The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts Part 6

Ferdinand My position? I a.s.sure you, it is intolerable, among the three characters with whom I am cast. Pauline is daring, like all young persons who are innocent, to whom love is a wholly ideal thing, and who see no evil in anything, so long as it concerns a man whom they intend to marry. The penetration of Gertrude is very acute, but we manage to elude it through Pauline's terror lest my name should be divulged; the sense of this danger gives her strength to dissemble!

But now Pauline has just refused G.o.dard, and I do not know what may be the consequences.

Ramel I know G.o.dard; under a somewhat dull exterior he conceals great sagacity, and he is the most inquisitive man in the department. Is he here now?

Ferdinand He dines here to-day.

Ramel Do not trust him.

Ferdinand If two women, between whom there is no love lost, make the discovery that they are rivals, one of them, I can't say which, is capable of killing the other, for one is strong in innocence and lawful love; the other, furious to see the fruit of so much dissimulation, so many sacrifices, even crimes lost to her forever.

(Enter Napoleon.)

Ramel You alarm me--me, the prosecuting attorney! Upon my word and honor, women often cost more than they are worth.

Napoleon Dear friend! Papa and mamma are impatient about you; they send word that you must leave your business, and Vernon says that your stomach requires it.

Ferdinand You little rogue! You are come eavesdropping!

Napoleon Mamma whispered in my ear: "Go and see what your friend is doing."

Ferdinand Run away, you little scamp! Be off! I am coming. (To Ramel) You see she makes this innocent child a spy over me.

(Exit Napoleon.)

Ramel Is this the General's child?

Ferdinand Yes.

Ramel He is twelve years old?

Ferdinand About.

Ramel Have you anything more to tell me?

Ferdinand Really, I think I have told you enough.

Ramel Very well! Go and get your dinner. Say nothing of my arrival, nor of my purpose here. Let them finish their dinner in peace. Now go at once.

(Exit Ferdinand.)

SCENE NINTH

Ramel (alone) Poor fellow! If all young people had studied the annals of the court, as I have done in seven years of a magistrate's work, they would come to the conclusion that marriage must be accepted as the sole romance which is possible in life. But if pa.s.sion could control itself it would be virtue.

Curtain to First Act.

ACT II

SCENE FIRST

(Stage setting remains as in Act I.)

Ramel and Marguerite; later, Felix.

(Ramel is buried in his reflections, reclining on the sofa in such a way as to be almost out of sight. Marguerite brings in lights and cards. Night is approaching.)

Marguerite Four card tables--that will be enough, even though the cure, the mayor and his a.s.sistant come. (Felix lights the candles.) I'll wager anything that my poor Pauline will not be married this time. Dear child! If her late mother were to see that she was not queen of the house, she would weep in her coffin! I only remain here in order to comfort and to wait upon her.

Felix (aside) What is this old woman grumbling about? (Aloud) Whom are you complaining of now, Marguerite? I'll bet it is the mistress.

Marguerite No, it is not; I am blaming the master.

Felix The General? You had better mind your own business. He is a saint, is that man.

Marguerite Yes, a stone saint, for he is blind.

Felix You had better say that he has been blinded.

Marguerite You hit the nail on the head there.

Felix The General has but one fault--he is jealous.

Marguerite Yes, and obstinate, too.

Felix Yes, obstinate; it is the same thing. When once he suspects anything he comes down like a hammer. That was the way he laid two men lifeless at a blow. Between ourselves, there is only one way to treat a trooper of that sort; you must stuff him with flattery. And the mistress certainly does stuff him. Besides, she is clever enough to put blinders on him, such as they put on shying horses; he can see neither to the right nor to the left, and she says to him, "My dear, look straight ahead!" So she does!

Marguerite Ah! You think with me that a woman of thirty-two does not love a man of seventy without some object. She is scheming something.

Ramel (aside) Oh, these servants! whom we pay to spy over us!

Felix What can be her scheme? She never leaves the house, she never sees anyone.

Marguerite She would skin a flint! She has taken away the keys from me--from me who always had the confidence of the former mistress; do you know why she did so?

Felix I suppose she is saving up her pile.

Marguerite Yes, out of the fortune of Mlle. Pauline, and the profits of the factory. That is the reason why she puts off the marriage of the dear child as long as she can, for she has to give up her fortune when she marries her.