Works of Honore De Balzac

by Honoré de Balzac

  Pamela, Joseph Binet and later Jules Rousseau. Pamela Monsieur Joseph Binet!

  Joseph Mademoiselle Pamela Giraud!

  Pamela I plainly see that you wish me to hate you.

  Joseph The idea! What? And this is the beginning of our love — Hate me!

  Pamela Oh, come! Let us talk sensibly.

  Joseph You do not wish, then, that I should express how much I love you?

  Pamela Ah! I may as well tell you plainly, since you compel me to do so, that I do not wish to become the wife of an upholsterer’s apprentice.

  Joseph Is it necessary to become an emperor, or something like that, in order to marry a flower-maker?

  Pamela No. But it is necessary to be loved, and I don’t love you in any way whatever.

  Joseph In any way! I thought there was only one way of loving.

  Pamela So there is, but there are many ways of not loving. You can be my friend, without my loving you.

  Joseph Oh!

  Pamela I can look upon you with indifference —

  Joseph Ah!

  Pamela You can be odious to me! And at this moment you weary me, which is worse!

  Joseph I weary her! I who would cut myself into fine pieces to do all that she wishes!

  Pamela If you would do what I wish, you would not remain here.

  Joseph And if I go away — Will you love me a little?

  Pamela Yes, for the only time I like you is when you are away!

  Joseph And if I never came back?

  Pamela I should be delighted.

  Joseph Zounds! Why should I, senior apprentice with M. Morel, instead of aiming at setting up business for myself, fall in love with this young lady? It is folly! It certainly hinders me in my career; and yet I dream of her — I am infatuated with her. Suppose my uncle knew it! — But she is not the only woman in Paris, and, after all, Mlle. Pamela Giraud, who are you that you should be so high and mighty?

  Pamela I am the daughter of a poor ruined tailor, now become a porter. I gain my own living — if working night and day can be called living — and it is with difficulty that I snatch a little holiday to gather lilacs in the Pres-Saint-Gervais; and I certainly recognize that the senior apprentice of M. Morel is altogether too good for me. I do not wish to enter a family which believes that it would thus form a mesalliance. The Binets indeed!

  Joseph But what has happened to you in the last eight or ten days, my dear little pet of a Pamela? Up to ten days ago I used to come and cut out your flowers for you, I used to make the stalks for the roses, and the hearts for the violets; we used to talk together, we sometimes used to go to the play, and have a good cry there — and I was “good Joseph,” “my little Joseph” — a Joseph in fact of the right stuff to make your husband. All of a sudden — Pshaw! I became of no account.

  Pamela Now you must really go away. Here you are neither in the street, nor in your own house.

  Joseph Very well, I’ll be off, mademoiselle — yes, I’ll go away! I’ll have a talk in the porter’s lodge with your mother; she does not ask anything better than my entrance into the family, not she; she won’t change her mind!

  Pamela All right! Instead of entering her family, enter her lodge, the porter’s lodge, M. Joseph! Go and talk with my mother, go on! — (Exit Joseph.) Perhaps he’ll keep their attention so that M. Adolph can get up stairs without being seen. Adolph Durand! What a pretty name! There is half a romance in it! And what a handsome young man! For the last fifteen days he has absolutely persecuted me. I knew that I was rather pretty; but I never believed I was all he called me. He must be an artist, or a government official! Whatever he is, I can’t help liking him; he is so aristocratic! But what if his appearance were deceitful, and there were anything wrong about him! — For the letter which he has just sent me has an air of mystery about it — (She draws a letter from her bosom and reads it) “Expect me this evening. I wish to see you alone, and, if possible, to enter unnoticed by any one; my life is in danger, and oh! if you only knew what a terrible misfortune threatens me! Adolph Durand.” He writes in pencil. His life is in danger — Ah! How anxious I feel!

  Joseph (returning) Just as I was going down stairs, I said to myself: “Why should Pamela”

  (Jules’ head appears at the window.)

  Pamela Ah!

  Joseph What’s the matter?

  (Jules disappears.)

