Pamela Giraud | Page 4

to see us porters, us, the authors of her life! She is too sensible to blunder in this matter. Is it not so, my child, you would not deceive your father?
Mme. Giraud There is nobody here, is there, my love? For a young working-girl to have any one in her room, at ten o'clock at night--well--she runs a risk of losing--
Pamela But it seems to me that if I had any one you would have seen him on his way up.
Giraud She is right.
Mme. Giraud She does not answer straight out. Please open the door of this room.
Pamela Mother, stop! Do not come in here,--you shall not come in here!-- Listen to me; as I love you, mother, and you, father, I have nothing to reproach myself with!--and I swear to it before God!--Do not in a moment withdraw from your daughter the confidence which you have had in her for so long a time.
Mme. Giraud But why not tell us?
Pamela (aside) Impossible! If they were to see this young man every one would soon know all about it.
Giraud (interrupting her) We are your father and mother, and we must see!
Pamela For the first time in my life, I refuse to obey you!--But you force me to it!--These lodgings are rented by me from the earnings of my work! I am of age and mistress of my own actions.
Mme. Giraud Oh, Pamela! Can this be you, on whom we have placed all our hopes?
Giraud You will ruin yourself!--and I shall remain a porter to the end of my days.
Pamela You needn't be afraid of that! Well--I admit that there is some one here; but silence! You must go down stairs again to your lodge. You must tell Joseph that he does not know what he is talking about, that you have searched everywhere, that there is no one in my lodging; you must send him away--then you shall see this young man; you shall learn what I purpose doing. But you must keep everything the most profound secret.
Giraud Unhappy girl! What do you take us for? (He sees the banknotes on the table.) Ah! what is this? Banknotes!
Mme. Giraud Banknotes! (She recoils from Pamela.) Pamela, where did you get them?
Pamela I will tell you when I write.
Giraud When you write! She must be going to elope!
SCENE FOURTH
The same persons, and Joseph Binet.
Joseph (entering) I was quite sure that there was something wrong about him!--He is a ringleader of thieves! The gendarmes, the magistrate, all the excitement she showed mean something--and now the house is surrounded!
Jules (appearing) I am lost!
Pamela I have done all that I could!
Giraud And you, sir, who are you?
Joseph Are you a--?
Mme. Giraud Speak!
Jules But for this idiot, I would have escaped! You will now have the ruin of an innocent man on your consciences.
Pamela M. Adolph, are you innocent?
Jules I am!
Pamela What shall we do? (Pointing to the dormer window.) You can elude their pursuit that way out.
(She opens the dormer window and finds the police agents on the roof outside.)
Jules It is too late. All you can do is to confirm my statement. You must declare that I am your daughter's lover; that I have asked you to give her in marriage to me; that I am of age; that my name is Adolph Durand, son of a rich business man of Marseilles.
Giraud He offers her lawful love and wealth!--Young man, I willingly take you under my protection.
SCENE FIFTH
The same persons, a sheriff, a police officer and gendarmes.
Giraud Sir, what right have you to enter an occupied dwelling--the domicile of a peaceable young girl?
Joseph Yes, what right have you--?
The sheriff Young man, don't you worry about our right!--A few moments ago you were very friendly and slowed us where the unknown might be found, but now you have suddenly changed your tune.
Pamela Bit what are you looking for? What do you want?
The sheriff You seem to be well aware that we are looking for somebody.
Giraud Sir, my daughter has no one with her but her future husband, M.--
The sheriff Rousseau.
Pamela M. Adolph Durand.
Giraud Rousseau I don't know.--The gentleman I refer to is M. Adolph Durand.
Mme. Giraud Son of a respectable merchant of Marseilles.
Joseph Ah! you have been deceiving me! Ah!--That is the secret of your coldness, and he is--
The sheriff (to the officer of the police) This does not seem to be the man?
The officer Oh, yes, I am sure of it! (to the gendarmes) Carry out my orders.
Jules Monsieur, I am the victim of some mistake; my name is not Jules Rousseau.
The officer Oh! but you know his first name, which none of us has as yet mentioned.
Jules But I heard some one say it. Here are my papers, which are perfectly correct.
The sheriff Let me see them, please.
Giraud Gentlemen, I assure you and