cadet wants to see me? JUSTIN. Yes, sir, he does; but Mademoiselle has instructed me to have you wait for him here. MINARD, aside. Her father sends for me and she wishes to see me before the interview takes place. Something strange is in the air. JUSTIN. Here is Mademoiselle. MINARD, rushing to her. Mademoiselle Julie! JULIE. Justin, inform my father that Monsieur Minard is here. (Justin leaves through the back door.) Adolphe, if you want our love to shine as purely before everyone's eyes as it does in our hearts, you must show as much courage as I will. 182 MERCADET 183 MINARD. What has happened? JULIE. Another suitor for my hand, young and wealthy, has come forward, and my father will be pitiless. MINARD. What did you say? A rival! And you asked me if I felt courageous? Just tell me his name, Julie, and you will soon be convinced JULIE. Adolphe, you make me shudder! If you imagine, for a moment, that such conduct would soften my father MINARD, noticing Mercadet. Here he comes! SCENE II THE PRECEDING. MERCADET. MERCADET, from the lack of the stage. So you are in love with my daughter, sir? MINARD. I am, sir. MERCADET. That is, she thinks you are; you were clever enough to persuade her of the fact MINARD. You express a doubt that would offend me greatly if it came from any one else, sir. But how could I not love your daughter? She is the only one who ever manifested heartfelt sympathy for me, a man forsaken by his own kin and left without an affection in the world. Mademoiselle Julie is to me both a sister and the dearest of friends; I have no other family. She alone has smiled to me, and sus- tained me with her affection ! How could I not love her beyond expression? JULIE. Must I remain, father? 184 MERCADET MERCADET. O you greedy little one! (Addressing Minard.) Minard, concerning love I entertain those matter-of-fact ideas for believing in which elderly peo- ple are so harshly judged by the younger generation. I am all the more suspicious in your case, because I am not one of those fathers who are blinded by paternal illusions. I see Julie just as she is; I don't say that she is plain, but her beauty is not of a kind to call forth admiring exclamations. It is of the average order, no more. MINARD. You are mistaken, sir; allow me to say that you do not know your daughter. MERCADET. Well, well, I declare MINARD. I repeat it; you do not know her, sir. MERCADET. But I tell you, my dear fellow, I know her, I know her perfectly, as well as if MINARD. No, sir, you do not! MERCADET. Monsieur Minard! MINARD. Of course you know the Julie who is familiar to everybody in her home-circle. But love has transformed her ; it has endowed her with an ex- quisite beauty that is my own creation. JULIE. Father, I am ashamed to listen MERCADET. You mean, delighted I dare say that you told her such things frequently MINARD. I will repeat them a hundred times, a thou- sand times It cannot be wrong to do so, as long as her father is listening! MERCADET. You flatter me greatly. I thought I was her father, but you seem to have brought forth another Julie whose acquaintance I should be charmed to make. MINARD. Were you never in love? MERCADET. Of course I have been in love. Like MERCADET 185 most men I have dragged along this heavy, golden ball! MINARD. But now we love much better than you used to. MERCADET. And how do you do that, if I may ask? MINARD. We attach ourselves to the soul, to the ideal nature. MERCADET. In my younger days, we called this blindfolded love. MINARD. This is the pure and holy love that fills with delight every hour of one's life. MERCADET. The hours of meals not included, I am afraid. JULIE. Father, do not mock the love of two young people bound to each other by a true, pure attach- ment, by an affection based 'on their knowledge of each other's character, on the absolute faith in their ability to triumph over the difficulties of life Do not make fun of two children who will love you so tenderly. MINARD, to Mercadet. Listen to this angel, sir. MERCADET, aside. An angel! (He slips one arm o Julie under his left arm and one arm of Minard under his right.) You happy children! So you love each other dearly? What a sweet example of romance! (To Minard.) You want her as your wife? MINARD. I do, sir. MERCADET. In spite of all obstacles? MINARD. I am ready to overcome every one of them JULIE. Father, you are not grateful to me for bringing to you a son gifted with such lofty ideals, with a soul that ? MINARD, with a gesture of protest. Oh, Mademoiselle! JULIE. Let me finish, sir I will also have my say. 186 MERCADET MERCADET. Daughter, you had best go to your mother, now. This gentleman and I must talk over matters not quite so ethereal. JULIE. I go, father. MERCADET. Come back with your mother, in a few moments, child. (He kisses her on the forehead and leads her to the door.) MINARD, aside. I feel hopeful. MERCADET, coming down the stage. My dear sir, I am a ruined man. MINARD. What do you mean! MERCADET. I mean that I am a total financial wreck If you really want my Julie, she will be truly yours. Your home, poor as it may be cannot fail to be more comfortable than her parents' house. Not only has she no dowry, but she is handicapped with penniless parents. We are worse than penniless. MINARD. Worse than penniless How can such a thing be? , MERCADET. Why, sir, we have debts, piles of debts, terribly pressing debts MINARD. No, no it is not possible. MERCADET. You cannot believe me? (Aside.) He is obstinate. (Walking to the desk and picking up a bundle of papers.) Look over these documents, my would-be son-in-law; they'll tell you everything about my fortune MINARD, with a gesture of protest. Monsieur Mer- cadet! MERCADET. My negative fortune. Read this A sheriff's inventory of our furniture. MINARD. Is this possible. MERCADET. Of course it is possible Here is a MERCADET 187 whole handful of summonses An order of arrest in a civil suit It's dated yesterday, so, you see, things are looking pretty black Finally, in this other large bundle, are copies of all the judgments entered against me. Oh! everything is in perfect order, for never does a man need more order in his papers than when his affairs are in the worst disorder. A well-classified disorder, one domineers over it, so to speak. What can a creditor say when he finds his claim properly and neatly docked and filed under its number? I fol- low the government's red tape habits and have arranged my evidences of indebtedness in alphabetical order. So far, I have not taken up letter A. (He places the bundles back on the desk.) MINARD. You mean, you have not paid anything yet? MERCADET. Hardly a franc Now, you, in the office, know what the running expenses of my business are you are an expert bookkeeper (He walks back to Ms desk.) Look at these figures: three hundred and eighty thousand! MINARD. I see this is the total of your liabilities up to date. MERCADET. Now you understand how I shuddered when I heard you bewildering my daughter with your fine protestations of love. For, I tell you sir, to marry a dowerless girl on an eighteen hundred-franc salary is like mating a notice of protest with a court sum- mons. MINARD, sunk in thotig Jit. Ruined ( Absolutely ruined ! MERCADET, aside. Just what I thought (Aloud.) Well, young man, what have you got to say? 1 88 MERCADET MINARD. I have, first, to thank you, sir, for the frankness of your statement. MERCADET. That's all right But now what about your ideal love for my daughter? MINAKD. My love for Julie? You have opened my eyes, sir. MERCADET, aside. That's it MINARD. I thought my love for her boundless, but I see now that I love her a thousand times more than I had any idea of. MERCADET. What? What do you say? Explain yourself ! MINARD. Did you not tell me just now that she had need of all my courage, all my devotion ! It will not be my tenderness alone that will make her happy, I'll earn her gratitude, thanks to my efforts, thanks to my indefatigable labor. MERCADET. Then you still want to marry her? MINARD. Want to marry her ! Why, when I believed you a rich man, it was with fear and trembling that I asked for her hand ; I was so ashamed of my poverty ! While now, sir, it is with delighted assurance that I beg you to give her to me. MERCADET, speaking to himself. Well, I declare, such love is real, sincere, and noble ! I had no idea a feel- ing like this existed in this world! (Speaking to Minaret.) You must pardon me, young man, for the opinion I held of you ! And, above all, you must par- don me the sorrow I have in store for you. MINARD. What sorrow, sir? MERCADET. My friend Minard Julie my daughter cannot become your wife MINARD. Not become my wife, sir! After what MERCADET 189 you know of my love after all you have told me of your position ! MERCADET. Yes, sir, just on account of what I con- fessed to you ! A few minutes ago, I laid bare before you, Mercadet, the supposed rich capitalist; now, I am going to reveal to you Mercadet, the hard, skep- tical, business man. I allowed you to look into my books ; you may gaze, now, into my very heart. MINARD. Say what you have to say, sir, but bear in mind how dearly I love Mademoiselle Julie Remember, that only my devotion can equal my love. MERCADET. I'll admit all this Yes, by dint of tireless labor you'll manage to earn enough to keep Julie out of actual want. But, please, who is to take care of us, her mother and me? MINARD. Oh, trust me, sir, I MERCADET. I know what you are going to say You will work for four as well as for two! But, my dear man, how long will you be able to stand the strain? And besides, we should be robbing your chil- dren of their future bread MINARD. What are you saying, sir! MERCADET. >And I, in spite of your generous efforts, I should succumb, crushed under the weight of a shameful bankruptcy. Only a brilliant marriage contracted by my daughter can gain me respite from my creditors. And that respite may give me back my credit. With the assistance of a wealthy son-in-law, my fortune, my position may be reconquered! My daughter's marriage why, that's my only salvation, the sole hope that may yet rescue my fortune and my honor! You love my daughter, my friend Let me appeal to that very love. Do not drag her into pov- 190 MERCADET erty. Do not bring upon her the remorse of having caused her father's ruin and shame ! MIN ARD, his voice full of grief. What can I do ? What can I do for you? MERCADET, pressing his hand. I want you to find in the noble feeling with which she has inspired you a sum of courage greater than what I possess myself. MINARD. I shall have all the courage needed. MERCADET. Then listen to me Should I refuse you Julie's hand, she, in turn, would surely refuse the husband I wish her to marry. So, I shall have to grant you her hand and you will