The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts Part 22

Vernon That I have obtained a confession from you? Every woman under the same circ.u.mstances would have said the same thing. I know it by experience.

But that is not all. You have several others things to confide in me.

Gertrude (aside) He is a spy! The only thing I can do is to make him my accomplice.

(Aloud) Doctor, you are too useful to me to admit of our quarreling.

In a moment, if you will wait here, I will return and speak frankly to you.

(Gertrude goes into her chamber and locks the door.)

Vernon She has turned the key! I am caught, tricked! I cannot after all resort to violence. What is she doing? She is going to hide her flask of opium. A man is always wrong when he undertakes to discharge for a friend the offices which my old friend, this poor General, expects of me. She is going to entangle me--Ah! Here she comes.

Gertrude (aside) I have burnt them! There is not a trace left--I am saved! (Aloud) Doctor!

Vernon Madame?

Gertrude My stepdaughter Pauline, whom you believed to be an innocent girl, an angel, had carried off furtively and criminally something whose discovery would have compromised the honor and the life of four persons.

Vernon Four! (Aside) That is herself, the General--Ah! her son, perhaps--and the unknown.

Gertrude This secret, concerning which she is forced to keep silence, even though it imperilled her life to do so--

Vernon I don't quite catch your meaning.

Gertrude In short, the proofs of this secret are now destroyed! And you, doctor, who love us all, you would be as base, as infamous as she is--even more so, because you are a man, and have not the insensate pa.s.sions of a woman!--You would be a monster if you were to take another step along the path on which you have now started--

Vernon You mean that for intimidation? Madame, since civilized society first sprang into being, the seed which you are sowing has produced a crop whose name is crime.

Gertrude But there are four lives at stake; remember that. (Aside) He is giving way. (Aloud) In spite of this danger I demand that you will a.s.sist me in maintaining peace here, and that you will immediately go and get something by which Pauline may be roused from her slumber. And you will explain, if necessary, her drowsiness to the General. Further, you will give me back the cup, for I am sure you intend to do so, and each step that we take together in this affair shall be fully explained to you.

Vernon Madame!

Gertrude We must separate now, for the General will soon be back.

Vernon (aside) I shall still look after you! I have now a weapon that I can use and--

(Exit Vernon.)

SCENE FIFTEENTH

Gertrude (alone, leaning against the closet in which the cup is locked up) Where can he have hidden that cup?

Curtain to the Third Act.

ACT IV

SCENE FIRST

(Pauline's chamber.)

Gertrude and Pauline (the latter sleeping on a large armchair on the left).

Gertrude (cautiously entering) She is sleeping, and the doctor said that she would wake up at once.

Her slumber alarms me. This then is the girl that he is in love with.

I do not find her pretty at all. Oh, yes, after all, she is beautiful!

But how is it that men do not see that beauty is nothing but a promise, and that love is the--(someone knocks). How is this; there are people coming.

Vernon (outside) May I come in, Pauline?

Gertrude It is the doctor.

SCENE SECOND

The same persons and Vernon.

Gertrude You told me that she would soon awake.

Vernon Don't be alarmed. (Calling aloud) Pauline! Pauline!

Pauline (awakening) O M. Vernon! Where am I? Ah! In my own room. What has happened to me?

Vernon My child, you fell asleep while you were taking your tea. Madame de Grandchamp feared as I did that this was the beginning of a sickness; but it is no such thing. It is altogether, as it seems to me, the consequence of a night without sleep.

Gertrude And now, Pauline, how do you feel?

Pauline I have been sleeping--and madame was here while I slept! (She starts up; puts her hand upon her bosom.) Ah! It is outrageous! (To Vernon) Doctor, can you have been an accomplice?

Gertrude An accomplice in what? What were you going to say?

Vernon I! my child! Could you suppose that I was the accomplice of an evil action wrought against you, whom I love as if you were my daughter?

Don't speak of such a thing as that! But come, tell me?

Pauline There is nothing, doctor, nothing to say!

Gertrude Let me speak a few words to her.