  Pamela I thought I saw — I mean — I thought I heard a sound overhead. Just go into the garret. Some one perhaps has hidden there. You are not afraid, are you?

  Joseph No.

  Pamela Very well! Go up and search! Otherwise I shall be frightened for the whole night.

  Joseph I will go at once. I will climb over the roof if you like.

  (He passes through a narrow door that leads to the garret.)

  Pamela (follows him) Be quick! (Jules enters.) Ah! sir, what trouble you are giving me!

  Jules It is to save my life, and perhaps you will never regret it. You know how much I love you!

  (He kisses her hand.)

  Pamela I know that you have told me so; but you treat me —

  Jules As my deliverer.

  Pamela You wrote to me — and your letter has filled me with trouble — I know neither who you are —

  Joseph (from the outer room) Mademoiselle, I am in the garret. I have looked over the whole roof.

  Jules He is coming back — Where can I hide?

  Pamela But you must not stay here!

  Jules You wish to ruin me, Pamela!

  Pamela Look, hide yourself there!

  (She points to the cranny under the sloping roof.)

  Joseph (returning) Are you alone, mademoiselle?

  Pamela No; for are not you here?

  Joseph I heard something like the voice of a man. The voice came from below.

  Pamela Nonsense, more likely it came from above — Look down the staircase —

  Joseph Oh! But I am sure —

  Pamela Nonsense. Leave me, sir; I wish to be alone.

  Joseph Alone, with a man’s voice?

  Pamela I suppose you don’t believe me?

  Joseph But I heard it plain enough.

  Pamela You heard nothing.

  Joseph Ah! Pamela!

  Pamela If you prefer to believe the sounds which you say reached your ears, rather than the words I speak, you would make a very bad husband. That is quite sufficient for me.

  Joseph That doesn’t prove that I did not hear —

  Pamela Since I can’t convince you, you can believe what you like. Yes! you did hear a voice, the voice of a young man, who is in love with me, and who does whatever I wish — He disappears when he is asked, and comes when he is wanted. And now what are you waiting for? Do you think that while he is here, your presence can be anything but disagreeable to us? Go and ask my father and mother what his name is. He must have told them when he came up stairs — he, and the voice you heard.

  Joseph Mlle. Pamela, forgive a poor youth who is mad with love. It is not only my heart that I have lost, but my head also, when I think of you. I know that you are just as good as you are beautiful, I know that you have in your soul more treasures of sweetness than you ever show, and so I know that you are right, and were I to hear ten voices, were I to see ten men here, I would care nothing about it. But one —

  Pamela Well, what of it?

  Joseph A single one — that is what wounds me. But I must be off; it seems funny that I should have said all that to you. I know quite well that there is no one here but you. Till we meet again, Mlle. Pamela; I am going — I trust you.

  Pamela (aside) He evidently does not feel quite sure.

  Joseph (aside) There is some one here! I will run down and tell the whole matter to her father and mother. (Aloud) Adieu, Mlle. Pamela. (Exit.)

  SCENE SECOND

  Pamela and Jules. Pamela M. Adolph, you see to what you are exposing me. That poor lad is a workman, a most kind-hearted fellow; he has an uncle rich enough to set him up in business; he wishes
to marry me, and in one moment I have lost my prospects — and for whom? I do not know you, and from the manner in which you imperil the reputation of a young girl who has no capital but her good behavior, I conclude that you think you have the right to do so. You are rich and you make sport of poor people!

  Jules No, my dear Pamela. I know who you are, and I take you at your true value. I love you, I am rich, and we will never leave one another. My traveling carriage is with a friend, at the gate of St. Denis; we will proceed on foot to catch it; I intend embarking for England. You must come with me. I cannot explain my intentions now, for the least delay may prove fatal to me.

  Pamela What do you mean?

  Jules You shall see —

  Pamela Are you in your right senses, M. Adolph? After having followed me about for a month, seen me twice at a dance, written me several declarations, such as young men of your sort write to any and every woman, you point-blank propose an elopement!

  Jules Oh, I beg of you, don’t delay an instant! You’ll repent of this for the rest of your life, and you will see too late what mischief you have done.