be compelled to refuse MINARD. O sir! She will never believe it of me MERCADET. She shall believe you if you declare that poverty frightens you, on her account. MINARD. She will accuse me of having been attracted solely by her money. MERCADET. But, in truth, she will owe you her happiness. MINARD, despairingly. She will despise me, sir! MERCADET. Yes, she will. But if I have read your heart aright, you love her deeply enough to sacrifice yourself, unreservedly, for her sake. Here she comes, sir, and her mother is with her It is in both their names that I entreat you; may I count upon you? MINARD, with a great effort. You may. MERCADET. Thank you. Thank you. MERCADET 191 SCENE III THE PRECEDING. JULIE. MADAME MERCADET. JULIE. Come, mother, I feel sure that by this time Adolphe has overcome all obstacles. MADAME MERCADET. My dear husband, M. Minard has asked you Julie's hand What answer did you give him? MERCADET, crosses over to his desTc and remains stand- ing. Monsieur Minard will reply for himself. MINARD, aside. How can I tell her? I feel my heart breaking ! JULIE. Well, Adolphe? MINARD. Mademoiselle JULIE. "Mademoiselle!" Am I not any longer "Julie" to you? Oh, please answer at once Has everything been settled with my father? MINARD. Your father gave me his full confidence; he made a clean breast of his present position JULIE. Well! what of that? please hasten MERCADET. I told our friend here that we were financially ruined JULIE. And this confession changed nothing in your intentions in your love Is it not so, Adolphe? MINARD, passionately. In my love! (Mercadet with- out the others noticing him, presses Minard' s hand.} I should deceive you, Mademoiselle, (speaking with great effort,} if I said that these revelations did not affect my intentions. JULIE. But this is impossible! It cannot be my Adolphe who is speaking thus ! MADAME MERCADET. Julie ! 192 MERCADET MINARD, warming up to Ms task. There are men to whom necessity gives increased energy, men whose delight it would be to devote to a beloved one the indefatigable labor of every hour of the day, fully rewarded by a tender and joyful smile (Resuming his part.) But I, Mademoiselle, I do not belong to that chosen few ; the thought of poverty unmans me I could not stand the sight of your misery JULIE, bursting into tears and throwing herself into her mothers arms. O Mamma! O Mamma! MADAME MERCADET. My darling girl, my poor Julie! MINARD, in a low voice to Mercadet. Have I done enough, sir? JULIE, not looking at Minard. I should have had courage for two ; never would you have seen me other than smiling I should have worked without a regret and happiness would have always reigned in our little home And you refused that! O Adolphe, Adolphe ! You have refused all that ! MINARD, in a low voice to Mercadet. O sir! Let me go MERCADET, leading the way to the right. Come. MINARD. Good-by, Julie A love that would con- demn you to poverty would be that of a madman I choose the love that sacrifices itself for the loved one's happiness JULIE. I do not believe you any longer (To her mother in a low voice.) My only bliss would have been to be his JUSTIN, calling out from the back of the stage. Mon- sieur de la Brive! Monsieur de Mericourt! MERCADET, coming to the front. Take your daughter to your own room, Madame. You, sir, kindly follow MERCADET 193 me (To Justin.) Have these gentlemen wait here a few minutes. (To Minard.) Come I am pleased with you. (Madame Mercadet leaves by the left side door with Julie. Mercadet and Minard withdraw by the door to the right, while Justin, going up the stage introduces the visit- ors by the center back entrance.) SCENE IV DE LA BRIVE. MERICOURT. JUSTIN. Monsieur Mercadet requests the gentlemen to kindly wait for him here. (Exit Justin.) MERICOURT. At last, my dear fellow, you are inside the breastworks and about to become the official suitor of Mademoiselle Mercadet ! You must steer straight now, for the father is a shrewd one. DE LA BRIVE. That's just what I am afraid of; he'll be a hard nut to crack. MERICOURT. I do not think so. Mercadet is a speculator by trade; rich to-day, he may be poor to-morrow. From what his wife told me of his inten- tions, I imagine that he is quite anxious to have a portion of his fortune in his daughter's name and to secure a son-in-law capable of assisting him in his financial ventures. DE LA BRIVE. I should like nothing better ! But what if he asked for too much and too minute infor- mation concerning me? MERICOURT. Oh, I gave M. Mercadet excellent references about you. 194 MERCADET DE LA BRIVE. This is a piece of such extraordinary luck MERICOURT. Will it deprive you of your vaunted assurance? I understand full well how perilous your situation has grown lately. One must reach to the very edge of absolute despair to think of marrying. Marriage nowadays is the form of suicide of the bon- vivant, while it once used to be his culminating suc- cess. (In a low voice.) Tell me the truth, can you hold on much longer. DE LA BRIVE. My dear fellow, if I did not use two names, one for the constables and one for the society world, I would long ago have been banished from the boulevard. Woman and I, as you well know, have cleaned each other's pockets pretty thoroughly, and there are no more wealthy and amorous British dowagers in quest of men of my ilk. MERICOURT. What about card playing? DE LA BRIVE. Oh, card playing is an inexhaustible resource only for a particular breed of scamps. I am not such an arrant fool as to wager my honor for the sake of a few paltry gains that would stop perforce after a while. The press, my dear fellow, has wrecked all these wicked careers formerly so profitable. Well, to cut it short, when I sign 100,000 francs of notes, the usurers refuse to give me more than 10,000 francs for the lot. Pierquin sends me to a kind of sub-Pierquin little father Violette, they call him, and Violette tells my broker that it would be spoiling valuable stamped paper My tailor declines to understand the brilliant future yet in store for me. My horse boards on credit. As for that nicely dressed little imp, my groom, I have not the faintest idea where he MERCADET 195 gets his sustenance; I prefer not to unravel this mys- tery. As our civilization is not far advanced enough to declare all debts off every ten years, as the Jewish law prescribed, I'll have to pay up with my own per- son Pretty bad, isn't it? For a young man, accepted in the most select ranks of swelldom, rather good looking and only twenty-seven years old, to be compelled to marry the daughter of a mere lucky speculator ! MERICOURT. Oh, what does that matter? DE LA BRIVE. It's in pretty bad taste, I know; but then I am growing tired of this loafing existence. I have discovered lately that the shortest way to wealth is to do some work to acquire it! The trouble, with us of the fast set, is that we believe ourselves fit for every situation, when, as a matter of fact, we are good for nothing. A man, like me, capable of inspiring passions, can be neither a clerk nor a soldier! Society has no berth for us. Well then, I'll launch into spec- ulation, in the wake of father-in-law Mercadet; he is a choice specimen of the genus "promoter." By the way, you are positive that he can give a hundred and fifty thousand franc dowry to his daughter? MERICOURT. Judging from Madame Mercadet's gowns Why, one meets her at all the first nights ! She has her box at the opera, and her style is elegance itself. DE LA BRIVE. Oh, for that matter, I have style enough myself and yet MERICOURT. But look at these rooms everything here bears the mark of wealth Oh, they are all right DE LA BRIVE. Yes, it all looks like bourgeois splen- 196 MERCADET dor; all of a solid, standard pattern. A good omen. MERICOURT. Then the mother is a woman of high principles, of unimpeachable reputation. By the way, have you enough funds on hands to keep things running until the climax? DE LA BRIVE. Oh, I am all right, in that respect. I won enough at the club, yesterday, to allow me to do things in handsome style; on the marriage presents I'll pay part down and owe the rest. MERICOURT. Without including my own loans, may I ask what is the amount of your debts? DE LA BRIVE. A mere trifle, my dear fellow! A paltry hundred and fifty thousand, which my prospec- tive father-in-law will have no trouble shaving down to fifty thousand. That will leave me one hundred thousand clear, just enough for a starter in specula- tion. I always said that I'd never begin making a for- tune until I had not a blessed cent left. MERICOURT. Mercadet is no fool; he will question you pretty closely about your finances ; have you your answers ready? DE LA BRIVE. Do I not still own my estate of La Brive? Three thousand acres of desert land, worth about thirty thousand and mortgaged for forty-five. It might be used as the basis for a stock company with a capital of, say, three hundred thousand, for the rais- ing, or the extracting, of something or other. You have no idea how useful this estate has been to me. MERICOURT. I see Name, estate, horse even, you use everything for a double purpose. DE LA BRIVE, Not SO loud ! MERICOURT. So you have your mind made up? MERCADET 197 DE LA DRIVE. Indeed I have All the more since I have decided to go into politics. MERICOURT. You are clever enough to make a suc- cess of it ! DE LA BRIVE. First of all I am going to be a news- paper man. MERICOURT. A newspaper man! Why, you never wrote a line ! DE LA BRIVE. Oh, there are newspaper men who write, and others who don't. The first ones, the editors, drag the wagon. The others, the owners, are the livery stable keepers; they give as little oats as they can, and keep all the income. I'll be an owner. All one has to do is to look wise and to exclaim, for instance, "the Eastern question, sir, is a weighty matter, sir, and it might lead us into all kinds of complications ; nobody seems to realize it. ' ' Or, one closes up a debate by saying: "England, sir, will ever fool us!" Again, to a man who has been talk- ing a long while without being listened to in the least, you answer : ' ' We are walking to an abyss, sir ; we are far from having accomplished all the evolutions of the revolutionary cycle!" To an anxious manufac- turer: "Yes, sir, I agree with you, sir, something ought to be done in this matter!" You speak little, you are seen everywhere, you render all kinds of serv- ices, rather of the mysterious sort, to people in power, often doing what they cannot do themselves. You are supposed to inspire certain much-noticed articles, and you may even have to publish a yellow- backed volume on some Utopian theory or other, a book so strongly conceived and written that nobody ever opens, it while everybody claims to have read it. 198 MERCADET Thus, you become