Kitabı oku: «The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts», sayfa 7
SCENE TENTH
Pauline and Marguerite.
Marguerite Mademoiselle, my trunks are all packed. I am now going to begin packing here.
Pauline
Yes. (Aside) It is best to let her do so. (Aloud) Come here,
Marguerite, take this gold and conceal it among your things.
Marguerite
You are sure that your reasons for starting away are very urgent?
Pauline My poor Marguerite, who knows whether I shall be able to get away! But come, go on with your work.
(Exit Pauline.)
SCENE ELEVENTH
Marguerite (alone) And to think that I believed this fury was unwilling that mademoiselle should marry! Is it possible that mademoiselle should have concealed from me that her real love was being opposed? Yet her father is so good to her! He leaves her free to choose – Suppose I were to speak to the General – Oh! no, I would not run the risk of injuring my child.
SCENE TWELFTH
Marguerite and Pauline.
Pauline No one has seen me. Listen, Marguerite, first of all, take away the money that I gave you, and then let me think about the resolution which I have taken.
Marguerite
If I were in your place, mademoiselle, I would tell everything to the
General.
Pauline To my father? Unhappy woman, do not betray me! And let both of us respect the illusions, in the midst of which he lives.
Marguerite
Ah! Illusions! That is the very word.
Pauline
You may leave me now.
(Exit Marguerite.)
SCENE THIRTEENTH
Pauline, then Vernon.
Pauline (holding in her hand the parcel of poison, which was shown in the first act) Here stands death before me! The doctor told us yesterday, in reference to Champagne's wife, that this terrible substance required some hours, almost a whole night, to produce its deadly effects, and that it was possible, during the first hours, to nullify these effects; if the doctor remains at the house, he will provide this antidote.
(Some one knocks.)
Vernon (from without)
It is I.
Pauline Come in, doctor! (Aside) Curiosity brings him to see me, curiosity will take him away.
Vernon I see, my child, that between you and your stepmother, there are secrets of life and death?
Pauline
Yes, and, above all, death.
Vernon I was afraid so! And that, of course, I must attend to. But tell me – You must have had some terrible quarrel with your stepmother.
Pauline
Let me hear no more of that creature. She deceives my father.
Vernon
I know it.
Pauline
She never loved him.
Vernon
I was quite sure of that!
Pauline
She has sworn to ruin me.
Vernon
How? Is it in an affair of your heart that she wishes to do you harm?
Pauline
Rather say, it is my life she threatens.
Vernon What a horrible suspicion! Pauline, my child, I love you well, you know I do. Tell me, can nothing save you?
Pauline In order to change my fate, it would be necessary that my father change his ideas. Listen; I am in love with M. Ferdinand.
Vernon
I already know that. But who would hinder you from marrying him?
Pauline
Can you keep a secret? Well, he is the son of General Marcandal!
Vernon My God! You may rely on my keeping that secret! Why, your father would fight with him to the death, if for nothing else, because he has had him under his roof for three years.
Pauline
You will then see very plainly that there is no hope for me.
(Pauline sinks back overwhelmed with emotion in an armchair.)
Vernon
Poor child! I fear she is going to faint. (He rings and calls)
Marguerite! Marguerite!
SCENE FOURTEENTH
The same persons, Gertrude, Marguerite and the General.
Marguerite (running in)
What is it, sir?
Vernon Get me a tea-urn of boiling water, into which you must drop some orange leaves.
(Exit Marguerite.)
Gertrude
What is the matter with you, Pauline?
The General
Dear child, do tell us?
Gertrude Oh, it is nothing! We can understand her feelings. It is because she sees her lot in life decided —
Vernon (to the General)
Her lot decided? And in what way?
The General She is going to marry Godard! (Aside) It seems to me as if she were giving up some love affair of which she did not wish to tell me. As far as I can understand from what my wife has told me, the unknown one is ineligible, and Pauline did not discover his unworthiness until yesterday.
Vernon And you believe this? Do not precipitate matters, General. We will talk it over this evening. (Aside) Before then I am going to have a few words with Madame de Grandchamp.
Pauline (to Gertrude)
The doctor knows all!
Gertrude
Ah!
Pauline (she puts back into the pocket of Gertrude the handkerchief
and the key, while the latter is looking at Vernon, who converses with the General)
Keep him away, for he is capable of telling all he knows to the
General. We must at least protect Ferdinand.
