The Stepmother | Page 6

besides that, no one ever
comes here. (Aside) This youth has roused in me suspicions which
pierce my heart like a dagger. (To Godard) Why don't you ask her if
such is the case?
Godard How could I ask her anything? At my first word of jealous
suspicion, she resented my curiosity.
Gertrude Well, I shall have no hesitation in questioning her.
The General Ah, here comes the doctor! We shall now learn the truth
concerning the death of Champagne's wife.

SCENE FIFTH
The same persons and Dr. Vernon.
The General Well, how are you?
Vernon I was quite sure of it. Ladies (he bows to them), as a general
rule when a man beats his wife, he takes care not to poison her; he
would lose too much by that. He doesn't want to be without a victim.
The General (to Godard) He is a charming fellow!
Godard Charming!
The General (to the doctor, presenting Godard to him) M. Godard.
Godard De Rimonville.
Vernon (looking at Godard) If he kills her, it is by mistake from having
hit her a little too hard; and he is overwhelmed with grief; while
Champagne is innocently delighted to have been made a widower by
natural causes. As a matter of fact, his wife died of cholera. It was a
very rare case, but he who has once seen Asiatic cholera cannot forget
it, and I am glad that I had that opportunity; for, since the campaign in
Egypt, I have never met with a case. If I had been called in time I could
have saved her.
Gertrude How fortunate we are, for if a crime had been committed in
this establishment, which for twelve years has been so free from
disturbance, I should have been horrified.
The General Here you see the effect of all this tittle-tattle. But are you
quite sure, Vernon?
Vernon Am I certain? That's a fine question to put to a retired
surgeon-in-chief who has attended twelve French armies, from 1793 to
1815, and has practiced in Germany, in Spain, in Italy, in Russia, in

Poland, and in Egypt!
The General (poking him in the ribs) Away, you charlatan! I reckon
you have killed more people than I have in those countries.
Godard What is this talk that you are alluding to?
Gertrude This poor Champagne, our foreman, was supposed to have
poisoned his wife.
Vernon Unhappily, the night before she died, they had had an
altercation which ended in blows. Ah! they don't take example from
their masters.
Godard Such happiness as reigns here ought to be contagious, but the
virtues which are exemplified in the countess are very rare.
Gertrude Is there any merit in loving an excellent husband and a
daughter such as these?
The General Come, Gertrude, say no more! Such words ought not to be
spoken in public.
Vernon (aside) Such things are always said in this way, when it is
necessary to make people believe them.
The General (to Vernon) What are you muttering about?
Vernon I was saying that I was sixty-seven years old, and that I was
younger than you are, and that I should wish to be loved like that.
(Aside) If only I could be sure that it was love.
The General (to the doctor) I see you are dubious! (to his wife) My dear
child, there is no need for me to bless the power of God on your behalf,
but I think He must have lent it me, in order that I might love you
sufficiently.
Vernon You forget that I am a doctor, my dear friend. What you are
saying to Madame is only good for the burden of a ballad.

Gertrude The burdens of some ballads, doctor, are exceedingly true.
The General Doctor, if you continue teasing my wife, we shall quarrel;
to doubt on such a subject as that is an insult.
Vernon I have no doubt about it. (to the General) I would merely say,
that you have loved so many women with the powers of God, that I am
in an ecstasy as a doctor to see you still so good a Christian at seventy!
(Gertrude glides softly towards the sofa, where the doctor is seated.)
The General Pshaw! The last passions, my friend, are always the
strongest.
Vernon You are right. In youth, we love with all our strength which
grows weaker with age, while in age we love with all our weakness
which is ever on the increase.
The General Oh, vile philosophy!
Gertrude (to Vernon) Doctor, how is it that you, who are so good, try to
infuse doubts into the heart of Grandchamp? You know that he is so
jealous that he would kill a man on suspicion. I have such respect for
his feelings that I have concluded