a man of importance and you end by being "somebody," while you were, until then, but a nonentity. MERICOURT. Alas, your program is but too often fol- lowed in our times! DE LA BRIVE. Followed ! Why, there are proofs of it every day. When called upon to take a share in the administration, you are not asked what good you can do, but what power for harm you have. Your talents don't count half so much as the fear you inspire. Politicians are a timid crowd. So, it is a settled mat- ter with me that the day after I am married I will assume a profound mien and a full set of principles! There are plenty to choose from, for, in France, polit- ical principles are as varied as a restaurant bill of fare. I may decide to stand up as a Socialist ! I like the word! At all epochs, my dear fellow, there have been certain adjectives which have proved the pass- word for the ambitiously-inclined. Before 1789, it was the fashion to call one's self an "Economist" ; in 1815, the word a la mode was "Liberal"; and so on and so on. The party of to-morrow will be called "Social- ist," doubtless because it is so unsociable. You must take the opposite of each word's meaning to under- stand it fully. MERICOURT. But, my dear fellow, all the eloquence you possess is that of the masked-ball that passes for wit among those not blessed with it ! What will you do when some real knowledge will have to be forth- coming? DE LA BRIVE. My friend, in all other branches of human endeavor, in sciences, arts, literature, one needs a capital to draw from, a certain amount of MERCADET 199 knowledge as you say to give evidence of one's capacities; but, in politics, you know everything and you are everything by the magic of one single phrase MERICOURT. And what is this open "sesame"? DE LA BRIVE. "The principles of my friends," "the party to which I belong" MERICOURT. Silence! The father-in-law! SCENE V THE PRECEDING. MERCADET. MERCADET, entering from the right. Good day, my dear Men court. (To de La Brive.} The ladies have made you wait, sir. Ah, those gowns ! As for myself, I was just dismissing why should I not tell you? I was dismissing another suitor for my daughter's hand. Poor young man, I may have been a little too harsh with him, and I feel truly sorry. He was so fond of my Julie ; but then, I had no choice ; he had only a paltry ten thousand a year! DE LA BRIVE. One can't go very far with that, MERCADET. One only vegetates DE LA BRIVE. And you are not the man to give your clever and wealthy daughter to the first comer. MERICOURT. Indeed you are not! MERCADET. Gentlemen, before the ladies come in, let us talk business. DE LA BRIVE, to Mericourt.ttere is the rub. (They nil sit down.} MERCADET. And so you really love my daughter? 200 MERCADET DE LA BRIVE. I love her passionately, sir. MERCADET. Passionately ! MERICOURT, aside to his friend. Take care; you overdo it DE LA BRIVE, answering him aside.- 1 You just wait. (Aloud.} Monsieur Mercadet, I am an ambitious man and I have discovered that Mademoiselle Julie is a highly distinguished, extremely witty and charmingly mannered young lady ; she will be perfectly at home in any position to which fortune may lead me, and this is an essential element of success for a man who wants to go into politics. MERCADET. Ah, I understand you now. It is easy enough to find a wife, but it is very seldom that a man who aims to become minister or ambassador is lucky enough to meet a lady who can be the (let me use the word, since we are still between men) , the female of his species. You are a clever man, Monsieur de La Brive. May I know your political opinion? DE LA BRIVE. For the present, I am a socialist, sir. MERCADET. That's the new hobby, I understand. But let us talk now about the settlements. MERICOURT. Is it not the lawyers' work? DE LA BRIVE. No, Monsieur Mercadet is right; we should attend to these matters ourselves. MERCADET. Monsieur de La Brive is correct. DE LA BRIVE. As far as I am concerned, sir, my whole fortune consists in the estate of La Brive ; it has been in my family for one hundred and fifty years, and I earnestly hope that it will stay there forever. MERCADET. In our days a capital in cash is perhaps preferable to real estate. Capital is always an avail- able resource; revolutions may burst over us and MERCADET 201 how many such have we already seen your capital follows you everywhere. Land, on the contrary, land pays for all. It has to stay there, like a dolt, and meet all the taxes, while capital takes to its heels. Still, this will not be a difficulty. What is the extent of your estate, sir? DE LA BRIVE. It covers 3,000 acres, without a break. MERCADET. Without a break ! MERICOURT. Didn't I tell you? MERCADET. I never doubted DE LA BRIVE. Besides, there is a chateau MERCADET. Fine ! DE LA BRIVE. And a large extent of salt marshes that might prove an important source of profit if the government would grant the permission to work them. MERCADET. Ah, sir, why did we not become acquainted sooner ! You say that this estate is close to the sea? DE LA BRIVE. Not a mile away from it. MERCADET. And where located? DE LA BRIVE. Near Bordeaux. MERCADET. It is planted in vines ? DE LA BRIVE. No, sir, happily not. Wine is often very hard to sell and vineyard cultivation costs like the mischief. My estate was planted in pines by an ancestor, a man of genius, who was far-sighted enough to sacrifice himself for his descendants' sake. Besides, of course, I have the household furniture you have seen. MERCADET. One minute, sir, a business man likes details DE LA BRIVE, aside. It's coming MERCADET. Your estate, your marshes, I foresee all 202 MERCADET that could be got out of them One might incor- porate a stock company for the exploitation of the salt marshes of La Brive ! There is a million in it ! DE LA BRIVE. I know it, sir; I am waiting foi someone to offer it to me. MERCADET, aside. That's a pretty clever retort. (Aloud.) But you must surely have some debts Is the estate mortgaged? MERICOURT. You could hardly esteem my friend if he were without a franc of debt ! DE LA BRIVE. I'll be frank with you, sir. My estate is encumbered with a 45,ooo-franc mortgage. MERCADET, aside. Unsophisticated young man, he might have (Rising, aloud.) I approve of you, sir, you shall be my son-in-law; you are the very husband I was dreaming of for my daughter. You do not even suspect the amount of your fortune ! ! DE LA BRIVE, aside to Mericourt. It's working almost too well. MERICOURT, aside to de La Brive. He has scented some speculation in his line that dazzles him. MERCADET, aside. With some powerful influence, and it can be bought, salt works may readily be estab- lished there. I am saved! (Aloud.) Allow me to shake hands, English fashion ; you are my ideal of a son-in-law. I see that you are not narrow-minded, like most country gentlemen. We shall agree. DE LA BRIVE. I am sure you will not take it amiss, sir, if, in my turn, I ask you MERCADET. You want to know what my daughter's dowry is to be Why, sir, if you did not ask me this question, I would grow suspicious! Well, sir, my daughter will marry with her full rights as my MERCADET 203 sole heiress; besides, her mother will make her a present of all her fortune, consisting of a nice farm in the Brie district ; only 200 acres but in a high grade of cultivation. As for me, I will give her, as a dower, the sum of 200,000 francs, the interest on which I will pay her until some remunerative investment has been selected by you. For, my dear young man, it is important not to risk all our eggs in the same basket, and we are going, you and I, to enter the business field. I like you already, you are my kind ambitious to a degree DE LA BRIVE. That I am, sir, I confess. MERCADET. You love luxury, you like to spend money freely You want to shine in Paris DE LA BRIVE. I'd like nothing better, sir. MERCADET. You want to play a part on this stage DE LA BRIVE. Indeed I do. MERCADET. You see, since I am getting to be an old man, I wish to instil my ambition in some younger head. I will relinquish to you all the display part of the business. DE LA BRIVE. Monsieur Mercadet, if I had had my pick among all the possible Parisian fathers-in-law, I would have chosen you. You are the man to my lik- ing; allow me to shake your hand, English style. (They shake hands again.) MERCADET, aside. It is working almost too well. DE LA BRIVE, aside. He is pitching into my marshes head foremost. MERCADET, aside as he is ivalking to the door to the left. He accepts the revenue instead of the capital! MERICOURT, to La Brive.A.rt you satisfied? DE LA BRIVE, answering Mm in a low voice. Yes, but 204 MERCADET I don't see where the money for my debts is to come from. MERICOURT, answering him. Just wait. (Aloud.} Monsieur Mercadet, my friend is too correct to hide anything from you ; he has a few debts MERCADET. Please, have no hesitation to speak out I understand such things quite well Do they amount to 50,000 francs? MERICOURT. Just about MERCADET. A mere trifle. DE LA BRIVE, laughing. As you say, a mere trifle. MERCADET. It will be the pretext for a charming little vaudeville scene between you and your young wife. Yes, you must let her have the pleasure of offering In a word, we will gladly pay the amount (Aside.) In stock of the La Brive Salt Marsh Co. (Aloud.) It is insignificant. (Aside.) We shall estimate the marshes a hundred thousand francs higher. (Aloud.) So everything is settled, son- in-law? DE LA BRIVE. Everything, father-in-law. MERCADET, aside. I am saved. DE LA BRIVE, aside. I am saved. SCENE VI THE PRECEDING. MADAME MERCADET. JULIE. Both enter through the lack door. MERCADET. Here are my wife and daughter. MERICOURT. Madame, allow me to introduce to you Monsieur de La Brive, one of my friends who has manifested an admiration for your daughter MERCADET 205 DE LA BRIVE. A passionate admiration. MERCADET. Our daughter will be an ideal wife for a man in politics. DE LA BRIVE, addressing Mericourt but staring at Julie through his single eye-glass. You are absolutely right. (To Madame Mercadet.) Like mother, like daughter. Madame, allow me to place my hopes under your pro- tection. MADAME MERCADET. Introduced by Monsieur Meri- court, Monsieur de La Brive is sure of a welcome. JULIE, low to her father. What a conceited man! MERCADET, answering her. He is powerfully wealthy and will soon make us all millionaires. Besides, he's a brilliantly witty fellow. Now, be nice to him; you must. Julie, answering him. What can I say to a dandy whom I see for the first time and who is to be my hus- band whether I wish it or. not? DE LA BRIVE. I trust that Mademoiselle Mercadet will permit me to hope that she is not opposed to JULIE. My duty, sir, is to obey my father. DE LA BRIVE. Young ladies are not always aware of the feelings they inspire. For the last two months it has been my ambition to be allowed to pay my homage to you. JULIE. No one could be more flattered than I to have attracted so much attention. MADAME MERCADET, to Mericourt. He is charming. (Aloud.) We hope that Monsieur de La Brive and his friend will do us the pleasure of dining with us to-night, informally. MERCADET. Quite informally. (To de La Brive.) We crave your indulgence. 