Gertrude (aside) She is right. (Aloud) Doctor, I have just been informed that Francis, one of our best workmen, is sick; he hasn't appeared this morning, and you might go and visit him.
The General
Francis? Oh! Vernon, you had better go and see him —
Vernon
Doesn't he live at Pre-l'Eveque? (Aside) More than three leagues away.
The General
Are you alarmed about Pauline?
Vernon
It is simply an attack of nerves.
Gertrude
I can take your place here, doctor, if that is so, can't I?
Vernon Yes. (To the General) I'll undertake to say that Francis is about as sick as I am! The fact of it is, I see rather too much and my presence is not desired —
The General (in a rage)
What are you talking about? To whom do you refer?
Vernon Are you going to fly into a passion again? Do calm yourself, my old friend, or you will cause yourself eternal remorse.
The General
Remorse?
Vernon
Just keep these people talking, till I return.
The General
But —
Gertrude (to Pauline)
Tell me, how do you feel now, my sweet angel?
The General
Just look at them.
Vernon
Ah! Well, women stab each other with a smile and a kiss.
SCENE FIFTEENTH
The same persons (except Vernon) and Marguerite.
Gertrude (to the General, who seems as if he were bewildered by the
last words of Vernon)
What is the matter with you?
The General (passing before Gertrude to the side of Pauline)
Nothing, nothing! Tell me, my little Pauline, is your engagement with
Godard to be quite voluntary?
Pauline
Quite voluntary.
Gertrude (aside)
Ah!
The General
He will be here soon.
Pauline
I am expecting him.
The General (aside)
There is a tremendous amount of bitterness in her tone.
(Marguerite appears with a tea-cup.)
Gertrude
It is too soon, Marguerite, the infusion can't yet be strong enough!
(She tastes it.) I must go and prepare it myself.
Marguerite
I have always been in the habit of waiting upon Mlle. Pauline.
Gertrude
What do you mean by speaking to me in this tone?
Marguerite
But – madame —
The General
Marguerite, if you say another word, we shall fall out.
Pauline Marguerite, you may just as well let Madame de Grandchamp have her way.
(Gertrude goes out with Marguerite.)
The General And so my little girl has not much confidence in the father who loves her so? Come now! Tell me why you so distinctly refused Godard yesterday, and yet, accept him to-day?
Pauline
I suppose it is a young girl's whim.
The General
Are you in love with anybody else?
Pauline It is because I am not in love with anybody else that I consent to marry your friend M. Godard!
(Gertrude comes in with Marguerite.)
The General
Ah!
Gertrude
Take this, my darling, but be careful, for it is a little hot.
Pauline
Thank you, mother!
The General
Mother! Truly, this is enough to drive one crazy with perplexity!
Pauline
Marguerite, bring me the sugar basin!
(While Marguerite goes out and Gertrude talks with the General, Pauline drops the poison into the cup and lets fall the paper which contained it.)
Gertrude (to the General)
You seem to be indisposed?
The General
My dear, I cannot understand women; I am like Godard.
(Marguerite comes back.)
Gertrude
You are like all other men.
Pauline (hurriedly drinking the poisoned cup)
Ah!
Gertrude
How are you now, my child?
Pauline
I am better.
Gertrude
I am going to prepare another cup for you.
Pauline Oh, no, madame, this will be quite enough! I would sooner wait for the doctor.
(Pauline sets down the empty cup on the table.)
SCENE SIXTEENTH
The same persons and Felix, then Godard.
Felix (looking inquiringly at Pauline)
M. Godard asks if you will see him?
Pauline
Certainly.
Gertrude (leaving the room)
What do you intend saying to him.
Pauline
Wait and see.
Godard (entering) I am sorry that mademoiselle is indisposed. I did not know it. I will not intrude. (They offer him a chair.) Mademoiselle, allow me to thank you above all for the kindness you have shown in receiving me in this sanctuary of innocence. Madame de Grandchamp and your father have just informed me of something which would have overwhelmed me with happiness yesterday, but rather astonishes me to-day.
The General
That is to say, M. Godard —
Pauline Do not be hasty, father, M. Godard is right. You do not know all I said to him yesterday.
