Books: Pamela Giraud
H >>
Honore de Balzac >> Pamela Giraud
Mme. Giraud
Ah! Did I not tell you so?
Pamela
Can it be possible that Jules--
De Verby
I am authorized to make a promise to you.
Pamela (with emotion)
Oh!
De Verby
Tell me, how much do you ask for the sacrifice required of you?
Pamela (in consternation)
What do you mean? How much--I ask--for saving Jules? What do you take
me for?
Mme. du Brocard
Ah! Mademoiselle!
De Verby
You misunderstand me.
Pamela
No, it is you who misunderstand us! You are come here, to the house of
poor people, and you are quite unaware of what you ask from them. You,
madame, ought to know that whatever be the rank or the education of a
woman, her honor is her sole treasure! And that which you in your own
families guard with so much care, with so much reverence, you actually
believe that people here, living in an attic, would be willing to
sell! And you have said to yourselves: "Let us offer them money! We
need just now the sacrifice of a working-girl's honor!"
Giraud
That is excellent! I recognize my own blood there.
Mme. du Brocard
My dear child, do not be offended! Money is money, after all.
De Verby (addressing Giraud)
Undoubtedly! And six thousand francs for a solid annual income as a
price of--a--
Pamela
As the price of a lie! For I must out with it. But thank God I haven't
yet lost my self-respect! Good-bye, sir.
(Pamela makes a low bow to Mme. du Brocard, then goes into her bed-
chamber.)
De Verby
What is to be done?
Mme. du Brocard
I am quite nonplussed.
Giraud
I quite admit that an income of six thousand francs is no trifle, but
our daughter has a high spirit, you see; she takes after me--
Mme. Giraud
And she will never yield.
SCENE FIFTH
The same persons, Joseph Binet, Dupre and Mme. Rousseau.
Joseph
This way, sir. This way, madame. (Dupre and Mme. Rousseau enter.)
These are the father and mother of Pamela Giraud!
Dupre (to De Verby)
I am very sorry, sir, that you have got here before me!
Mme. Rousseau
My sister has doubtless told you, madame, the sacrifice which we
expect your daughter to make for us. Only an angel would make it.
Joseph
What sacrifice?
Mme. Giraud
It is no business of yours.
De Verby
We have just had an interview with Mlle. Pamela--
Mme. du Brocard
She has refused!
Mme. Rousseau
Oh, heavens!
Dupre
Refused what?
Mme. du Brocard
An income of six thousand francs.
Dupre
I could have wagered on it. To think of offering money!
Mme. du Brocard
But it was the only way--
Dupre
To spoil everything. (To Mme. Giraud) Madame, kindly tell your
daughter that the counsel of M. Jules Rousseau is here and desires to
see her.
Mme. Giraud
Oh, as for that you will gain nothing.
Giraud
Either from her or from us.
Joseph
But what is it they want?
Giraud
Hold your tongue.
Mme. du Brocard (to Mme. Giraud)
Madame, offer her--
Dupre
Now, Mme. du Brocard, I must beg you-- (To Mme. Giraud) It is in the
name of the mother of Jules that I ask of you permission to see your
daughter.
Mme. Giraud
It will be of no use at all, sir! And to think that they point-blank
offered her money when the young man a little time before had spoken
of marrying her!
Mme. Rousseau (with excitement)
Well, why not?
Mme. Giraud (with vehemence)
How was that, madame?
Dupre (seizing the hand of Mme. Giraud)
Come, come! Bring me your daughter.
(Exit Mme. Giraud.)
De Verby and Mme. du Brocard
You have then made up your mind?
Dupre
It is not I, but madame who has made up her mind.
De Verby (questioning Mme. du Brocard)
What has she promised?
Dupre (seeing that Joseph is listening)
Be silent, general; stay for a moment, I beg you, with these ladies.
Here she comes. Now leave us alone, if you please.
(Pamela is brought in by her mother. She makes a curtsey to Mme.
Rousseau, who gazes at her with emotion; then Dupre leads all but
Pamela into the other room; Joseph remains behind.)
Joseph (aside)
I wonder what they mean. They all talk of a sacrifice! And old Giraud
won't say a word to me! Well, I can bide my time. I promised the
advocate that I would give him my fourteen hundred francs, but before
I do so, I would like to see how he acts with regard to me.
Dupre (going up to Joseph)
Joseph Binet, you must leave the room.
Joseph
And not hear what you say about me?
Dupre
You must go away.