2o6 MERCADET JUSTIN, entering from the back, low to Mcrcadet. Monsieur Pierquin wishes to speak to you, sir. MERCADET. Pierquin? JUSTIN. Yes, sir, he says it is most important and pressing business. MERCADET. What can he want of me? (To Justin.) Bring him in. (To Madame Mercadet.) My dear, these gentlemen are tired of business ; will you lead the way to the drawing-room Monsieur de La Brive, offer your arm to my daughter. (He opens the door to to the right.} DE LA BRIVE, boivtng and offering his arm to Julie. Mademoiselle JULIE, aside. He is handsome enough and wealthy. Why does he ask my hand? MADAME MERCADET. Monsieur Mericourt, will you see the painting which is to be raffled for the benefit of our orphan asylum? MERICOURT. I'll be delighted to, Madame. MERCADET. Then walk in here; I'll be with you. in a moment. (Exeunt all except Mercadet. ) SCENE VII MERCADET. A little later PIERQUIN. MERCADET, alone. This time I am within sight of a fortune, and it includes Julie's happiness and com- plete bliss for everyone. Such a son-in-law is simply a gold mine with his three thousand acres, his MERCADET 207 chateau, his salt-marshes. (He sits down in front of his desk.) PIERQUIN, entering. Good afternoon, Mercadet. I come MERCADET. At the wrong time. What do you wish of me? PIERQUIN. I'll be brief. The claim, judgment, etc., against one Michonnin, which I assigned to you this morning I told you then that they were valueless MERCADET. YOU did. PIERQUIN. I'll offer you now three thousand francs for the lot. MERCADET. It's either too much or too little. If you offer that amount for it, the claim must be worth a great deal more But I am expected in the other room So, good-by. PIERQUIN. I offer four thousand francs. MERCADET. No, sir. PIERQUIN. Five six thousand MERCADET. Why don't you show your hand, Pier- quin? Tell me the reason you are so anxious to have this claim re-assigned to you? PIERQUIN. That Michonnin insulted me I want to see him in the debtors' jail. MERCADET, rising from his chair. Six thousand francs' worth of revenge! You are not the man to indulge in such luxury. PIERQUIN. But I assure you MERCADET. Why, my dear man, a first class libel is not tariffed in the Code more than five or six hundred francs, and a slap in the face is quoted a paltry fifty francs. PIERQUIN. But I swear 208 MERCADET MERCADET. Now I have it ! Michonnin has inherited a fortune The forty-seven thousand francs are worth just forty-seven thousand francs You had better make a clean breast of it And we'll divide, share and share alike. PIERQUIN. Well then Michonnin is going to marry MERCADET. And whom is he going to marry? PIERQUIN. The daughter of some idiot of a nabob, who gives his daughter an enormous dowry. MERCADET. Where does Michonnin live? PIERQUIN. I suppose you want to have the papers served upon him at once? But 'the fact is, he has no official residence in Paris; his flat and furniture are under the name of a friend. His legal residence is Ermont, a small village, near Bordeaux. MERCADET. Hold on There is in the house a man who comes from that part of the country In a moment I'll have all the necessary information, and we shall be able to take the legal steps needed. PIERQUIN. Send me the documents then and I'll take charge of the whole matter for you. MERCADET. I consent that the claim be placed in your hands for collection upon your signing an agreement to divide the proceeds with me. I must give all my time to my daughter's marriage. PIERQUIX. No hitch in that direction? MERCADET. None whatever. My future son-in-law belongs to the nobility; he is wealthy, although a nobleman, and clever, although wealthy and a noble- man. PIERQUIN. You have my congratulations MERCADET. Just one word more You said, MERCADET* $09 Michonnin, from the village of Ermont, near Bor- deaux? PIERQUIN. You got it right. He has there an old aunt who vegetates on a six hundred franc annual pension. The old crone's name is plain Bourdillac, but he has dubbed her Marquise de Bourdillac, and is never tired speaking about the delicate state of her health and her forty thousand francs a year fortune. MERCADET. That's all I need. Good-by. PIERQUIN. Good-by. (He leaves t>y the lack door.) MERCADET, striking a bell on his desk. Justin! JUSTIN. Did you ring, sir? MERCADET. Ask Monsieur de La Brive to kindly step into this room for a few minutes. (Exit Justin by the door to the right.) That's twenty-three thousand francs found. It will help me do things up in fine style for this marriage. SCENE VIII MERCADET. DE LA BRIVE. JUSTIN. DE LA BRIVE, entering from the right with Justin and giving him a letter with a gold coin. Take this letter and have it sent at once And, here is something for you. JUSTIN, aside. A napoleon! Mademoiselle will be a happy wife (He leaves by the back door.) DE LA BRIVE. You want to speak to me, my dear father-in-law? MERCADET. Yes, I have You see I am acting quite informally already Please take a seat. 210 MERCADET DE LA BRIVE, sitting down on the sofa. I thank you for treating me in this way MERCADET. I want you to give me some informa- tion about a debtor of mine who, like you, lives near Bordeaux. DE LA BRIVE. I know everybody around there. MERCADET. If need be, you certainly have some relatives there who could look the man up? DE LA BRIVE. Relatives I have only one an old aunt MERCADET, raising his head. An old aunt? DE LA BRIVE. Her health is MERCADET, more excited. Delicate DE LA BRIVE. And her fortune is estimated at forty thousand a year. MERCADET, crushed. My Lord ! It is the very figure ! DE LA BRIVE. You see, it is worth while humoring the dear old Marquise de MERCADET, walking toward him in a towering rage. Bourdillac, sir!! DE LA BRIVE. Why! You know her name? MERCADET. And yqurs, too! DE LA BRIVE. Well, well! MERCADET. You are head over ears in debt; your furniture is under another's name ; your aunt is worth just six hundred francs a year; Pierquin, one of the smallest of your creditors has forty-seven thousand francs of your protested notes. You are Michonnin and I am the idiotic nabob DE LA BRIVE, stretched on the sofa. I declare, you are as well informed as I am. MERCADET. Fate is playing havoc with me again! DE LA BRIVE, aside while getting up. All is over with MERCADET 211 the marriage. I was a socialist, I am now a com- munist ! MERCADET. As badly fooled as on 'Change. DE LA BRIVE. Let us be worthy of our reputation. MERCADET. Monsieur Michonnin, your conduct is worse than culpable. DE LA BRIVE. What have I done? Didn't I tell you I had debts? MERCADET. O yes ! one may have debts But where is your estate? DE LA BRIVE. In the Landes district. MERCADET. What does it consist of? DE LA BRIVE. Of sand plains planted with pines. MERCADET. Good for making toothpicks. DE LA BRIVE. You are about right. MERCADET. And what is it worth? DE LA BRIVE. Thirty thousand francs. MERCADET. And mortgaged for ? DE LA BRIVE. Forty-five thousand. MERCADET. You managed to do that? DE LA BRIVE. 1 did. MERCADET. I declare that's pretty clever! And your salt-marshes, sir? DE LA BRIVE. They confine to the sea. MERCADET. That means that they are part of the ocean itself DE LA BRIVE. Some wickedly disposed people round there said so and that stopped all borrowing possi- bilities. MERCADET. The fact is it would have been a rather difficult undertaking to bring the sea into a stock com- pany. Between you and me, sir, your sense of honesty seems to be 212 MERCADET DE LA BRIVE. EnOUgh, SIT MERCADET. Somewhat clouded! DE LA BRIVE, angrily. Sir! (Calming down.} Well, if it's only between you and me MERCADET. You put your furniture under some one else's name; you sign your notes with the first half of your name, Michonnin, and otherwise never use but the second half, de La Brive. DE LA BRIVE. Well, sir, what of it? MERCADET. What of it? '"Why, don't you know that I could make it hot for you? DE LA BRIVE. No, sir, you would not; first of all because I am your guest and also because I could deny it all. What proofs have you, anyhow? MERCADET. Proof s ! Why, I have in my hands your notes to the amount of 47,000 francs. DE LA BRIVE, walking to Mm. The notes I made out to Pierquin? MERCADET. The very same. DE LA BRIVE. And they came into your possession this morning? MERCADET. This morning. DE LA BRIVE. And, as a consideration for the trans- fer, you gave Pierquin valueless shares, stock that never paid and never will pay any dividend ! MERCADET. Sir ! ! DE-LA BRIVE. And, to close the bargain, Pierquin, one of your smallest creditors, has granted you three months' time MERCADET. Who told you all this? DE LA BRIVE. Why, Pierquin himself, when an hour ago I wanted to compromise my little matter with him. MERCADET 213 MERCADET. By Jove!! DE LA BRIVE. So you claim to give your daughter a 200,000 franc dowry and you are 350,000 francs in debt ! Why, sir, between you and me, you tried to get a son-in-law under false pretenses! MERCADET, angrily. Sir! (Calming down.