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Pamela Giraud: A Play in Five Acts, a play by Honore de Balzac |
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Act 4 - Scene 5 |
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_ ACT IV - SCENE FIFTH The same persons and Rousseau.
MME. ROUSSEAU. Is he acquitted? ROUSSEAU. No, but it is rumored that he is going to be; the jury are in consultation; I couldn't stay there any longer; I couldn't stand the suspense; I told Antoine to hurry here as soon as the verdict is given. MME. ROUSSEAU. We shall learn what the verdict is from this window; we have agreed upon a signal to be given by that youth, Joseph Binet. ROUSSEAU. Ah! keep a good look out, Justine. MME. ROUSSEAU. And how is Jules? What a trying time it must be for him! ROUSSEAU. Not at all! The unfortunate boy astonishes me by his coolness. Such courage as he has is worthy of a better cause than that of conspiracy. To think of his having put us in such a position! But for this I might have been appointed President of the Chamber of Commerce. DE VERBY. You forget that, after all, his marriage with a member of my family will make some amends for his trouble. ROUSSEAU. (struck by a sudden thought) Ah, general! When I left the court room, Jules stood surrounded by his friends, among whom were M. Dupre and the young girl Pamela. Your niece and Madame de Verby must have noticed it, and I hope that you will try to explain matters to them. (While Rousseau speaks with the general the ladies are watching for the signal.) DE VERBY. Rest assured of that! I will take care that Jules appears as white as snow! It is of very great importance to explain this affair of the working-girl, otherwise the Comtesse de Verby might oppose the marriage. We must explain away this apparent amour, and she must be made to understand that the girl's evidence was a piece of self- sacrifice for which she had been paid. ROUSSEAU. I certainly intend to do my duty towards that young girl. I shall give her eight or ten thousand francs. It seems to me that that will be liberal, very liberal! MME. ROUSSEAU. (while Mme. du Brocard tries to restrain her) Ah, sir, but what of her honor? ROUSSEAU. Well, I suppose that some one will marry her. _ |
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