Joseph (aside)
It is evident that they are concealing something from me. (To Dupre) I
have prepared her mind; she is much taken with the idea of
transportation. Stick to that point.
Dupre
All right! But you must leave the room.
Joseph (aside)
Leave the room! Oh, indeed! Not I.
(Joseph makes as if he had withdrawn, but, quietly returning, hides
himself in a closet.)
Dupre (to Pamela)
You have consented to see me, and I thank you for it. I know exactly
what has recently taken place here, and I am not going to address you
in the same way as you have been recently addressed.
Pamela
Your very presence assures me of that, sir.
Dupre
You are in love with this fine young man, this Joseph?
Pamela
I am aware, sir, that advocates are like confessors!
Dupre
My child, they have to be just as safe confidants. You may tell me
everything without reserve.
Pamela
Well, sir, I did love him; that is to say, I thought I loved him, and
I would very willingly have become his wife. I thought that with his
energy Joseph would have made a good business, and that we could lead
together a life of toil. When prosperity came, we would have taken
with us my father and my mother; it was all very clear--it would have
been a united family!
Dupre (aside)
The appearance of this young girl is in her favor! Let us see whether
she is sincere or not. (Aloud) What are you thinking about?
Pamela
I was thinking about these past days, which seemed to me so happy in
comparison with the present. A fortnight ago my head was turned by the
sight of M. Jules; I fell in love with him, as young girls do fall in
love, as I have seen other young girls fall in love with young men--
with a love which would endure everything for those they loved! I used
to say to myself: shall I ever be like that? Well, at this moment I do
not know anything that I would not endure for M. Jules. A few moments
ago they offered me money,--they, from whom I expected such nobleness,
such greatness; and I was disgusted! Money! I have plenty of it, sir!
I have twenty thousand francs! They are here, they are yours! That is
to say, they are his! I have kept them to use in my efforts to save
him, for I have betrayed him, because I doubted him, while he was so
confident, so sure of me--and I was so distrustful of him!
Dupre
And he gave you twenty thousand francs?
Pamela
Ah, sir! He entrusted them with me. Here they are. I shall return them
to his family, if he dies; but he shall not die! Tell me? Is it not
so? You ought to know.
Dupre
My dear child, bear in mind that your whole life, perhaps your
happiness, depend upon the truthfulness of your answers. Answer me as
if you stood in the presence of God.
Pamela
I will.
Dupre
You have never loved any one before?
Pamela
Never!
Dupre
You seem to be afraid! Come, I am terrifying you. You are not giving
me your confidence.
Pamela
Oh, yes I am, sir; I swear I am! Since we have been in Paris, I have
never left my mother, and I have thought of nothing but my work and my
duty. I was alarmed and thrown into confusion a few moments ago, sir,
but you inspire me with confidence, and I can tell you everything.
Well, I acknowledge it,--I am in love with Jules; he is the only one I
love, and I would follow him to the end of the world! You told me to
speak as in the presence of God.
Dupre
Well, it is to your heart that I am going to appeal. Do for me what
you have refused to do for others. Tell me the truth! You alone have
the power to save him before the face of justice! You love him,
Pamela; I understand what it would cost you to--
Pamela
To avow my love for him? Would that be sufficient to save him?
Dupre
I will answer for that!
Pamela
Well?
Dupre
My child!
Pamela
Well--he is saved.
Dupre (earnestly)
But--you will be compromised--
Pamela
But after all it is for him.
Dupre (aside)
I never expected it, but I shall not die without having seen with my
own eyes an example of beautiful and noble candor, destitute alike of
self-interest and designing reserve. (Aloud) Pamela, you are a good
and generous girl.
Pamela
To act this way consoles me for many little miseries of life.
Dupre
My child, that is not everything! You are true as steel, you are high-
spirited. But in order to succeed it is necessary to have assurance--
determination--
Pamela
Oh, sir! You shall see!
Dupre
Do not be over-anxious. Dare to confess everything. Be brave! Imagine
that you are before the Court of Assizes, the presiding judge, the
public prosecutor, the prisoner at the bar, and me, his advocate; the
jury is on one side. The big court-room is filled with people. Do not
be alarmed.
Pamela
You needn't fear for me.
Dupre
A court officer brings you in; you have given your name and surname!
Then the presiding judge asks you "How long have you known the
prisoner, Rousseau?"--What would you answer?
Pamela
The truth!--I met him about a month before his arrest at the Ile
d'Amour, Belleville.
Dupre
Who were with him?