} Oh, if it's only between you and me DE LA BRIVE. You were abusing my business ignorance. MERCADET. The business ignorance of a man who succeeds in mortgaging sand plains for fifty per cent, more than they are worth ! DE LA BRIVE. Glass is made out of sand, sir. MERCADET. It is quite an idea! DE LA BRIVE. So yOU S66, sir MERCADET. Not a word more, sir; only keep mum about the marriage scheme being off DE LA BRIVE. Certainly; you have my word to that effect Ah! But Pierquin will soon know I just wrote him a line to get him to leave me in peace MARCADET. Is that the letter you just sent out? DE LA BRIVE. The very one. MARCADET. And in it you told him DE LA BRIVE. The name of my prospective father- in-law. MARCADET, terribly upset. You wrote that to Pier- quin! Then the game is up! Through him the Bourse will hear of my new disaster I am a lost man! But, perhaps I may stop him yet I'll ask him (He walks to the desk.) 214 MERCADET SCENE IX THE PRECEDING. MADAME MERCADET. JULIE. VERDELIN. MADAME MERCADET, from the back of the stage. My dear, here is Monsieur Verdelin. JULIE, to Verdelin. Here is my father, sir. MERCADET. Ah, it is you you Verdelin; you have come you have come to dine with us? VERDELIN. No, I have not come to dine with you. MERCADET, aside. He knows everything! He is furious ! VERDELIN. Is this gentleman your future son-in- law? (He nods curtly.) That's a fine marriage. MERCADET. My dear friend, this marriage is not to take place. JULIE. Oh, what happiness! (De La Brive bows to her and she lowers her eyes.) MADAME MERCADET, restraining her. Daughter! MERCADET. Mericourt deceived me. VERDELIN. And this morning you acted one more of your comedy parts to extort three thousand francs out of me. But the story is now everybody's property and on the Stock Exchange they're enjoying it hugely, I tell you. MERCADET. So, they have been told VERDELIN. That you have your hands full of pro- tested notes signed by your worthy son-in-law, and Pierquin has just informed me that your exasperated creditors have called a meeting at Goulard's for to-night, when they will decide to act to-morrow like one man. MERCADET 215 MERCADET. To-night ! To-morrow! Ah, I hear the bell of bankruptcy tolling in my ears! VERDELIN. Yes, to-morrow and they add, "we'll take him to the debtors' prison in a cab." MADAME MERCADET and JULIE. May the good Lord have mercy upon us ! MERCADET. Such a cab drive is the funeral march of the speculator! VERDELIN. The Stock Exchange is going to be emptied of all these dangerous so-called promoters! MERCADET. The fools ! Do they want the place turned into a desert! And I, am I to be driven from the Bourse to face ruin, shame, utter want ? No, no Such a thing is impossible! DE LA BRIVE. Believe me, sir, I am deeply sorry to have been, even remotely, the cause of MERCADET, looking de La Brive straight in the eyes. You! (Speaking to him, in a low voice.) Listen, you did hasten my undoing but you can help me save myself yet DE LA BRIVE. On what terms? MERCADET, aside. I'll make the terms satisfactory! (He walks to the right, while de La Brive steps toward the backdoor.) Yes! It is a bold idea! but an assured success ! To-morrow the Stock Exchange again will recognize Mercadet as one of its leaders VERDELIN. What is he muttering to himself? MERCADET, aloud. To-morrow all my debts will have been paid in full and the firm of Mercadet will be handling money by the millions I shall be called the Napoleon of finance. VERDELIN. What a man! , MERCADET. And I shall meet no Waterloo! 216 MERCADET VERDELIN. But where are your troops? MERCADET. My army is Spot Cash What can any one answer to a business man who says: "My cashier pays at sight." And now let us dine! VERDELIN. All right; if things look that way, I'll dine with you, and be delighted to ! MERCADET, while, they all walk toward the door to the left. They willed it so! To-morrow I shall reign over millions of money or make my bed under the waves of the river. (He follows them to the left.) (AcT CURTAIN.) THIRD ACT (Another apartment in the house of Mercadet. At the back of the stage a mantel-piece. Above it a clear pane of glass in place of a mirror. On either side, a door; also doors right and left of the stage. In the middle a round table with chairs about it. A sofa near the mantel-piece. Arm-chairs to the right and to thejeft.) SCENE I JUSTIN. THERESE. VIRGINIE. Later MERCADET. (Justin enters first, then turns round and beckons to Therese to come in. She does so, followed by Virginie with a bundle of bills in her hands. TJie cook with defiant mien throws herself down upon the sofa. Justin walks to the door at the left and puts his ear close to the key -hole.) THERESE. I wonder if they have the audacity to try and hide the state of their affairs from us? VIRGINIE. Father Grumeau just told me that Mon- sieur Mercadet is to be arrested in a few hours He'll have to settle with me first There's lots of money owing me besides my wages ! THERESE. Oh, you may depend on it, we'll lose every cent. Master is going into bankruptcy. JUSTIN. I hear nothing they are talking too low' How mean they are to suspect us! VIRGINIE. It's simply disgraceful! 217 2i8 MERCADET JUSTIN, pressing his ear to the key-hole. Hold on I think I hear (The door opens suddenly, Mercadet appears. ) MERCADET, to Justin. I hope I did not disturb you JUSTIN, abashed. I I was putting the furniture in order, sir, MERCADET. You were, eh ! (To Virginie rising hastily from the sofa.) Please don't move, Mademoiselle Virginie. And you, Monsieur Justin, why didn't you come straight in; we might have talked about my business. JUSTIN. Monsieur amuses me MERCADET. Do I? I am delighted to hear it. JUSTIN. Monsieur takes his misfortune cheerfully! MERCADET, severely. That's enough Leave the room, all of you, and remember that henceforth I am at home to everybody. Be neither too insolent nor too polite to any one. None but paid creditors shall you have to meet at the door after this. JUSTIN. Impossible ! MERCADET. You may go (The door at the back opens; appear Madame Mercadet, Julie and Minard. The servants withdraw, bowing, through the door to the right.) SCENE II MERCADET. MADAME MERCADET. JULIE. MINARD. MERCADET, aside. I declare Here are my wife and daughter In a situation like mine, women are terribly in the way They get so awfully nervous. (Aloud.) What can I do for you, my dear? MERCADET 219 MADAME MERCADET. My dear husband, you counted upon Julie's marriage to strengthen your credit and to quiet your creditors; but, yesterday's events have placed you at their mercy MERCADET. You believe that? Well, my dear, you are entirely mistaken Oh, is that you, Monsieur Minard. May I know what brings you here? MINARD. Monsieur Mercadet, I come JULIE. Father, he wishes to MERCADET. Do you want to ask me again for my daughter's hand? MINARD. Yes, sir, I do. MERCADET. But they all say that I shall be a bank- rupt in a few hours MINARD. I know it, sir. MERCADET. And you do not mind marrying a bank- rupt's daughter? MINARD. No, because I will work hard to help him get upon his feet again. JULIE. Well spoken, Adolphe! MERCADET, aside. Fine young fellow I'll interest him in my very next venture. MINARD. I informed the gentleman who has acted as my guardian of my deep attachment for your daughter, and I learned from him that I had a small fortune coming to me. MERCADET. A fortune MINARD. Yes, it appears that when I was placed under his care, a certain sum of money was given him in trust; he invested it profitably and it amounts now to 30,000 francs. MERCADET. Thirty thousand francs! MINARD. As soon as I heard of the misfortune that 220 MERCADET had befallen you, I sold the securities representing this small capital, and I bring you the proceeds, sir. Sometimes by paying small amounts on account creditors are disposed to enter into arrangements MADAME MERCADET. What a generous heart! JULIE, proudly. Now you see, father MERCADET. Thirty thousand francs! (Aside.} I might treble the sum by buying stock of Verdelin's gas company, and then double it again by but no, no (To Minard.} Child, you are still in the age of blind devotion If I knew how to pay 200,000 francs with 30,000 it would be an easy matter for me to make the fortune of France, without speaking of my own and that of many others but but you had better keep your money? MINARD. What! You refuse it? MERCADET, aside. Suppose I use it to keep them quiet for a month During that time, I'll have no trouble finding some broken-down stock that needs galvanizing, and then But it would break my heart to thus endanger these poor children's money It's wretched business one does with moist eyes Stock- holders' money is the only good kind to speculate with no, no (Aloud.} Adolphe, you shall marry my daughter ! MINARD. O Monsieur Mercadet! O Julie! My Julie! MERCADET. You shall marry her as soon as I can give her 300,000 francs as her portion. MADAME MERCADET. Husband ! JULIE. Father! MINARD. Ah, sir, how long am I to wait! MERCADET. Wait? You may have to wait a month perhaps less MERCADET 221 ALL TOGETHER. But how Can that be? MERCADET. Oh, my brains will do it with a little money (Minard hands him his pocket-book.) You take your money away! Better still, lead my wife and daughter into the next room ; I want to be alone. MADAME MERCADET, aside. Is he planning something against his creditors? I must know what it is (Aloud.) Come, Julie. JULIE. Father, you are the kindest MERCADET. Of course, I am! JULIE. And I love you dearly. MERCADET. Of course, again! JULIE. Adolphe, I do not thank you; I shall have my whole life for doing that. MINARD. Dear Julie MERCADET, leading them to the back of the stage. Well, well, you can go on with your idyl in another room (Exeunt the two ladies and Minard by the left door at the back.) SCENE III MERCADET. Later DE LA BRIVE. MERCADET. I resisted. It was a good impulse and a mistake Well, if I have finally to give in, I'll amuse myself husbanding their little fortune I shall do their investing How truly my girl is beloved! These two young ones have hearts of gold! (He walks to the door to the right.) Let us now begin to make them wealthy De La Brive is in that room waiting for me. (He looks through the open door to the 222 MERCADET right. .) I think he has fallen asleep I suppose he had a bad night (Shouting.) "The Constable, Michonnin, the Constable!" DE LA BRIVE, coming out of the room, rubbing his eyes. What's that you say? MERCADET. Don't get excited I simply wanted to wake you up. (He takes a chair near the center table.) DE LA BRIVE, standing at the other side of the table. Monsieur Mercadet, a spree is for my brain what a shower is for the country it freshens it up ; my ideas begin to grow, to bloom ! In Vino Varietas. MERCADET. Yesterday, we were interrupted just as we were getting down to business. DE LA BRIVE. Father-in-law, I remember every word of our conversation We had just discovered that neither of our firms could keep its engagements We are about being sold out, as they say on 'Change. You are unfortunate enough to be my creditor to the tune of forty-seven thousand two hundred and thirty- three francs and a few centimes, and I have the luck to be your debtor to that same amount. MERCADET. Your head does not seem heavy DE LA BRIVE. Nothing heavy about me, not even my pockets, nor, for that matter, my conscience. Anyway, what can they reproach me with? While spending my substance, I enriched many a branch of Parisian trade, even those branches that are not openly talked about. They say we, the fast set, are lazy drones ! Why, the impulse we give to the circulation of money MERCADET. By adding your notes to the volume of currency Oh, your intelligence is wide-awake, I'll admit that much. MERCADET 223 DE LA BRIVE. That's all I've left, you know. MERCADET. But that's the mint for such as you and I. Seeing you so well disposed I shall be brief in my statement. DE LA BRIVE. In that case, with your permission, I'll sit down! MERCADET. Listen You have come close to this dangerous slope that leads down to the bold expedients which are the sole resources of those men whom fools call sharpers. You have tasted the intoxicating fruits of Parisian pleasure ; luxury has become a companion you "could not now dispense with. Paris, for you, begins in front of the Jockey-Club and ends at the Triumphal Arch of the Star. Paris, for you, is prin- cipally composed of those women who are spoken of too much or never DE LA BRIVE. You are right MERCADET. Your Paris is the shady atmosphere wherein moves the journalist, the theatrical man, the political adventurer; a deep ocean out of which one may fish everything Well, this form of Parisian life, you must continue to lead, or blow out your brains ! DE LA BRIVE. No, no, continue to lead! MERCADET. Do you feel in you the necessary genius to stand, in your patent leather shoes, up to the level of your aspirations? To domineer over people by the power of money or that of intelligence? Have you the strength to steer your way between these two shoals whereon swelldom is infallibly wrecked : the two- franc table d'hote and the debtors' prison? DE LA BRIVE. My dear man, you break into my inner self as if you were a burglar You express my 224 MERCADET very thoughts. And, now, what do you want of me? MERCADET. I want to save your life by launching you on the sea of affairs. DE LA BRIVE. How will you do it? MERCADET. Let me choose the gate. DE LA BRIVE. 