Pamela Giraud | Page 6

prison, and they were never particularly accommodating. M. Jules will
have to take his dose you see; he will be a martyr. I shall go and see
him executed.
(Some one rings. Exit Antoine.)
Justine We will go and see him! When one has known a condemned
man I don't see how they can have the heart to--As for me I shall go to
the Court of Assizes. I feel, poor boy, I owe him that!
SCENE SECOND
Dupre, Antoine and Justine.
Antoine (aside, as he ushers in Dupre) Ah! The lawyer. (Aloud) Justine,
go and tell madame that Monsieur Dupre is waiting. (Aside) The
lawyer is a hard nut to crack, I'm thinking. (Aloud) Sir, is there any
hope of saving our poor M. Jules?
Dupre I perceive that you are very fond of your young master?
Antoine Naturally enough!
Dupre What would you do to save him?
Antoine Anything, sir!
Dupre That means nothing.
Antoine Nothing?--I will give whatever evidence you like.
Dupre If you are caught in contradicting yourself and convicted of

perjury, do you know what you run the risk of?
Antoine No, sir.
Dupre The galleys.
Antoine That is rather severe, sir.
Dupre You would prefer to serve him without compromising yourself?
Antoine Is there any other way?
Dupre No.
Antoine Well! I'll run the risk of the galleys.
Dupre (aside) What devotion is here!
Antoine My master would be sure to settle a pension on me.
Justine Here is madame.
SCENE THIRD
The same persons and Madame Rousseau.
Mme. Rousseau (to Dupre) Ah! Monsieur, we have been impatiently
expecting this visit. (To Antoine) Antoine! Quick, inform my husband.
(To Dupre) Sir, I trust in your efforts, alone.
Dupre You may be sure, madame, that I shall employ every energy--
Mme. Rousseau Oh! Thank you! But of course Jules is not guilty. To
think of him as a conspirator! Poor child, how could any one suspect
him, who trembles before me at the slightest reproach--me, his mother!
Ah, monsieur, promise that you will restore him to me!
Rousseau (entering the room) (To Antoine) Yes, carry the letter to
General de Verby. I shall wait for him here. (To Dupre) I am glad to
see you, my dear M. Dupre--
Dupre The battle will doubtless begin to-morrow; to-day preparations
are being made, and the indictment drawn.
Rousseau Has my poor Jules made any admissions?
Dupre He has denied everything, and has played to perfection the part
of an innocent man; but we are not able to oppose any testimony to that
which is being brought against him.
Rousseau Ah! Monsieur, save my son, and the half of my fortune shall
be yours!
Dupre If I had every half of a fortune that has been promised to me, I
should be too rich for anything.
Rousseau Do you question the extent of my gratitude?
Dupre We will wait till the result of the trial is known, sir.
Mme. Rousseau Take pity on a poor mother!

Dupre Madame, I swear to you nothing so much excites my curiosity
and my sympathy, as a genuine sentiment. And at Paris sincerity is so
rare that I cannot be indifferent to the grief of a family threatened with
the loss of an only son. You may therefore rely upon me.
Rousseau Ah! Monsieur!
SCENE FOURTH
The same persons, General de Verby and Madame du Brocard.
Mme. du Brocard (showing in De Verby) Come in, my dear general.
De Verby (bowing to Rousseau) Monsieur--I simply came to learn--
Rousseau (presenting Dupre to De Verby) General, M. Dupre.
(Dupre and De Verby exchange bows.)
Dupre (aside, while De Verby talks with Rousseau) He is general of the
antechamber, holding the place merely through the influence of his
brother, the lord chamberlain; he doesn't seem to me to have come here
without some object.
De Verby (to Dupre) I understand, sir, that you are engaged for the
defence of M. Jules Rousseau in this deplorable affair--
Dupre Yes, sir, it is a deplorable affair, for the real culprits are not in
prison; thus it is that justice rages fiercely against the rank and file, but
the chiefs are always passed by. You are General Vicomte de Verby, I
presume?
De Verby Simple General Verby--I do not take the title--my opinions
of course. --Doubtless you are acquainted with the evidence in this
case?
Dupre I have been in communication with the accused only for the last
three days.
De Verby And what do you think of the affair?
All Yes, tell us.
Dupre According to my experience of the law courts, I believe it
possible to obtain important revelations by offering commutation of
sentence to the condemned.
De Verby The accused are all men of honor.
Rousseau But--
Dupre Characters sometime change at the prospect of the