The Stepmother | Page 7

upon seeing no one, but you, the
mayor and the cure. Do you want me also to forego your society which
is so pleasant, so agreeable to us? Ah! Here is Napoleon.
Vernon (aside) I take this for a declaration of war. She has sent away
everyone else, she intends to dismiss me.
Godard (to Vernon) Doctor, you are an intimate friend of the house, tell
me, pray, what do you think of Mlle. Pauline?
(The doctor rises from his seat, looks at the speaker, blows his nose,
and goes to the middle of the stage. The dinner bells sounds.)

SCENE SIXTH

The same persons, Napoleon and Felix.
Napoleon Papa, papa, didn't you say I could ride Coco?
The General Certainly.
Napoleon (to Felix) Do you hear that?
Gertrude (wiping her son's forehead) He is quite warm!
The General But only on the condition that some one goes with you.
Felix You see I was right, Master Napoleon. General, the little rascal
wished to go on his pony alone into the country.
Napoleon He was frightened for me! Do you think I am afraid of
anything?
(Exit Felix. Dinner bell rings.)
The General Come and let me kiss you for that word. He is a little
soldier and belongs to the Young Guard.
Vernon (with a glance at Gertrude) He takes after his father!
Gertrude (quickly) As regards courage, he is his father's counterpart;
but as to physique, he resembles me.
Felix Dinner is served.
Gertrude Very well! But do you know where Ferdinand is? He is
generally so punctual. Here, Napoleon, go to the entrance of the factory
and see if he is coming. Tell him to hurry; the bell has rung.
The General We need not wait for Ferdinand. Godard, give your arm to
Pauline. (Vernon offers his arm to Gertrude.) Excuse me, Vernon, you
ought to be aware that I never permit anybody but myself to take my
wife's arm.

Vernon (aside) Decidedly, he is incurable.
Napoleon (running back) I saw Ferdinand down in the main avenue.
Vernon Give me your hand, you little tyrant!
Napoleon Tyrant yourself! I'll bet I could tire you out.
(Napoleon turns Vernon round and round. All leave, chatting gaily.)

SCENE SEVENTH
Ferdinand (cautiously stealing from Pauline's room) The youngster
saved me, but I do not know how he happened to see me in the avenue!
One more piece of carelessness like this may ruin us! I must extricate
myself from this situation at any price. Here is Pauline refusing
Godard's proposal. The General, and especially Gertrude, will try to
find out the motives of her refusal! But I must hasten to reach the
veranda, so that I may have the appearance of having come from the
main avenue, as Leon said. I hope no one will catch sight of me from
the dining-room. (He meets Ramel.) What, Eugene Ramel!

SCENE EIGHTH
Ferdinand and Ramel.
Ramel You here, Marcandal!
Ferdinand Hush! Don't pronounce that name in this place! If the
General heard that my name was Marcandal, he would kill me at once
as if I were a mad dog.
Ramel And why?
Ferdinand Because I am the son of General Marcandal.

Ramel A general to whom the Bourbons are in part indebted for their
second innings.
Ferdinand In the eyes of General Grandchamp, to leave Napoleon for
service under the Bourbons was treason against France. Alas! this was
also my father's opinion, for he died of grief. You must therefore
remember to call me by the name of Ferdinand Charny, my mother's
maiden name.
Ramel And what are you doing here?
Ferdinand I am the manager, the cashier, the factotum of Grandchamp's
factory.
Ramel How is this? Do you do it from necessity?
Ferdinand From dire necessity! My father spent everything, even the
fortune of my poor mother, who lived during her later years in Brittany
on the pension she received as widow of a lieutenant-general.
Ramel How is it that your father, who had command of the Royal
Guard, a most brilliant position, died without leaving you anything, not
even a patron?
Ferdinand Had he never betrayed his friends, and changed sides,
without any reason--
Ramel Come, come, we won't talk any more about that.
Ferdinand My father was a gambler--that was the reason why he was so
indulgent to me. But may I ask what has brought you here?
Ramel A fortnight ago I was appointed king's attorney at Louviers.
Ferdinand I heard something about it. But the appointment was
published under another name.
Ramel De la Grandiere, I suppose.

Ferdinand That is it.
Ramel In order that I might marry Mlle. de Boudeville, I obtained
permission to assume my mother's name--as you have done. The
Boudeville family have given me their protection, and in a year's time I
shall