1 Say MERCADET. But the man who will be compromised in my stead DE LA BRIVE. Ah! straw-men have been burned up before ! MERCADET. Be incombustible ! DE LA BRIVE. And what about the division of profits? MERCADET. This will be an experiment. Serve me boldly in the desperate circumstances in which I now find myself, and I will make you a present of your 47,232 francs of debt. All that's needed is a little skill. DE LA BRIVE. With pistol or sword? MERCADET. I want nobody killed on the contrary. DE LA BRIVE. I like it better that way. MERCADET. We must bring a man back to life. DE LA BRIVE. Oh, pray, none of that, my dear friend. The pretended legacy, Harpagon's cash-box, Scapin's little mule, all these farces which amuse us so much in the old plays are looked upon with great disfavor in real life nowadays. They are apt to bring a lot of policemen on one's track and we are not allowed to thrash them as our fathers did. MERCADET. Oh, five years in the debtors' prison What's that? A mere trifle! DE LA BRIVE. But, after all, it depends on what you want me to do. Only remember, my reputation, so far, is spotless, and it's worth MERCADET 225 MERCADET. I understand You want it well invested Do not worry on that score; we'll need it too much by and by not to get out of it its full value. Just help me to keep my seat at the well-laden table of the Stock Exchange, and we'll get our fill of the good things. Don't you know, my dear fellow, that if millions are hard to find, yet they are not found at all if not looked for. DE LA BRIVE. One might try to enter your little game. You'll return to me my 47,000 francs MERCADET, in English. Yes, sir. DE LA BRIVE. And I'll simply have to be very clever? MERCADET. Well Perhaps a trifle more than clever But that "trifle more" will be, as the Eng- lish say, "On the right side of the law." DE LA BRIVE. What does it consist of anyway? MERCADET, giving him a written paper. Here are your instructions. You are to be something like an uncle from America in fact, a partner returning from India DE LA BRIVE. I understand. MERCADET. Go to a carriage-dealer on the Champs- Elyse"es ; hire or purchase a post-chaise ; have it prop- erly soiled and mud-covered. Then drive to this house with postillion, bells, etc. yourself wrapped up in a heavy fur coat and your head and face almost smoth- ered under a huge beaver cap, like a traveller from a tropical climate suffering under our chilly skies. I'll welcome you; I'll introduce you; you'll talk to my creditors, not one of whom knew Godeau; you'll keep them in a patient humor DE LA BRIVE. For how long? 226 MERCADET MERCADET. All I need is two days two days, during which Pierquin will have completed, for my account, the heavy purchases of stock I shall order as soon as you "arrive" Two days, during which I shall know how to boom the shares in question You'll be my backer, my living guarantee and, as nobody will recognize you DE LA BRIVE. All right, I will do it; but, remember, I'll cease playing the part as soon as I shall have given you enough of it to be worth 47,233 francs and a few centimes. MERCADET. That's understood Hush! Some- body Oh, my wife. MADAME MERCADET, entering from the left side. My dear, they have just brought some letters for you, requiring immediate answers. (She walks toward the mantel-piece.) MERCADET.' I'll attend to them at once. (In a low voice to de La Brive.) Not a word to my wife, she would not understand the move and might upset it. (Aloud.) Now, go at it quickly, and forget nothing. DE LA BRIVE. Have no fear. (Exit Mercadet by the door at the right ; de La Brive is about to leave through the center back door> when Madame Mercadet stops him.) SCENE IV MADAME MERCADET. DE LA BRIVE. DE LA BRIVE. Madame? MADAME MERCADET. ExCUSC me. Sir. MERCADET 227 DE LA BRIVE. I hope you will kindly excuse me also, Madame, but I must go at once MADAME MERCADET. YOU Shall not gO DE LA BRIVE. You are not aware MADAME MERCADET. I am aware of everything DE LA BRIVE. How can it be? MADAME MERCADET. You are planning, you and my husband, to make use of an old comedy trick ! I made use of a still older one I repeat to you, sir, I am aware of everything DE LA BRIVE, aside. She has been listening. MADAME MERCADET, walking doivn the stage. Monsieur de La Brive, the part you have been asked to play, is a wicked, shameful one ; you will have to give it up. DE LA BRIVE. But, Madame MADAME MERCADET. Oh, I know what I am talking about, sir. It was only a few hours ago that I saw you for the first time, and yet I believe I know you DE LA BRIVE. If it be so, Madame, I wonder what opinion you have of me. MADAME MERCADET. One day was sufficient for me to judge you. And while my husband was endeavor- ing to discover what mad instinct he might exploit or what unholy passion awaken within you, I, sir, sounded your heart and discovered what worthy sentiments it still harbored, and how they could save you. DE LA BRIVE. Save me? I wonder, Madame MADAME MERCADET. Yes, sir, save you and my hus- band with you. Do you not understand that you are both rushing to your ruin? To have debts is no dis- honor, provided one confesses them frankly, and works hard to extinguish them Think of it, you have your whole life before you, and you are a great deal too 228 MERCADET sensible to be willing to blast it forever by sharing in an enterprise punishable in the criminal court DE LA BRIVE. The criminal court!! Ah, Madame, you are indeed right, and I should not, for a minute lend myself to so dangerous an undertaking were it not that your husband holds over me papers MADAME MERCADET. Which he will return to you, sir, you may take my word for it. DE LA BRIVE. But, Madame, I have not the money to redeem them ! MADAME MERCADET. We will accept your word as full security, and you will pay us when you have made an honest fortune. DE LA BRIVE. An honest fortune It may prove a pretty long contract MADAME MERCADET. We will wait, sir ; but now, go and tell my husband that you withdraw your assist- ance, so that he may give up this attempt. (She walks to the door at the left.} DE LA BRIVE. I do not especially care to see him. I should prefer to write. MADAME MERCADET, pointing to Mm the door through which he entered. In that room, you will find all you need. Wait there, until I come for your letter. I will deliver it to him myself. DE LA BRIVE. It shall be as you say, Madame. I begin to believe I am not half so bad a man as I thought myself. You have revealed me to myself and my deepest gratitude is yours. (He kisses her hand with great respect.) Thank you, Madame, thank you.' (He leaves the room ly the indicated door.) MADAME MERCADET. So far I have succeeded. If only I can decide Mercadet! MERCADET 229 JUSTIN, entering from the lack. Madame Madame here they come all of them MADAME MERCADET. Who? All? JUSTIN. Monsieur's creditors. MADAME MERCADET. Already! JUSTIN. And there are lots of them. MADAME MERCADET. Bring them all here. I'll notify Monsieur. (She goes out through the door at the left. Justin opens the door to the right.) SCENE V PIERQUIN. GOULARD, ana a number of other CREDITORS. GOULARD. Gentlemen, we are all fully decided? ALL. Yes, yes! PIERQUIN. No more deceptive promises GOULARD. No more prayers, no more supplica- tions VIOLETTE. No more of those on-account payments that help him to reach the bottom of our purses ! SCENE VI \ THE PRECEDING. MERCADET. MERCADET, entering by the left. This means that you gentlemen are going to force me into bankruptcy. GOULARD. Unless you manage to pay to-day every franc you owe us. MERCADET. To-day ! PIERQUIN. This very afternoon! 230 MERCADET MERCADET, standing, his lack to the mantel-piece. Do you think I have the free use of the bank-note plates of the Bank of France? VIOLETTE, seating himself to the right. And so you have nothing to offer us? MERCADET. Not a blessed centime! 'So you are going to jail me, are you? I pity the one who'll pay for the cab he will not get the fare money out of my assets. GOULARD. Well then, I'll add it to what you owe me already on the profit and loss page of my ledger. MERCADET. Thanks And so, you are all perfectly decided to act? THE CREDITORS. YeS, yCS. MERCADET. Touching unanimity! (Pidling out his watch.) Two o'clock. (Aside.) De La Brive has had plenty of time, he must be on his way to the house (Aloud.) Gentlemen, let me compliment you upon the opportune inspiration that has made you choose this very day ! PIERQUIN. What does he mean? MERCADET. For months, for years, I might say, you have allowed yourselves to be tempted by fine prom- ises, to be deceived yes, deceived by the most impos- sible tales, and it is to-day of all days that you choose to show yourselves pitiless ! My word of honor, I call this a ^capital joke! By all means, gentlemen, let us go to jail. GOULARD. But, sir PIERQUIN. He is actually laughing! VIOLETTE, rising excitedly. There is something, gentlemen, there is something PIERQUIN. Will you, please, explain to us MERCADET 231 GOULARD. We wish to know. VIOLET TE. Now, Monsieur Mercadet, if there is really something, tell it to us, please do. MERCADET, walking to the round table. Nothing I'll say nothing I demand to be carted to jail! I want to see the kind of faces you will pull to-morrow, or even to-night, when you hear of his return GOULARD, rising. His return? PIERQUIN. What return? VIOLETTE. Whose return? MERCADET, walking to the front. The return of of nobody Let us start for the jail, gentlemen GOULARD. Still if you are really expecting some assistance PIERQUIN. If