  Pamela But, my dear sir, you can perhaps explain yourself in a couple of words.

  Jules No, — for the secret is a matter of life and death to several persons.

  Pamela If it were only to save your life, whoever you are, I would do a good deal; but what assistance could I be to you in your flight! Why do you want to take me to England?

  Jules What a child you are! No one, of course, would suspect anything of two runaway lovers! And, let me tell you, I love you well enough to disregard everything else, and even to brave the anger of my parents — Once we are married at Gretna Green —

  Pamela Oh, mon Dieu! I am quite non-plussed! Here’s a handsome young man urges you — implores you — and talks of marriage —

  Jules They are mounting the staircase — I am lost! — You have betrayed me! —

  Pamela M. Adolph, you alarm me! What is going to happen? Wait a moment, I will go and see.

  Jules In any case, take and keep this twenty thousand francs. It will be safer with you than in the hands of the police — I have only half an hour longer and all will be over.

  Pamela There is nothing to fear — It is only my father and mother.

  Jules You have the kindness of an angel. I trust my fate with you. But you must know that both of us must leave this house at once; and I swear on my honor, that nothing but good shall result to you.

  (He hides again under the roof.)

  SCENE THIRD

  Pamela, M. Giraud and Mme. Giraud. Pamela (who stands in such a way as to prevent her parents from entering fully into the room; aside) Evidently here is a man in danger — and a man who loves me — two reasons why I should be interested in him.

  Mme. Giraud How is this, Pamela — you the solace of all our misfortunes, the prop of our old age, our only hope!

  Giraud A girl brought up on the strictest principles.

  Mme. Giraud Keep quiet, Giraud! You don’t know what you are talking about.

  Giraud Certainly, Madame Giraud.

  Mme. Giraud And besides all this, Pamela, your example was cited in all the neighborhood as a girl who’d be useful to your parents in their declining years!

  Giraud And worthy to receive the prize of virtue!

  Pamela Then what is the meaning of all these reproaches?

  Mme. Giraud Joseph has just told us that you had a man hidden in your room.

  Giraud Yes — he heard the voice.

  Mme. Giraud Silence, Giraud! — Pamela — pay no attention to your father —

  Pamela And do you, mother, pay no attention to Joseph.

  Giraud What did I tell you on the stairs, Madame Giraud? Pamela knows how we count upon her. She wishes to make a good match as much on our account as on her own; her heart bleeds to see us porters, us, the authors of her life! She is too sensible to blunder in this matter. Is it not so, my child, you would not deceive your father?

  Mme. Giraud There is nobody here, is there, my love? For a young working-girl to have any one in her room, at ten o’clock at night — well — she runs a risk of losing —

  Pamela But it seems to me that if I had any one you would have seen him on his way up.

  Giraud She is right.

  Mme. Giraud She does not answer straight out. Please open the door of this room.

  Pamela Mother, stop! Do not come in here, — you shall not come in here! — Listen to me; as I love you, mother, and you, father, I have nothing to reproach myself with! — and I swear to it before God! — Do not in a moment withdraw from your daughter the confidence which you have had in her for so long a time.

  Mme. Giraud But why not tell us?

  Pamela (aside) Impossible! If they were to see this young man every one would soon know all about it.

  Giraud (interrupting her) We are your father and mother, and we must see!

  Pamela For the first time in my life, I refuse to obey you! — But you force me to it! — These lodgings are rented by me from the earnings of my work! I am of age and mistress of my own actions.

  Mme. Giraud Oh, Pamela! Can this be you, on whom we have placed all our hopes?

  Giraud You will ruin yourself! — and I shall remain a porter to the end of my days.

  Pamela You needn’t be afraid of that! Well — I admit that there is some one here; but silence! You must go down stairs again to your lodge. You must tell Joseph that he does not know what he is talking about, that you have searched everywhere, that there is no one in my lodging; you must send him away — then you shall see this young man; you shall learn what I purpose doing. But you must keep everything the most profound secret.

  Giraud Unhappy girl! What do you take us for? (He sees the banknotes on the table.) Ah! what is this? Banknotes!