Pamela
I noticed no one but him.
Dupre
Did you hear them talk politics?
Pamela (in astonishment)
Oh, sir! The judges must be aware that politics are matters of
indifference at the Ile d'Amour.
Dupre
Very good, my child! But you must tell them all you know about Jules
Rousseau.
Pamela
Of course. I shall still speak the truth, and repeat my testimony
before the police justice. I knew nothing of the conspiracy, and was
infinitely surprised when he was arrested in my room; the proof of
which is that I feared M. Jules was a thief and afterwards apologized
for my suspicion.
Dupre
You must acknowledge that from the time of your first acquaintance
with this young man, he constantly came to see you. You must declare--
Pamela
I shall stick to the truth--He never left me alone! He came to see me
for love, I received him from friendship, and I resisted him from a
sense of duty--
Dupre
And at last?
Pamela (anxiously)
At last?
Dupre
You are trembling! Take care! Just now you promised me to tell the
truth!
Pamela (aside)
The truth! Oh my God!
Dupre
I also am interested in this young man; but I recoil from a possible
imposture. If he is guilty, my duty bids me defend him, if he is
innocent, his cause shall be mine. Yes, without doubt, Pamela, I am
about to demand from you a great sacrifice, but he needs it. The
visits which Jules made to you were in the evening, and without the
knowledge of your parents.
Pamela
Why no! never!
Dupre
How is this? For in that case there would be no hope for him.
Pamela (aside)
No hope for him! Then either he or I must be ruined. (Aloud) Sir, do
not be alarmed; I felt a little fear because the real danger was not
before my eyes. But when I shall stand before the judges!--when once I
shall see him, see Jules--and feel that his safety depends upon me--
Dupre
That is good, very good. But what is most necessary to be made known
is that on the evening of the twenty-fourth, he came here. If that is
once understood, I shall be successful in saving him; otherwise, I can
answer for nothing. He is lost!
Pamela (murmuring, greatly agitated)
Lost!--Jules lost!--No, no, no!--Better that my own good name be lost!
(Aloud) Yes, he came here on the twenty-fourth. (Aside) God forgive
me! (Aloud) It was my saint's day--my name is Louise Pamela--and he
was kind enough to bring me a bouquet, without the knowledge of my
father or mother; he came in the evening, late. Ah! you need have no
fear, sir--you see I shall tell all. (Aside) And all is a lie!
Dupre
He will be saved! (Rousseau appears) Ah! sir! (running to the door of
the room) Come all of you and thank your deliverer!
SCENE SIXTH
Rousseau, De Verby, Madame du Brocard, Giraud, Madame Giraud, Dupre,
and later Joseph Binet.
All
Does she consent?
Rousseau
You have saved my son. I shall never forget it.
Mme. du Brocard
You have put us under eternal obligations, my child.
Rousseau
My fortune shall be at your disposal.
Dupre
I will not say anything to you, my child! We shall meet again!
Joseph (coming out of the closet)
One moment! One moment! I have heard everything--and do you believe
that I am going to put up with that? I was here in concealment all the
time. And do you think I am going to let Pamela, whom I have loved and
have wished to make my wife, say all that? (To Dupre) This is the way
you are going to earn my fourteen hundred francs, eh! Well, I shall go
to court myself and testify that the whole thing is a lie.
All
Great heaven!
Dupre
You miserable wretch!
De Verby
If you say a single word--
Joseph
Oh, I am not afraid!
De Verby (to Rousseau and Mme. du Brocard)
He shall never go to court! If necessary, I will have him shadowed,
and I will put men on the watch to prevent him from entering.
Joseph
I'd just like to see you try it!
(Enter a sheriff's officer, who goes up to Dupre.)
Dupre
What do you want?
The sheriff's officer
I am the court officer of the Assizes--Mlle. Pamela Giraud! (Pamela
comes forward.) In virtue of discretionary authority of the presiding
judge, you are summoned to appear before him to-morrow at ten o'clock.
Joseph (to De Verby)
I will go also.
The officer
The porter has told me that you have here a gentleman called Joseph
Binet.
Joseph
Here I am!
The officer
Please take your summons.
Joseph
I told you that I would go!
(The officer withdraws; every one is alarmed at the threats of Binet.
Dupre tries to speak to him and reason with him, but he steals away.)
Curtain to the Third Act.
ACT IV
SCENE FIRST
(The stage represents Madame du Brocard's salon, from which can be
seen the Court of Assizes.)