Godard You are far too clever, mademoiselle, not to consider as quite natural the curiosity of an honorable young man, who has an income of forty thousand francs, besides his savings, to learn of the reason why he should be accepted after a lapse of twenty-four hours from his rejection – For, yesterday, it was at this very hour – (He pulls out his watch) Half-past five —
The General What do you mean by all this? It looks as if you are not as much in love as you said you were. You have come here to complain of a charming girl at the very moment when she has told you —
Godard
I would not complain, if the subject were not marriage. Marriage,
General, is at once the cause and the effect of sentiment.
The General
Pardon me, Godard, I am a little hasty, as you know.
Pauline (to Godard) Sir – (Aside) Oh, how I suffer! (Aloud) Sir, why should poor young girls —
Godard Poor? No, no, mademoiselle; you are not poor. You have four hundred thousand francs.
Pauline
Why should weak young girls —
Godard
Weak?
Pauline Well, then, innocent young persons – be so very fastidious about the character of the man who presents himself as their lord and master? If you love me, will you punish yourself – will you punish me – because your love has been submitted to a test?
Godard
Of course, from that point of view —
The General
Oh! These women! These women!
Godard
You may just as well say, "These daughters."
The General
Yes, for I am quite sure that mine has more brains than I have.
SCENE SEVENTEENTH
The same persons, Gertrude and then Napoleon.
Gertrude
How has it turned out, M. Godard?
Godard
Ah, Madame! General! My happiness is complete, and my dream fulfilled.
For now I am to be admitted into a family like yours. To think that I
– Ah! Madame! General! (Aside) I'd like to find out the mystery, for she has precious little love for me.
Napoleon (entering)
Papa, I have won the school medal – Good-day, mamma – and where is
Pauline? And so you are sick? Poor little sister! I'll tell you something – I have found out where justice comes from.
Gertrude
And who told you? Ah! see what a lovely boy he is!
Napoleon
The master told me that justice comes from God.
Godard
It is very plain that your master was not born in Normandy.
Pauline (in a low voice to Marguerite)
O Marguerite! Dear Marguerite! Do send them all away.
Marguerite
Gentlemen, Mlle. Pauline desires to take a little nap.
The General Just so, Pauline, we will leave you, and you need not get up till dinner time.
Pauline
I will certainly get up then if I can. Father, kiss me before you go.
The General (kissing her)
My darling child! (To Napoleon) Come, my boy.
(They all go out, except Pauline, Marguerite and Napoleon.)
Napoleon (to Pauline)
And how is it you do not kiss me? Tell me what ails you?
Pauline
Oh! I am dying!
Napoleon
Do people die? Pauline, what is death made of?
Pauline
Death – is made – like this —
(Pauline falls back into Marguerite's arms.)
Marguerite
Oh! My God! Help! Help!
Napoleon
Oh! Pauline, you frighten me! (Running away.) Mamma! Mamma!
Curtain to the Fourth Act.
ACT V
SCENE FIRST
(The chamber of Pauline as before.)
Pauline, Ferdinand and Vernon.
(Pauline lies stretched upon her bed. Ferdinand holds her hand in an attitude of profound grief and despair. It is just before dawn and a lamp is burning.)
Vernon (seated near the table) I have seen thousands of dead men on the field of battle and in the ambulances, yet the death of this young girl under her father's roof moves me more profoundly than all those heroic sufferings. Death is perhaps a thing foreseen on the field of battle – it is even expected there; while here, it is not only the passing away of a single person, but a whole family is plunged in tears and fond hopes vanish. Here is this child, of whom I was so fond, murdered, poisoned – and by whom? Marguerite has rightly guessed the secret of this struggle between two rivals. It was impossible to refrain from communicating at once with the authorities. In the meantime, God knows I have used every effort to snatch this young life from the grave. (Ferdinand raises his head and listens to the doctor) I have even brought this poison, which may act as an antidote to the other; but the princes of medical science should have been present to witness the experiment! No man ought to venture upon such a throw of the dice.
Ferdinand (rises and approaches the doctor) Doctor, when the magistrates arrive, will you explain this experiment of yours; they will be sure to sanction it; and you may be sure that God, yes God, will hear me. He will work some miracle, He will give her back to me!
