The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts Part 2

G.o.dard (aside) Especially for his mother; she'll take care of that!

The General What are you saying? If you don't agree with me, out with it!

G.o.dard (aside) If I did so, we should find ourselves in the law courts. (Aloud) I agree, and will back you in everything, General.

The General Good for you! And I'll tell you why, my dear G.o.dard.

G.o.dard De Rimonville.

The General G.o.dard, I prefer G.o.dard. I'll tell you why. After having commanded the grenadiers of the Young Guard, I, General Comte de Grandchamp, now weave the cloth for their uniforms.

G.o.dard This is very commendable! You should keep on storing up, General, so that your widow may not be left without a fortune.

The General She is an angel, G.o.dard!

G.o.dard De Rimonville.

The General G.o.dard, she is an angel, to whom you are indebted for the education of your intended, whom she has moulded after her own image. Pauline is a pearl, a jewel; she has never left this home; she is as pure and innocent as she was in her cradle.

G.o.dard General, let me admit that Mlle. Pauline is beautiful!

The General I am quite sure of that.

G.o.dard She is very beautiful; but there are numbers of beautiful girls in Normandy, some of them very rich, much richer than she is. Well now, you'll scarcely believe how the mothers and fathers of these heiresses run after me! It is scarcely decent. But it amuses me immensely; I visit their chateaus; they overwhelm me with attentions--

The General I said he was conceited!

G.o.dard Oh, I am quite aware that it is not for my sake! I don't delude myself as to that; it is for my unmortgaged pastures; for my savings, and for my habit of living within my income. Do you know what it is that makes me seek an alliance with you above all others?

The General No.

G.o.dard There are certain rich would-be fathers-in-law who promise to obtain from his Majesty a decree, by which I shall be created Comte de Rimonville and Peer of France.

The General You?

G.o.dard Yes, I.

The General Have you won any battles? Have you saved your country? Have you added to its glory? This is pitiful!

G.o.dard Pitiful? (Aside) What shall I say? (Aloud) We differ in our views on this subject, but do you know why I prefer your adorable Pauline?

The General I suppose it is because you love her.

G.o.dard That is a matter of course; but it is also on account of the harmony, the tranquillity, the happiness which reign here! It is so delightful to enter a family of high honor, of pure, sincere, patriarchal manners! I am a man of observation.

The General That is to say, you are inquisitive.

G.o.dard Curiosity, General, is the mother of observation. I know the seamy side of the whole department.

The General Really?

G.o.dard Yes, really! In all the families of which I have spoken to you, I have seen some shabbiness or other. The public sees the decent exterior of irreproachable mothers of family, of charming young persons, of good fathers, of model uncles; they are admitted to the sacrament without confession, they are entrusted with the investments of others. But just learn their inner side, and it is enough to startle a police magistrate.

The General Ah! That is the way you look at the world, is it? For my part, I try to keep up the illusions in which I have lived. To peer into the inner life of people in that way is the business of priests and magistrates; I have no love for the black robed gentlemen, and I hope to die without ever having seen them! But the sentiment which you express with regard to my house is more pleasing to me than all your fortune.

Stick to that point, and you will win my esteem, something which I lightly bestow on no one.

G.o.dard Thank you, General. (Aside) I have won over the father-in-law at any rate.

SCENE FOURTH

The same persons, Pauline and Gertrude.

The General (catching sight of Pauline) Ah! Here you are, darling.

Gertrude Doesn't she look beautiful?

G.o.dard Madame.

Gertrude Forgive me, sir. I had no eyes excepting for my handiwork.

G.o.dard Mademoiselle is radiant!

Gertrude We have some people to dinner to-day, and I am something more than a stepmother to her; I love to deck her out, for she is to me like my own daughter.

G.o.dard (aside) They were evidently expecting me!

Gertrude (aside to G.o.dard) I am going to leave you alone with her. Now is the time for your declaration. (To the General) My dear, let us go out on the veranda and see if our friend the doctor is coming.

The General I am at your service, as usual. (To Pauline) Good-bye, my pet. (To G.o.dard) I shall see you later.

(Gertrude and the General go to the veranda, but Gertrude keeps her eye on G.o.dard and Pauline. Ferdinand shows his head at the door of Pauline's chamber, but at a quick sign from her, he hurriedly withdraws it un.o.bserved.)

G.o.dard (at the front of the stage) Let me see, what fine and dainty speech can I make to her? Ah, I have it! (To Pauline) It is a very fine day, mademoiselle.

Pauline It certainly is, sir.

G.o.dard Mademoiselle--

Pauline Sir?

G.o.dard It is in your power to make the day still finer for me.

Pauline How can I do that?