Madame du Brocard, Madame Rousseau, Rousseau, Joseph Binet, Dupre and
Justine.
(Dupre is seated reading his note-book.)
Mme. Rousseau
M. Dupre!
Dupre
Yes, madame, the court adjourned after the speech of the prosecuting
attorney. And I came over to reassure you personally.
Mme. du Brocard
I told you, sister, that some one was sure to come and keep us
informed of things. In my house, here, which is so close to the court
house, we are in a favorable position for learning all that goes on at
the trial. Ah, M. Dupre! How can we thank you enough! You spoke
superbly! (To Justine) Justine, bring in something to drink--Quick!
Rousseau
Sir, your speech-- (To his wife) He was magnificent.
Dupre
Sir,--
Joseph (in tears)
Yes, you were magnificent, magnificent!
Dupre
I am not the person you ought to thank, but that child, that Pamela,
who showed such astonishing courage.
Joseph
And didn't I do well?
Mme. Rousseau
And he (pointing to Binet), did he carry out the threat he made to us?
Dupre
No, he took your side.
Joseph
It was your fault! But for you--Ah!--Well--I reached the court house,
having made up my mind to mix up everything; but when I saw all the
people, the judge, the jury, the crowd, and the terrible silence, I
trembled! Nevertheless I screwed up my courage. When I was questioned,
I was just about to answer, when my glance met the eyes of Mlle.
Pamela, which were filled with tears--I felt as if my tongue was
bound. And on the other side I saw M. Jules--a handsome youth, his
fine face conspicuous among them all. His expression was as tranquil
as if he had been a mere spectator. That knocked me out! "Don't be
afraid," said the judge to me. I was absolutely beside myself! I was
afraid of making some mistake; and then I had sworn to keep to the
truth; and then M. Dupre fixed his eye on me. I can't tell you what
that eye seemed to say to me--My tongue seemed twisted up. I broke out
into a sweat--my heart beat hard--and I began to cry, like a fool. You
were magnificent. And then in a moment it was all over. He made me do
exactly what he wanted. This is the way I lied: I said that on the
evening of the twenty-fourth I unexpectedly came to Pamela's room and
found M. Jules there--Yes, at Pamela's, the girl whom I was going to
marry, whom I still love--and our marriage will be the talk of the
whole neighborhood. Never mind, he's a great lawyer! Never mind! (To
Justine) Give me something to drink, will you?
Rousseau, Mme. Rousseau, Mme. du Brocard (To Joseph)
Dear friend! You showed yourself a fine fellow!
Dupre
The energy shown by Pamela makes me hopeful. I trembled for a moment
while she was giving evidence; the prosecuting attorney pressed her
very hard and seemed to doubt her veracity; she grew pale and I
thought she was going to faint.
Joseph
And what must my feelings have been?
Dupre
Her self-sacrifice was wonderful. You don't realize all that she has
undergone for you; I, myself even, was deceived by her; she was her
own accuser, yet all the time was innocent. Only one moment did she
falter; but darting a rapid glance at Jules, she suddenly rallied, a
blush took the place of pallor on her countenance, and we felt that
she had saved her lover; in spite of the risk she was running, she
repeated once more before all those people the story of her own
disgrace, and then fell weeping into the arms of her mother.
Joseph
Yes, she is a fine girl.
Dupre
But I must leave you; the summing up of the judge will come this
afternoon.
Rousseau
You must be going then.
Dupre
One moment! Do not forget Pamela! That young girl has compromised her
own honor for you and for him.
Joseph
As for me, I don't ask anything, but I have been led to expect--
Mme. du Brocard, Mme. Rousseau
We can never pay our debt of gratitude to you.
Dupre
Very good; come, gentlemen, we must be starting.
(Exeunt Dupre and Rousseau.)
SCENE SECOND
The same persons excepting Dupre and Rousseau.
Mme. du Brocard (stopping Joseph on his way out)
Listen to me!
Joseph
What can I do for you?
Mme. du Brocard
You see in what a state of anxiety we are; don't fail to let us know
the least turn in our favor which the trial makes.
Mme. Rousseau
Yes, keep us well informed on the whole business.
Joseph
You may rest assured of that--But look here, I needn't leave the court
house to do that, I intend to see everything, and to hear everything.
But do you see that window there? My seat is just under it; you watch
that window, and it if he is declared innocent you will see me wave my
handkerchief.
Mme. Rousseau
Do not forget to do so.
