The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts Part 7

Felix Yes, that's the law.

Marguerite I would forgive her everything, if only she made Mademoiselle happy; but I sometimes catch my pet in tears, and I ask her what is the matter, and she says nothing but "Good Marguerite!" (Exit Felix.) Let me see, have I done everything? Yes, here are the card tables--the candles--the cards--Ah! the sofa. (She catches sight of Ramel) Good Lord! A stranger!

Ramel Don't be startled, Marguerite.

Marguerite You must have heard all we said.

Ramel Don't be alarmed. My business is to keep secrets. I am the state's attorney.

Marguerite Oh!

SCENE SECOND

The same persons, Pauline, G.o.dard, Vernon, Napoleon, Ferdinand, the General, Madame de Grandchamp.

(Gertrude rushes to Marguerite and s.n.a.t.c.hes the cus.h.i.+ons from her hands.)

Gertrude Marguerite, you know very well what pain you give me, by not allowing me to do everything for your master; besides, I am the only one who knows how to arrange the cus.h.i.+ons to his liking.

Marguerite (to Pauline) What a to-do about nothing!

G.o.dard Why, look! Here is the state's attorney!

The General The state's attorney at my house?

Gertrude I am surprised!

The General (to Ramel) Sir, what brings you here?

Ramel I asked my friend, M. Ferdinand Mar--

(Ferdinand checks him by a gesture. Gertrude and Pauline look at him in alarm.)

Gertrude (aside) It is his friend, Eugene Ramel.

Ramel My friend, Ferdinand de Charny, to whom I have told the object of my visit, to say nothing about it until you had finished your dinner.

The General Ferdinand then is your friend?

Ramel I have known him from childhood; and here we met in your avenue. On meeting, after nine years of separation, we had so many things to talk about, that I caused him to be late.

The General But, sir, to what circ.u.mstance am I to attribute your presence here?

Ramel I come in the matter of Jean Nicot, known as Champagne, your foreman, who is charged with a crime.

Gertrude But, sir, our friend, Doctor Vernon, has declared that Champagne's wife died a natural death.

Vernon Yes, sir, cholera.

Ramel Justice, sir, believes in nothing but investigations and convictions of its own. You did wrong to proceed before my arrival.

Felix Madame, shall I bring in the coffee?

Gertrude Wait a while! (Aside) How changed this man is, this attorney. I shouldn't have recognized him. He terrifies me.

The General But how could you be brought here by the crime of Champagne, an old soldier for whom I would stand security?

Ramel You will earn that, on the arrival of the investigating magistrate.

The General Will you be pleased to take a seat?

Ferdinand (to Ramel, pointing out Pauline) That is she!

Ramel A man might lay down his life for such a lovely girl.

Gertrude (to Ramel) We do not know each other! You have never seen me, have you? You must have pity on us!

Ramel You may depend upon me for that.

The General (who sees Ramel and Gertrude talking together) Is my wife to be called to this investigation?

Ramel Certainly, General. I came here myself because the countess had not been notified that we required her presence.

The General My wife mixed up in such an affair? It is an outrage!

Vernon Keep cool, my friend.

Felix (announcing) Monsieur, the investigating magistrate!

The General Let him come in.

SCENE THIRD

The same persons, the investigating magistrate, Champagne, Baudrillon and a gendarme who is guarding Champagne.

The Magistrate (bowing to the company) Monsieur the state's attorney, this is M. Baudrillon, the druggist.

Ramel Has M. Baudrillon seen the accused?

The Magistrate No, monsieur, the accused came in charge of a gendarme.