scaffold,
especially when there is much at stake.
De Verby (aside) A conspiracy ought not to be entered upon excepting
with penniless accomplices.
Dupre I shall induce my client to tell everything.
Rousseau Of course.
Mme. du Brocard Certainly.
Mme. Rousseau He ought to do so.
De Verby (anxiously) I presume there is no other way of escape for
him?
Dupre None whatever; it can be proved that he was of the number of
those who had begun to put in execution the plot.
De Verby I would rather lose my head than my honor.
Dupre I should consider which of the two was worth more.
De Verby You have your views in the matter.
Rousseau Those are mine.
Dupre And they are the opinions of the majority. I have seen many
things done by men to escape the scaffold. There are people who push
others to the front, who risk nothing, and yet reap all the fruits of
success. Have such men any honor? Can one feel any obligation
towards them?
De Verby No, they are contemptible wretches.
Dupre (aside) He has well said it. This is the fellow who has ruined
poor Jules! I must keep my eye on him.
SCENE FIFTH
The same persons, Antoine and Jules (the latter led in by police agents.)
Antoine Sir, a carriage stopped at the door. Several men got out. M.
Jules is with them; they are bringing him in.
M. and Mme. Rousseau My son!
Mme. du Brocard My nephew!
Dupre Yes, I see what it is--doubtless a search-warrant. They wish to
look over his papers.
Antoine Here he is.
(Jules appears in the centre, followed by the police and a magistrate; he
rushes up to his mother.)
Jules O mother! My good mother! (He embraces his mother.) Ah! I see
you once more! (To Mme. du Brocard) Dear aunt!
Mme. Rousseau My poor child! Come! Come--close to me; they will
not dare-- (To the police, who approach her) Leave him, leave him
here!
Rousseau (rushing towards the police) Be kind enough--
Dupre (to the magistrate) Monsieur!
Jules My dear mother, calm yourself! I shall soon be free; yes, be quite
sure of that, and we will not part again.
Antoine (to Rousseau) Sir, they wish to visit M. Jules's room.
Rousseau (to the magistrate) In a moment, monsieur. I will go with you
myself. (To Dupre, pointing to Jules) Do not leave him!
(He goes out conducting the magistrate, who makes a sign to the police
to keep guard on Jules.)
Jules (seizing the hand of De Verby) Ah, general! (To Dupre) And how
good and generous of you, M. Dupre, to come here and comfort my
mother. (In a low voice) Ah! conceal from her my danger. (Aloud,
looking at his mother) Tell her the truth. Tell her that she has nothing to
fear.
Dupre I will tell her that it is in her power to save you.
Mme. Rousseau In my power?
Mme. du Brocard How can that be?
Dupre (to Mme. Rousseau) By imploring him to disclose the names of
those who have led him on.
De Verby (to Dupre) Monsieur!
Mme. Rousseau Yes, and you ought to do it. I, your mother, demand it
of you.
Mme. du Brocard Oh, certainly! My nephew shall tell everything. He
has been led on by people who now abandon him to his fate, and he in
his turn ought--
De Verby (in a low voice to Dupre) What, sir! Would you advise your
client to betray--?
Dupre (quickly) Whom?
De Verby (in a troubled voice) But--can't we find some other method?
M. Jules knows what a man of high spirit owes to himself.
Dupre (aside) He is the man--I felt sure of it!
Jules (to his mother and aunt) Never, though I should die for it--never
will I compromise any one else.
(De Verby shows his pleasure at this declaration.)
Mme. Rousseau Ah! my God! (Looking at the police.) And there is no
chance of our helping him to escape here!
Mme. du Brocard No! that is out of the question.
Antoine (coming into the room) M. Jules, they are asking for you.
Jules I am coming!
Mme. Rousseau Ah! I cannot let you go.
(She turns to the police with a supplicating look.)
Mme. du Brocard (to Dupre, who scrutinizes De Verby) M. Dupre, I
have thought that it would be a good thing--
Dupre (interrupting her) Later, madame, later.
(He leads her to Jules, who goes out with his mother, followed by the
agents.)
SCENE SIXTH
Dupre and De Verby.
De Verby (aside) These people have hit upon a lawyer who is rich,
without ambition--and eccentric.
Dupre (crossing the stage and gazing at De Verby, aside) Now is my
time to learn your secret. (Aloud) You are very much
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