you have any serious hopes VIOLETTE. Should it only be a heavy legacy GOULARD. Out with it! PIERQUIN. Answer ! VIOLETTE. Tell US MERCADET. Ah, you ought to beware You are weakening, gentlemen, actually weakening; if I cared to, it would be an easy matter now to fool you once more. Brace up, I say, be again the hard, simon-pure creditors ! Forget the past, forget those blessed days when, through me, you were coining money in the splendid affairs I used to interest you in before the departure of my good old Godeau GOULARD. His good old Godeau! PIERQUIN. What if it were he MERCADET. Forget all this delightful past, take no account of the circumstances that might bring about a return so long awaited Never mind all this. Gen- tlemen, let us ride to jail. 232 MERCADET VIOLETTE. Mercadet, you are expecting Godeau? MERCADET. No VIOLETTE, as if inspired. Gentlemen, he is expecting Godeau! , GOULARD. Could this be true? PIERQUIN. Speak out! ALL THE CREDITORS. Speak! Speak! MERCADET, weakly protesting. But I cannot speak I tell you I cannot Of course he may some day come back to us from India with a large fortune (Speaking witlipositiveness.) Now, I give you my word of honor I do not expect Godeau back to-day. VIOLETTE, excitedly. Then he's to arrive to-morrow Gentlemen, he expects him to-morrow ! GOULARD, addressing his fellow creditors in a low voice. Unless this is a new dodge to fool us and gain some more time PIERQUIN, louder. You think so? GOULARD. It's quite possible. VIOLETTE, in a loud voice. Gentlemen, he is fooling us MERCADET, aside. The wind is turning! (Aloud.) Well, gentlemen, when do we start? GOULARD. Perhaps (A carriage is heard stopping in front of the house.) MERCADET, aside. At last. (Aloud.) Heavens! (He puts his hand on his heart.) A POSTILION'S VOICE, heard in the street. Gate, please. MERCADET, letting himself fall into an arm-chair. Ah!! GOULARD, running to the wide pane of glass above the mantle-piece. A carriage ! PIERQUIN, from the same place. With post-horses! MERCADET 233 VIOLXTTE, from the same place, impressively. Gentle- men, it is a post-chaise ! GOULARD. Look, look, it is covered over with dust VIOLETTE. And muddy up to the hood It must have come from furthest India, to be so dirty ! MERCADET gently. You do not know what you are talking about, Violette. People do not ride all the way from India in a post-chaise, my good fellow GOULARD. Come and look, Mercadet, a man is step- ping out PIERQUIN. Wrapped up in a heavy fur coat come here, come here MERCADET. Excuse me, I prefer not my joy my emotion I VIOLETTE, shouting. Look at the enormous cash-box he carries under his arm Gentlemen, it is Godeau! I know him by his cash-box ! GOULARD. He returns from Calcutta PIERQUIN. With a fortune GOULARD. An incalculable fortune! VIOLETTE, triumphantly. What did I tell you? (He walks to Mercadet and shakes his hand in silence; Goulard and Pierquin go through the same performance, which is imitated by all the other creditors.} MERCADET, with well-feigned emotion. Ah, gentlemen, believe me I am delighted my friends my dear comrades SCENE VII THE PRECEDING. MADAME MERCADET. MADAME MERCADET, entering through the back door to the left. Mercadet! My dear husband! 234 MERCADET MERCADET, aside. My wife ! I thought she had gone out ! ! She'll upset everything! ! MADAME MERCADET. Dear heart, don't you know what has just happened? MERCADET. No That is, yes I MADAME MERCADET. Godeau has this moment re- turned ! MERCADET. What? What did you say? (Aside.) Is she also ? MADAME MERCADET. I have seen him I have spoken to him It was I who received him MERCADET, aside. De La Brive must have converted her! What a man he is! (Aloud.) Continue, my dear wife, continue, you are saving us MADAME MERCADET. I am not, but he, he MERCADET, to her in a low voice. That will do. (Aloud.) Gentlemen, you must excuse me, but I shall have to go and welcome my MADAME MERCADET. Not yet, dear, not quite yet; our friend, poor Godeau, has over-exerted himself Hardly had he reached our house when fatigue and emotion caused him to break down He is trying to recover from a nervous spell MERCADET. Is that so? (Aside.) She is ^splendid! VIOLETTE. Poor Godeau ! MADAME MERCADET. He just said to me : "Madame, I beg you go to your husband, ask him to forgive me; I do not dare to meet him before I have repaired the past. ' ' GOULARD. That's beautiful! PIERQUIN. It's sublime! VIOLETTE. It brings tears to my eyes! .MERCADET, aside. I declare, what a consummate MERCADET 235 actress"! have as a wife ! and I never had the remotest idea of it! (Talcing her hand.) Dear wife you'll excuse me, gentlemen! (He kisses her cheek and whispers.} You are doing first rate! MADAME MERCADET, in a low voice. What happiness, dear husband ! and is it not a hundred times better than what you planned? MERCADET. Of course it is ! (Aside.} And much more clever (Aloud.} Go back to him, dear; and you, gentlemen, will you kindly come to my study. (Pointing to the door to the left. } And in a few minutes we shall have a settling of accounts. (Madame Mer- cadet leaves through the door at the right rear of the stage. } GOULARD. We are at your service, my dear friend. PIERQUIN. My excellent friend! VIOLET TE. Our friend, we are yours to command. MERCADET, one hand leaning on the center-table, con- ceitedly. Well, well And some folks used to say that I was nothing but a common sharper GOULARD. You! One of the most intelligent men in Paris! PIERQUIN. Who will earn millions after you have won the first one ! VIOLETTE. Dear Monsieur Mercadet, we will await your convenience for the settlement ALL THE CREDITORS. Certainly, certainly MERCADET. A rather late offer! All the same, gen- tlemen, I thank you for it as if you had made it yester- day. Good-by then, for the present (Low to Goulard.} Within an hour I'll have your stock sold GOULARD. All right. MERCADET, low to Pierquin. You, stay (All the others leave through the door to the left.) PIERQUIN. I'll stay. 236 MERCADET SCENE VIII MERCADET. PIERQUIN. MERCADET. Alone at last We have not a minute to lose Yesterday, as you know, the Basse Indre mining stock fell down several points I want you to go straight to the Bourse and buy for my account 200, 300, 600 shares Goulard alone will sell you half the amount. PIERQUIN. When are they to be delivered and where is your margin? MERCADET. A margin/ what for? It's a cash deal. Bring me the certificate to-night, and you'll have the amount to-morrow. PIERQUIN. To-morrow, sure? MERCADET. Sure. (Aside.) By that time the stock will have climbed up sky-high. PIERQUIN. Of course, in your present situation, you are buying for Godeau? MERCADET. You think so? PIERQUIN. He must have sent you instructions to that effect in the letter announcing his return. MERCADET. That may be Ah, Master Pierquin, we are starting in business again Within the year, you will have made a hundred thousand francs in com- missions out of us. PIERQUIN. A hundred thousand francs! MERCADET. You begin right away to drive down that stock and then buy gradually. (He gives him a paper.) Here is a letter to be inserted in the late edi- tion of the evening papers; it will send the stock shooting up like a rocket. On the curb, to-night, MERCADET 237 there will be a twenty per cent, rise Only be quick PIERQUIN. I am flying Good-by. (Exit Pierquin.) SCENE IX MERCADET. Later JUSTIN. MERCADET. Everything is in fine running order now, full steam up! The day Mahomet had recruited three associates who honestly believed in him (such men are awfully hard to find) the world was his ! And I have all my creditors won over already. Thanks to the pretended return of Godeau, I have a week before me, and in money matters, a week means a fortnight I will buy 300,000 francs' worth of Basse-Indre stock ahead of Verdelin ! And when Verdelin tries to get them for himself, his bidding will create the rise It's sure to go far above par I'll not let go of my shares under 600,000 francs profit. 300,000 pays for everything I owe and once more I shall be proclaimed the Napoleon of finance ! JUSTIN, from the lack of the stage, at the left. Sir MERCADET. What's the matter, Justin? JUSTIN. Monsieur Violette, sir MERCADET. Well, what of him, speak out JUSTIN. He offers me sixty francs, if I will let him speak to Monsieur Godeau. MERCADET. Sixty francs. (Aside.) He robbed me of it! 238 MERCADET JUSTIN. Monsieur would not have me lose these small perquisites. MERCADET All right Let yourself be bought up JUSTIN. And the others, sir, Monsieur Goulard, all of them They are crazy to see Monsieur Godeau MERCADET. Do their bidding, Justin ; I deliver them into your hands, shear them close JUSTIN. I'll shear them close enough thank you, sir MERCADET. Let them all see Godeau (Aside.) De La Brive will manage it all right. (Aloud.) Stop a minute All of them except Pierquin (Aside.) He might recognize his Michonnin! JUSTIN. It's all right, sir. Ah, here conies Monsieur Minard. (Exit Justin by the left rear door.) SCENE X MERCADET. MINARD. MINARD, as he comes forward. Ah, Monsieur Mer- cadet ! ! MERCADET. Well, Monsieur Minard, what brings you here now? MINARD. Despair, sir. MERCADET. Despair? What about? MINARD. Monsieur Godeau has returned They all say you are a millionaire again ! MERCADET. And that's the cause of your despair, is it? MINARD. Indeed it is, sir. MERCADET. Well, you are the strangest boy MERCADET 239 Yesterday, I revealed to you my total ruin, and you were delighted. To-day you learn that fortune is smiling upon me again, and you are in despair! Why, my dear fellow, you want to enter my family, and yet you behave like an enemy MINARD. But it is this very fortune that causes me such terror. I am deathly afraid that now you will not grant me your daughter's hand MERCADET. My daughter's hand Adolphe, you ought to know that not all the business men lock up their hearts in their safes Our feelings are not always governed by the rules of debit and credit You offered me thirty thousand francs, all you possessed ! I have no right to dismiss you now on account of the millions (aside) I have not got yet ! MINARD. Ah, sir, you give me a new lease of life MERCADET. Do I? I am delighted to hear it, for I am very fond of you Your honesty is so natural and simple that you have no idea how deeply it touches me It's such a change from Ah, just wait till I have cashed in my 600,000 francs (Seeing Pierquin entering the room.