The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts Part 20

G.o.dard O madame! I have thought a great deal over my rejection by Mlle. de Grandchamp.

Gertrude Ah! (To the doctor) Doctor, you will take yours as usual, I suppose?

Vernon If you please, madame.

G.o.dard (to Pauline) Did you say, "poor fellow," mademoiselle? For M. Ferdinand is not so poor as you think him. He is richer than I am!

Pauline How do you know that?

G.o.dard I am certain of it, and I will tell you why. This M. Ferdinand, whom you think you know, is an exceedingly crafty fellow--

Pauline (aside) Can he possibly know his real name?

Gertrude (aside) A few drops of opium in her tea will put her to sleep, and I shall be saved.

G.o.dard (to Pauline) You cannot deny the authority of him who has put me on the track.

Pauline Oh, sir! Kindly tell--

G.o.dard It was the prosecuting attorney. I remembered that at the house of the Boudevilles it was said that your clerk--

Pauline (aside) He is putting me on the rack.

Gertrude (offering a cup to Pauline) Here, Pauline.

Vernon (aside) Am I dreaming? I thought I saw her put something into Pauline's cup.

Pauline (to G.o.dard) And what did they say?

G.o.dard Ah! Ah! How attentive you are! I should have been exceedingly flattered to think that you put on that air when any one was talking about me, as I am now talking about M. Ferdinand de Charny.

Pauline What a strange taste this tea has! You find yours good?

G.o.dard You talk about the tea in order to distract my attention from the interest you take in what I am telling you. I see through it all!

Well, come now, I am going to astonish you. You must know that M.

Ferdinand is--

Pauline Is--?

G.o.dard A millionaire.

Pauline You are joking, M. G.o.dard.

G.o.dard On my word of honor, mademoiselle, he possesses a treasure. (Aside) She is madly in love with him.

Pauline (aside) How this fool startled me.

(Pauline rises from her seat and Vernon takes the teacup from her hand.)

Vernon Let me take it, my child.

The General (to his wife) What ails you, dearest? You seem--

Vernon (who has retained Pauline's cup and returned his own in its place to Gertrude. Aside) It is laudanum; fortunately the dose is light; but it is very certain that something is about to happen. (To G.o.dard) M. G.o.dard, you are a crafty fox. (G.o.dard takes out his handkerchief as if to blow his nose.) Ah!

G.o.dard Doctor, I bear no ill-will.

Vernon Listen! Do you think that you could carry off the General to the factory and keep him there for an hour.

G.o.dard I would like to have that youngster to help me.

Vernon He is at school until dinner-time.

G.o.dard Why do you wish me to do this?

Vernon Now I beg of you, for you are a good fellow, to do as I bid you; it is necessary. Do you love Pauline?

G.o.dard I did love her yesterday, but this morning-- (Aside) I must find out what he is concealing from me. (To Vernon) It shall be done! I will go on to the veranda and come back again with a message that Ferdinand sends for the General. You may rely upon me. Ah! Here is Ferdinand himself, that is all right!

(G.o.dard goes on the veranda.)

Pauline 'Tis peculiar, how drowsy I feel.

(Pauline lies down on the divan; Ferdinand appears and talks with G.o.dard.)

SCENE TENTH

The same persons and Ferdinand.

Ferdinand General, it will be necessary for you to come to the office and the factory in order to verify my accounts.

The General That is only just to you.

Pauline (drowsily) Ferdinand!

G.o.dard Ah, General, I'll take advantage of this occasion to visit your establishment with you, for I have never seen it.

The General Very good, come along, G.o.dard.

G.o.dard De Rimonville.

Gertrude (aside) If they go away, fortune will favor me indeed.

Vernon (who has overheard her, aside) Fortune, in this case, is represented by me--