Pamela Giraud | Page 9

is to say, she accuses me of having betrayed his head to the executioner, and you will understand that if after all he escapes, and is transported, I can marry, can wed Pamela; and as the transported man will not be in France, I need fear no disturbance in my home. Get him fifteen years; that is nothing; fifteen years for traveling and I shall have time to see my children grow up, and my wife old enough--you understand--
Dupre (aside) He is candid, at any rate--Those who make their calculations aloud and in such evident excitement are not the worst of people.
Joseph I say! Do you know the proverb--"A lawyer who talks to himself is like a pastry cook who eats his own wares,"--eh, sir?
Dupre I understand you to say that Pamela is in love with M. Jules?
Joseph Ah! I see, you understand matters.
Dupre They used frequently to meet I suppose?
Joseph Far too frequently! Oh! if I had only known it, I would have put a stop to it!
Dupre Is she pretty?
Joseph Who?--Pamela?--My eye! My Pamela! She is as pretty as the Apollo Belvidere!
Dupre Keep your fourteen hundred francs, my friend, and if you have courage, you and your Pamela, you will be able to help me in effecting his deliverance; for the question is absolutely whether we must let him go to the scaffold, or save him from it.
Joseph I beg you, sir, do not think of saying one word to Pamela; she is in despair.
Dupre Nevertheless you must bring it about that I see her this morning.
Joseph I will send word to her through her parents.
Dupre Ah! she has a father and mother living then? (Aside) This will cost a lot of money. (Aloud) Who are they?
Joseph They are respectable porters.
Dupre That is good.
Joseph Old Giraud is a ruined tailor.
Dupre Very well, go and inform them of my intended visit, and above all things preserve the utmost secrecy, or M. Jules will be sacrificed.
Joseph I shall be dumb.
Dupre And let it be thought that we have never met.
Joseph We have never seen each other.
Dupre Now go.
Joseph I am going.
(He mistakes the door.)
Dupre This is the way.
Joseph This is the way, great advocate--but let me give you a bit of advice-- a slight taste of transportation will not do him any harm; in fact, it will teach him to leave the government in peace. (Exit.)
SCENE EIGHTH
Rousseau, Madame Rousseau, Madame du Brocard (attended by Justine) and Dupre.
Mme. Rousseau Poor child! What courage he shows!
Dupre I hope to save him for you, madame; but it cannot be done without making great sacrifices.
Rousseau Sir, the half of our fortune is at your disposal.
Mme. du Brocard And the half of mine.
Dupre It is always the half of some fortune or other. I am going to try to do my duty--afterwards, you must do yours; we shall have to make great efforts. You, madame, must rouse yourself, for I have great hopes.
Mme. Rousseau Ah! sir, what can you mean?
Dupre A little time ago, your son was a ruined man; at the present moment, I believe he can be saved.
Mme. Rousseau What must we do?
Mme. du Brocard What do you ask?
Rousseau You may be sure we will do as you require.
Dupre I feel certain you will. This is my plan which will undoubtedly succeed with the jury. Your son had an intrigue with a certain working-girl, Pamela Giraud, the daughter of a porter.
Mme. du Brocard What low people!
Dupre Yet you will have to humble yourselves to them. Your son was always with this young girl, and in this point lies the sole hope of his deliverance. The very evening on which the public prosecutor avers that he attended a meeting of the conspirators, he was possibly visiting her. If this is a fact, if she declares that he remained with her that night, if her father and her mother, if the rival of Jules confirm the testimony--we shall then have ground for hope. When the choice has to be made between a sentence of guilty and an alibi, the jury prefers the alibi.
Mme. Rousseau (aside) Ah! sir, you bring back life to me.
Rousseau Sir, we owe you a debt of eternal gratitude.
Dupre (looking at them) What sum of money must I offer to the daughter, to the father and to the mother?
Mme. du Brocard Are they poor?
Dupre They are, but the matter concerns their honor.
Mme. du Brocard Oh, she is only a working-girl!
Dupre (ironically) It ought to be done very cheaply.
Rousseau What do you think?
Dupre I think that you are bargaining for the life of your son.
Mme. du Brocard Well, M. Dupre, I suppose you may go as high as--
Mme. Rousseau As high as--
Dupre As high as--
Rousseau Upon my word, I don't understand why you hesitate--and you must offer, sir, whatever sum you consider suitable.
Dupre