} Here they come SCENE XI THE PRECEDING. PIERQUIN. VERDELIN. MERCADET, not noticing Verdehn, leads Pierquin to the front of tlie stage. Well, and how are things turning out? PIERQUIN, showing some embarrassment. The pur- chases have all been made 240 MERCADET MERCADET, delighted. Bravo ! VERDELIN, walking to Mercadet. Good afternoon! MERCADET. Verdelin ! VERDELIN. You have had that stock bought ahead of me, and I'll be compelled to buy it back at a much higher figure But I do not mind it at all. It was a fine stroke of business So here is to the King of the Bourse ! To the Napoleon of Finance ! (He bursts out laughing ironically.) MERCADET, much upset. What do you mean? VERDELIN. Oh, I am only repeating your own words of yesterday MERCADET. My own words PIERQUIN. It seems that Monsieur, here does not believe in Monsieur Godeau's return MINARD. Ah, sir, how can you MERCADET. What! Does any one doubt- VERDELIN, ironically. Of course not At first I imagined that this opportune return was that bold stroke you were announcing yesterday MERCADET. I (Aside.) How foolish of me ! VERDELIN. And that, on the strength of the presence of a pretended Godeau, you ordered stock bought for cash to-day without a franc in your pocket depend- ing upon a rise to-morrow to settle the purchase price MERCADET. So you imagined all this, did you? VERDELIN, walking to the mantel-piece. Yes, I imag- ined all that But when I came here and saw in your court-yard this triumphant post-chaise, this master-piece of the Hindoo carriage-builders' handi- craft, and when I realized that no such vehicle could be had from any of the Champs Elyse*es stables all my MERCADET 241 doubts vanished in a trice. So, give him the stock- certificates, Monsieur Pierquin, give him the certifi- cates PIERQUIN. The certificates certainly but MERCADET, aside. Let us show a bold front or all is lost. (Aloud.} That's all right Let me see the certificates PIERQUIN. A moment, please, supposing what Monsieur Verdelin says should be true. MERCADET, stiffly . What do you mean, sir? MINARD. But gentlemen, Monsieur Godeau is here I have seen him I have spoken to him MERCADET, to Pierquin. He has spoken to him PIERQUIN, to Verdelin. The fact is that I myself have seen VERDELIN. But I have not a doubt about it myself now By the way, Mercadet, what was the name of the ship Godeau wrote you he was coming on MERCADET. The name of the ship? It was Tlie Triton I believe VERDEUN. How unreliable the newspapers are! The last arrival from India was the Alcyon No Triton on the list at all PIERQUIN. Is that so? MERCADET. Enough about this Monsieur Pier- quin, where are those certificates? PIERQUIN. One moment I have no guarantee, you know, and I shall want to speak to Godeau. MERCADET. You shall not speak to him, sir, I won't allow you to doubt my word. VERDELIN. He is superb ! MERCADET. Monsieur Minard, go to Godeau; tell him I have just bought 300,000 francs worth of 242 MERCADET securities; ask him to give you for me (With a special stress on the words folloiving .} thirty thousand francs for use as a margin In his position a man always has at least 30,000 francs about him. (Low.} In any case, you'll bring back your thirty thousand. MINARD. Yes, sir, I'll do it right away. (Exit Jfinard through the door to the right. ) MERCADET, stiffly. Will this satisfy you, Monsieur Pierquin? PIERQUIN. Of course it will (To Verdelin.) In that case he really must have returned. VERDELIN, rising. Better wait for the 30,000 francs ! MERCADET. Verdelin, I have the right to show myself deeply offended by your insulting doubts ; but, as I am still in your debt VERDELIN, coming to the front of the stage. Oh, that's nothing! You have in Godeau's cash-box all you need to pay everybody in full, and, besides, by to-morrow, the Basse-Indre stock will be far above par When I left 'Change it was shooting upward at a great rate Your letter is doing wonders. We ' 11 be obliged to give out the results of the engineers' new survey. The mine is worth any other in the Mons district You have made your fortune in the deal when I ex- pected to make mine MERCADET. Now I understand your rage (To Pierquin.} That's the origin of all his doubts. VERDELIN. And these doubts will vanish as soon as Godeau's money is forthcoming MERCADET 243 SCENE XII THE PRECEDING. VIOLETTE. GOULARD. GOULARD, entering from the lack door at the right. Ah, my friend J VIOLETTE, who follows him. My dear Mercadet! GOULARD. What a man this Godeau is! MERCADET, aside. Fine! VIOLETTE. What delicate sensibilities! MERCADET, aside. Finer and finer! GOULARD. What a lofty soul! MERCADET, aside. Delightful! VERDELIN. You have seen him? VIOLETTE. Yes, I have seen him. PIERQJJIN. You have spoken to him. GOULARD. Just as I speak to you now. And besides, he has paid me. ALL. He has paid you! MERCADET. He paid you And how? GOULARD. He paid me in full: 50,000 francs in drafts MERCADET, aside. So far, I understand GOULARD. And the balance 8,000 francs, in notes. MERCADET. In bank notes. GOULARD. Of course in bank notes. MERCADET, aside. I fail to understand Ah, I see! Minard gave the 8,000 So he'll bring only 22,000 VIOLETTE. And I, I who might possibly have accepted some slight reduction in my claim, received the whole amount on the spot. MERCADET. The whole of it (Low.) In drafts, I suppose? 244 MERCADET VIOLETTE. Yes, in excellent drafts, eighteen thou- sand francs MKRCADET. What a wonderful man this De La Brive is! VIOLETTE. And the balance, twelve thousand francs VERDELIN. Well, the balance? VIOLETTE. He paid in cash. Here it is. (He dis- plays a bundle of bank notes.} MERCADET. He also (Aside.) Minard will have only ten thousand left GOULARD, taking a seat near the round table. And he is now engaged in settling with the rest of the creditors. MERCADET. On the same basis? VIOLETTE, also taking a seat by the round table. Yes, sir, he pays them in drafts, bank notes and gold coin. MERCADET, forgetting himself. Good Lord! (Aside.) Minard will not bring back a centime ! VERDELIN, eyeing him suspiciously. But what is the matter with you? MERCADET. Matter with me? Nothing only I SCENE XIII THE PRECEDING. MINARD. MINARD. I fulfilled your errand MERCADET, trembling with excitement. You did eh, and you bring back a few thousands of MINARD. A few thousands ! Why, Monsieur Godeau would not even hear me out about the 30,000 francs MERCADET 245 (Goulard and Violette rise from their seats and with a couple of other creditors who have followed Minard in, press excitedly around the young man.) MERCADET. I understand. MINARD. "It is 300,000 francs he wants," cried he, "here are 300,000 francs in bank bills for him " (He pulls out an enormous bundle of notes, which he piles upon the table.) MERCADET, running to the table and sitting down by it. What did you say (Looking at the money.) What's all this? MINARD. The 300,000 francs. PIERQUIN. My 300,000 francs! VERDELIN. True after all! MERCADET, absolutely bewildered. Three hundred thousand francs in cash I see it I touch it I hold it (To Minard) wildly.) Where did you get that from? MINARD. I got it from him, of course. He gave it to me MERCADET, with growing excitement. He Who is He? What is He? MINARD. Monsieur Godeau, who else ? MERCADET, actually shouting. Godeau ! ! What Godeau? Which Godeau? GOULARD. Why, the Godeau who just returned from India. MERCADET. From India? VIOLETTE. Yes, and who is paying all your debts. MERCADET. Away with you, do you think I can be fooled by such Godeaus ! PIERQUIN. He must be losing his head! (Just then the crowd of other creditors appear at the back of the stage. 246 MERCADET Verdelin walks over to meet them and is seen asking ques- tions.) VERDELIN, coming down again. It's all true enough! Every one of them paid in full ! MERCADET. Paid Every one (Goes from one to the other and looks at the money and drafts in theif hands.) Paid Settled in full! I see everything around turning blue, violet, pink, all the colors of the rainbow SCENE XIV THE PRECEDING. MADAME MERCADET. JULIE. They enter through the left rear door. DE LA BRIVE, enters through the door to the right. MADAME MERCADET. My dear, Monsieur Godeaunow feels well enough to see you MERCADET. Ah, here you are at last, my daughter, my wife ; come to me and you also, Adolphe, and you all, my friends, come closer, look me in the face. You do not want to deceive me, do you? JULIE. But what is the matter with you, father ? MERCADET. Now tell me (For the first time he notices De La Brive.) What, you here, without a dis- guise? DE LA BRIVE. I had the happy inspiration, sir, to follow Madame Mercadet's advice Otherwise you would have had two Godeaus at the same time, since heaven has returned to you the real one MERCADET. So He has actually returned? VERDELIN. Then you did not know it, after all? MERCADET 247 MERCADET, himself again and rising to his full stature as he walks to the round table and begins fingering the bank bills. I not know he had returned! Wel- come home, O you Queen above all Kings! Arch- duchess of government loans, princess of stocks and bonds, mother of Credit ! Welcome home, O Fortune so ardently pursued here and who, for the hundredth time arrives from far-off India!! Ah, how often did I repeat it to you all, Godeau's great heart equals his energy, and is only surpassed by his towering probity!!! (Goes to his wife and daughter.) And now, you two dear ones, embrace me ! MADAME MERCADET, weeping. Ah, my dear, dear husband ! ! MERCADET, assisting her. Why, you weaken, after being so strong through the dark days! MADAME MERCADET. I have not the strength to stand the joy of seeing you rescued rich again MERCADET. Rich But honest ! My wife, my chil- dren, I must confess it now, I do not understand how I held on so long How I resisted such endless fatigues, such constant strain of the mind, always on the alert, always under arms ! It would have crushed a giant At times I wanted to run away Ah, give me rest rest Let us go and live in the country MADAME MERCADET. You'll soon weary of it MERCADET. No, indeed, I shall watch their happi- ness. (He points to Minard and Julie.) Besides, agri- culture will fill my spare time I feel like studying the possibilities of agriculture. (To his creditors.) Gentlemen, we shall remain friends, but do no more business together (To De La Brive.) Monsieur de La Brive, I return to you your 48,000 francs! 24$ MERCADET DE LA BRIVE. Ah, SIT ! MERCADET. And I loan you ten thousand more. DE LA BRIVE. Ten thousand francs! But I do not know when I shall be able to pay you back ! MERCADET. Never mind that accept I have my purpose DE LA BRIVE. All right I accept. MERCADET. Just what I dreamed, for now I am a creditor! (Speaking to his former creditors lined up in a row to the right. ) I am a Creditor ! ! MADAME MERCADET, pointing to the door at the back. My dear, he is waiting MERCADET. That's so Let us go to him ! I have so often made use of my dear old Godeau in the dis- tance, that I am well entitled to the right of seeing him again in the flesh. To Godeau, my dear wife, to Godeau ! ! (FINAL CURTAIN.) THE END OF THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF BALZAC. ilCSB LIBRARY