Vernon I should have ventured upon it before the action of the poison had wrought its full effects. If I did so now, I should be looked upon as the poisoner. No (he places a little flask upon the table), it would be useless now, and to give it with the most disinterested motives would be looked upon as a crime.
Ferdinand (after holding a mirror before Pauline's lips)
Anything, everything is yet possible; she still breathes.
Vernon
She will not live till daylight.
Pauline
Ferdinand!
Ferdinand
She has just uttered my name.
Vernon The vitality of a girl of twenty-two is very tenacious! Moreover, she will preserve consciousness, even to her last gasp. She might possibly rise from her bed and talk with us, although the sufferings caused by this terrible poison are inconceivable.
SCENE SECOND
The same persons and the General.
The General (outside)
Vernon!
Vernon (to Ferdinand) It is the General. (Ferdinand, overcome with grief, falls back on the armchair, where he is concealed by the curtains of the bed.) What do you want?
The General
I want to see Pauline!
Vernon
If you take my advice, you will wait awhile; she is very much worse.
The General (entering)
For that reason I shall come in.
Vernon
Do not come in, General. Listen to me!
The General
No, no! Ah, how motionless, how cold she is, Vernon!
Vernon Listen! General! (Aside) We must get him away somehow. (Aloud) There is but a faint hope of saving her.
The General
You told me – You must have been deceiving me!
Vernon My friend, we have to look this catastrophe in the face, as we had to look towards the batteries through a shower of bullets! On such occasions, when I hesitated, you always went forward. (Aside) That is a good idea! (Aloud) You had better bring to her the consolations of religion.
The General
Vernon, I wish to see her, to give her my last kiss.
Vernon
Be careful!
The General (kissing her)
Oh! How icy cold she is!
Vernon That is a peculiarity of her sickness, General. Hurry to the priest's house, for in case my remedies fail, it is not right that your daughter, who has been reared as a Christian, should be forgotten by the Church.
The General
Ah! yes. I will go.
(The General moves towards the bed.)
Vernon (pointing towards the door)
This way!
The General I quite lose my head; I am distracted – O Vernon, work a miracle for us! You have saved so many people – and here you cannot save the life of my child!
Vernon Come, come, be off. (Aside) I must go with him, for if he meets the magistrates there will be more trouble still.
(Exit the General and Vernon.)
SCENE THIRD
Pauline and Ferdinand.
Pauline
Ferdinand!
Ferdinand Ah! My God! Can this be her last sigh? Pauline, you are my very life; if Vernon does not save you, I will follow you, and we shall still be united.
Pauline
I shall expire, then, without a single regret.
Ferdinand (takes up the flask) That which would have saved you, if the doctor had arrived earlier, shall deliver me from life.
Pauline
No, for you may still be happy.
Ferdinand
Never, without you.
Pauline
Your words revive me.
SCENE FOURTH
The same persons and Vernon.
Ferdinand
She speaks; her eyes once more are open.
Vernon
Poor child! There she falls asleep again. What shall the waking be?
(Ferdinand sits down again and takes the hand of Pauline.)
SCENE FIFTH
The same persons, Ramel, the Investigating Magistrate, a Doctor, a
Corporal of Police and Marguerite.
Marguerite M. Vernon, the magistrates are here. M. Ferdinand, you must leave the room.
(Exit Ferdinand.)
Ramel Take care, corporal, that all the entrances of this house are guarded, and observe our orders! Doctor, can we remain here a few moments without danger to the sick lady?
Vernon
She is asleep, sir; and it is her last slumber.
Marguerite Here is the cup into which the infusion was poured and which still has traces of arsenic; I perceived it there as soon as I took hold of it.
The Doctor (examining the cup and tasting the contents)
It is evident that the liquid contains some poisonous substance.
The Magistrate Please to make an analysis of it. (He sees Marguerite picking up a small piece of paper from the ground.) What paper is that?
Marguerite
Oh, it is nothing.
Ramel In such cases as these, nothing is insignificant in the eyes of magistrates! Yes, gentlemen, we shall have to examine this paper later. What can have delayed M. de Grandchamp?
Vernon
He is at the priest's house, but he will not stay there long.
The Magistrate (to the doctor)
Have you made your examination yet, sir?
(The two physicians converse together at the head of the bed.)
Ramel (to the magistrate) If the General returns, we must deal with him according to the circumstances.