  Mme. Giraud Banknotes! (She recoils from Pamela.) Pamela, where did you get them?

  Pamela I will tell you when I write.

  Giraud When you write! She must be going to elope!

  SCENE FOURTH

  The same persons, and Joseph Binet. Joseph (entering) I was quite sure that there was something wrong about him! — He is a ringleader of thieves! The gendarmes, the magistrate, all the excitement she showed mean something — and now the house is surrounded!

  Jules (appearing) I am lost!

  Pamela I have done all that I could!

  Giraud And you, sir, who are you?

  Joseph Are you a — ?

  Mme. Giraud Speak!

  Jules But for this idiot, I would have escaped! You will now have the ruin of an innocent man on your consciences.

  Pamela M. Adolph, are you innocent?

  Jules I am!

  Pamela What shall we do? (Pointing to the dormer window.) You can elude their pursuit that way out.

  (She opens the dormer window and finds the police agents on the roof outside.)

  Jules It is too late. All you can do is to confirm my statement. You must declare that I am your daughter’s lover; that I have asked you to give her in marriage to me; that I am of age; that my name is Adolph Durand, son of a rich business man of Marseilles.

  Giraud He offers her lawful love and wealth! — Young man, I willingly take you under my protection.

  SCENE FIFTH

  The same persons, a sheriff, a police officer and gendarmes. Giraud Sir, what right have you to enter an occupied dwelling — the domicile of a peaceable young girl?

  Joseph Yes, what right have you — ?

  The sheriff Young man, don’t you worry about our right! — A few moments ago you were very friendly and slowed us where the unknown might be found, but now you have suddenly changed your tune.

  Pamela Bit what are you looking for? What do you want?

  The sheriff You seem to be well aware that we are looking for somebody.

  Giraud Sir, my daughter has no one with her but her future husband, M. —

  The sheriff Rousseau.

  Pamela M. Adolph Durand.

  Giraud
Rousseau I don’t know. — The gentleman I refer to is M. Adolph Durand.

  Mme. Giraud Son of a respectable merchant of Marseilles.

  Joseph Ah! you have been deceiving me! Ah! — That is the secret of your coldness, and he is —

  The sheriff (to the officer of the police) This does not seem to be the man?

  The officer Oh, yes, I am sure of it! (to the gendarmes) Carry out my orders.

  Jules Monsieur, I am the victim of some mistake; my name is not Jules Rousseau.

  The officer Oh! but you know his first name, which none of us has as yet mentioned.

  Jules But I heard some one say it. Here are my papers, which are perfectly correct.

  The sheriff Let me see them, please.

  Giraud Gentlemen, I assure you and declare to you —

  The officer If you go on in this way, and wish to make us believe that this gentleman is Adolph Durand, son of a merchant of —

  Mme. Giraud Of Marseilles —

  The officer You may all be arrested as his accomplices, locked up in jail this evening, and implicated in an affair from which you will not easily get off. Have you any regard for the safety of your neck?

  Giraud A great deal!

  The officer Very well! Hold your tongue, then.

  Mme. Giraud Do hold your tongue, Giraud!

  Pamela Merciful heaven! Why did I not believe him at once!

  The sheriff (to his agents) Search the gentleman!

  (The agent takes out Jules’ pocket handkerchief.)

  The officer It is marked with a J and an R. My dear sir, you are not very clever!

  Joseph What can he have done? Have you anything to do with it, mademoiselle?

  Pamela You are the sole cause of the trouble. Never speak to me again!

  The officer Monsieur, here we have the check for your dinner — you dined at the Palais Royal. While you were there you wrote a letter in pencil. One of your friends brought the letter here. His name was M. Adolph Durand, and he lent you his passport. We are certain of your identity; you are M. Jules Rousseau.

  Joseph The son of the rich M. Rousseau, whose house we are furnishing?

  The sheriff Hold your tongue!

  The officer You must come with us.

  Jules Certainly, monsieur. (To Giraud and his wife) Forgive the annoyance I have caused you — and you, Pamela, do not forget me! If you do not see me again, you may keep what I gave into your hands, and may it bring you happiness!