Joseph
No danger of that; I am a poor chap, but I know what a mother's heart
is! I am interested in this case, and for you, and for Pamela, I have
said a lot of things! But when you are fond of people you'll do
anything, and then I have been promised something--you may count upon
me. (Exit.)
SCENE THIRD
The same persons excepting Joseph.
Mme. Rousseau
Justine, open this window, and wait for the signal which the young man
has promised to give--Ah! but suppose my boy were condemned!
Mme. du Brocard
M. Dupre has spoken very hopefully about matters.
Mme. Rousseau
But with regard to this good girl, this admirable Pamela--what must we
do for her?
Mme. du Brocard
We ought to do something to make her happy! I acknowledge that this
young person is a succor sent from heaven! Only a noble heart could
make the sacrifice that she has made! She deserves a fortune for it!
Thirty thousand francs! That is what she ought to have. Jules owes his
life to her. (Aside) Poor boy, will his life be saved?
(Mme. du Brocard looks toward the window.)
Mme. Rousseau
Well, Justine, do you see anything?
Justine
Nothing, madame.
Mme. Rousseau
Nothing yet! Yes, you are right, sister, it is only the heart that can
prompt such noble actions. I do not know what you and my husband would
think about it, but if we considered what was right, and had full
regard to the happiness of Jules, apart from the brilliant prospect of
an alliance with the family of De Verby, if my son loved her and she
loved my son--it seems to me reasonable--
Mme. du Brocard and Justine
No! No!
Mme. Rousseau
Oh, sister! Say yes! Has she not well deserved it? But there is some
one coming.
(The two women remain in their seats with clasped hands.)
SCENE FOURTH
The same persons and De Verby.
Justine
M. le General de Verby!
Mme. Rousseau and Mme. du Brocard
Ah!
De Verby
Everything is going on well! My presence was no longer necessary, so I
return to you. There are great hopes of your son's acquittal. The
charge of the presiding judge is decidedly in his favor.
Mme. Rousseau (joyfully)
Thank God!
De Verby
Jules has behaved admirably! My brother the Comte de Verby is very
much interested in his favor. My niece looks upon him as a hero, and I
know courage and honorable conduct when I see them. When once this
affair has been settled, we will hasten the marriage.
Mme. Rousseau
We ought to tell you, sir, that we have made certain promises to this
young girl.
Mme. du Brocard
Never mind that, sister.
De Verby
Doubtless the young girl deserves some recompense, and I suppose you
will give her fifteen or twenty thousand francs,--that is due her.
Mme. du Brocard
You see, sister, that M. de Verby is a noble and generous man, and
since he has fixed upon this sum, I think it will be sufficient.
Justine
M. Rousseau!
Mme. du Brocard
O brother!
Mme. Rousseau
Dear husband!
SCENE FIFTH
The same persons and Rousseau.
De Verby (to Rousseau)
Have you good news?
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.
SCENE SIXTH
The same persons and Joseph.
Joseph (dashing in)
Monsieur! Madame! Give me some cologne or something, I beg you!
All
Whatever can be the matter?
Joseph
M. Antoine, your footman, is bringing Pamela here.
Rousseau
Has anything happened?
Joseph
When she saw the jury come in to give their verdict she was taken ill!
Her father and mother, who were in the crowd at the other end of the
court, couldn't stir. I cried out, and the presiding judge made them
put me out of court!
Mme. Rousseau
But Jules! My son! What did the jury say?
Joseph
I know nothing! I had no eyes except for Pamela. As for your son, I
suppose he is all right, but first with me comes Pamela--
De Verby
But you must have seen how the jury looked!
Joseph
Oh, yes! The foreman of the jury looked so gloomy--so severe--that I
am quite persuaded-- (He shudders.)
Mme. Rousseau
My poor Jules!
Joseph
Here comes Antoine and Mlle. Pamela.
SCENE SEVENTH
The same persons, Antoine and Pamela.
(They lead Pamela to a seat and give her smelling salts.)
Mme. du Brocard
My dear child!
Mme. Rousseau
My daughter!
Rousseau
Mademoiselle!
Pamela
I couldn't stand it any longer, the excitement was too great--and the
suspense was so cruel. I tried to brace up my courage by the calmness
of M. Jules while the jury was deliberating; the smile which he wore
made me share his presentiment of coming release! But I was chilled to
the heart when I looked at the pale, impassive countenance of M.
Dupre!--And then, the sound of the bell that announced the return of
the jury, and the murmur of anxiety that ran through the court--I was
quite overcome!--A cold sweat suffused my cheek and I fainted.