(Marguerite is weeping, kneeling at the foot of the bed; the two physicians, the judge and Ramel are grouped in the front of the stage.)
Ramel (to the doctor)
It is therefore of your opinion, sir, that the illness of Mlle. de
Grandchamp, whom we saw two days ago full of health, and even of happiness, is the result of a crime?
The Doctor
The symptoms of poisoning are undeniable.
Ramel And are the remains of the poison contained in this cup so discernible, and present in such a quantity, as to furnish legal proof?
The Doctor
Yes, sir.
The Magistrate (to Vernon) This woman alleges, sir, that yesterday, at four o'clock, you prescribed for Mlle. de Grandchamp an infusion of orange leaves, as a soothing draught for the nervous excitement which followed upon an interview between the stepmother and her stepdaughter; she says, moreover, that Madame de Grandchamp, who had despatched you on an empty errand to a place four leagues away, had insisted upon preparing and giving everything to her daughter herself; is this true?
Vernon
Yes, sir.
Marguerite When I persisted in my purpose of attending myself upon my young mistress, my poor master was incensed to the point of reproaching me.
Ramel (to Vernon)
Where did Madame de Grandchamp send you?
Vernon Everything is ominous in this mysterious affair. Madame de Grandchamp was so anxious to get me out of the way that she sent me three leagues to visit a sick man, who, I found when I reached his home, was drinking in the inn. I blamed Champagne for deceiving Madame de Grandchamp, and Champagne positively told me that the workman had not appeared at the factory, but that he himself knows nothing about his alleged sickness.
Felix
Gentlemen, the clergy are here.
Ramel
We can continue our proceedings in the drawing-room.
Vernon
This way, gentlemen, this way.
(Scene curtain.)
SCENE SIXTH
(The drawing-room.)
Ramel, the Magistrate, the Sheriff's Officer and Vernon.
Ramel Here, then, is the result so far of our inquiry, in accordance with the evidence of Felix and Marguerite. Madame de Grandchamp, in the first place, administered to her stepdaughter a dose of opium, and you, M. Vernon, who were present and saw the criminal attempt, managed to secure and lock up the cup.
Vernon
It is true, gentlemen, but —
Ramel How is it, M. Vernon, that when you witnessed this criminal attempt, you did not check Madame de Grandchamp in the fatal course which she was then pursuing?
Vernon Believe me, gentlemen, I did everything which I thought could be done with prudence, and all that my long experience suggested was attempted by me.
The Magistrate Your conduct, sir, was peculiar, and you will be called upon to explain it. You did your duty yesterday in preserving the cup as evidence; but why did you not go further?
Ramel Pardon me, M. Cordier, this gentleman is advanced in years; he is an honest and trustworthy man. (He takes Vernon aside) You have found out, I suppose, the cause of this crime.
Vernon It springs from a rivalry between two women, who have been urged on to the most violent extremes by their reckless passions. And I was obliged to keep silence on the subject.
Ramel
I know the whole business.
Vernon
You! sir?
Ramel Yes, and, like you, I have done everything to prevent this catastrophe; for Ferdinand was to leave this very night. I knew Mlle. Gertrude de Meilhac in former years, having met her at the house of my friend.
Vernon Oh! sir, show clemency! Have pity on an old soldier, crippled with wounds, and enslaved by delusions. He is in danger of losing both his daughter and his wife. Heaven grant he may not lose his honor also!
Ramel We understand each other. So long as Gertrude does not make such admissions as force us to see the real situation, I shall endeavor to persuade the investigating magistrate – who is an extremely sagacious and honest man of ten years' experience – I shall try to make him believe that cupidity alone has influenced Madame de Grandchamp. You must assist me. (The magistrate approaches; Ramel nods to Vernon and puts on an expression of severity.) Why did Madame de Grandchamp wish to drug her stepdaughter? You, who are the friend of the household, ought to know this.
Vernon Pauline was about to confide her secrets to me. Her stepmother thought that I was learning certain things which her interest required should be concealed; and that, sir, is doubtless the reason why she sent me to treat a workman who was in good health, and not to prevent help from being brought to Pauline, for Louviers is not so far off.
The Magistrate What forethought she has! She won't be able to escape if we find the proofs of crime in her desk. She does not expect us here; she will be thunderstruck.
