Works of Honore De Balzac
Page 1414
Giraud O Lord!
Pamela Poor Adolph!
The sheriff (to his agents) Remain here. We are going to search this attic, and question every one of these people.
Joseph (with a gesture of horror) Ah! — she prefers a criminal to me!
(Jules is put in charge of the agents.) Curtain to the First Act.
ACT II
SCENE FIRST
(The setting is a drawing-room in the Rousseau mansion. Antoine is looking through the newspapers.)
Antoine and Justine. Justine Well, Antoine, have you read the papers?
Antoine I am reading them. Isn’t it a pity that we servants cannot learn, excepting through the papers, what is going on in the trial of M. Jules?
Justine And yet the master and mistress and Mme. du Brocard, their sister, know nothing. M. Jules has been for three months — in — what do they call it? — in close confinement.
Antoine The arrest of the young man has evidently attracted great attention —
Justine It seems absurd to think that a young man who had nothing to do but amuse himself, who would some day inherit his aunt’s income of twenty thousand francs, and his father’s and mother’s fortune, which is quite double that amount, should be mixed up in a conspiracy!
Antoine I admire him for it, for they were plotting to bring back the emperor! You may cause my throat to be cut if you like. We are alone here — you don’t belong to the police; long live the emperor! say I.
Justine For mercy’s sake, hold your tongue, you old fool! — If any one heard you, you would get us all arrested.
Antoine I am not afraid of that, thank God! The answers I made to the magistrate were non-committal; I never compromised M. Jules, like the traitors who informed against him.
Justine Mme. du Brocard with all her immense savings ought to be able to buy him off.
Antoine Oh, nonsense! Since the escape of Lavalette such a thing is impossible! They have become extremely particular at the gates of the prison, and they were never particularly accommodating. M. Jules will have to take his dose you see; he will be a martyr. I shall go and see him executed.
(Some one rings. Exit Antoine.)
Justine We will go and see him! When one has known a condemned man I don’t see how they can have the heart to — As for me I shall go to the Court of Assizes. I feel, poor boy, I owe him that! SCENE SECOND
Dupre, Antoine and Justine. Antoine (aside, as he ushers in Dupre) Ah! The lawyer. (Aloud) Justine, go and tell madame that Monsieur Dupre is waiting. (Aside) The lawyer is a hard nut to crack, I’m thinking. (Aloud) Sir, is there any hope of saving our poor M. Jules?
Dupre I perceive that you are very fond of your young master?
Antoine Naturally enough!
Dupre What would you do to save him?
Antoine Anything, sir!
Dupre That means nothing.
Antoine Nothing? — I will give whatever evidence you like.
Dupre If you are caught in contradicting yourself and convicted of perjury, do you know what you run the risk of?
Antoine No, sir.
Dupre The galleys.
Antoine That is rather severe, sir.
Dupre You would prefer to serve him without compromising yourself?
Antoine Is there any other way?
Dupre No.
Antoine Well! I’ll run the risk of the galleys.
Dupre (aside) What devotion is here!
Antoine My master would be sure to settle a pension on me.
Justine Here is madame.
SCENE THIRD
The same persons and Madame Rousseau. Mme. Rousseau (to Dupre) Ah! Monsieur, we have been impatiently expecting this visit. (To Antoine) Antoine! Quick, inform my husband. (To Dupre) Sir, I trust in your efforts, alone.
Dupre You may be sure, madame, that I shall employ every energy —
Mme. Rousseau Oh! Thank you! But of course Jules is not guilty. To think of him as a conspirator! Poor child, how could any one suspect him, who trembles before me at the slightest reproach — me, his mother! Ah, monsieur, promise that you will restore him to me!
Rousseau (entering the room) (To Antoine) Yes, carry the letter to General de Verby. I shall wait for him here. (To Dupre) I am glad to see you, my dear M. Dupre —
Dupre The battle will doubtless begin to-morrow; to-day preparations are being made, and the indictment drawn.
Rousseau Has my poor Jules made any admissions?
Dupre He has denied everything, and has played to perfection the part of an innocent man; but we are not able to oppose any testimony to that which is being brought against him.
Rousseau Ah! Monsieur, save my son, and the half of my fortune shall be yours!
Dupre If I had every half of a fortune that has been promised to me, I should be too rich for anything.
Rousseau Do you question the extent of my gratitude?
Dupre We will wait till the result of the trial is known, sir.
Mme. Rousseau Take pity on a poor mother!
Dupre Madame, I swear to you nothing so much excites my curiosity and my sympathy, as a genuine sentiment. And at Paris sincerity is so rare that I cannot be indifferent to the grief of a family threatened with the loss of an only son. You may therefore rely upon me.
Rousseau Ah! Monsieur!
SCENE FOURTH
The same persons, General de Verby and Madame du Brocard. Mme. du Brocard (showing in De Verby) Come in, my dear general.
De Verby (bowing to Rousseau) Monsieur — I simply came to learn —
Rousseau (presenting Dupre to De Verby) General, M. Dupre.
(Dupre and De Verby exchange bows.)
Dupre (aside, while De Verby talks with Rousseau) He is general of the antechamber, holding the place merely through the influence of his brother, the lord chamberlain; he doesn’t seem to me to have come here without some object.
De Verby (to Dupre) I understand, sir, that you are engaged for the defence of M. Jules Rousseau in this deplorable affair —
Dupre Yes, sir, it is a deplorable affair, for the real culprits are not in prison; thus it is that justice rages fiercely against the rank and file, but the chiefs are always passed by. You are General Vicomte de Verby, I presume?
De Verby Simple General Verby — I do not take the title — my opinions of course. — Doubtless you are acquainted with the evidence in this case?
Dupre I have been in communication with the accused only for the last three days.
De Verby And what do you think of the affair?
All Yes, tell us.
Dupre According to my experience of the law courts, I believe it possible to obtain important revelations by offering commutation of sentence to the condemned.
De Verby The accused are all men of honor.
Rousseau But —
Dupre Characters sometime change at the prospect of the 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 interested in my client, monsieur?
De Verby Very much indeed.
Dupre I have yet to understand what motive could have led him, young, rich and devoted to pleasure as he is, to implicate himself in a conspiracy —
De Verby The passion for glory.
Dupre Don’t talk in that way to a lawyer who for twenty years has practiced in the courts; who has studied men and affairs well enough to know that the finest motives are only assumed as a disguise for trumpery passions, and has never yet met a man whose heart was free from the calculations of self-interest.
De Verby Do you ever take up a case without charging anything?
Dupre I often do so; but I never act contrary to my convictions.
De Verby I understand that you are rich?
Dupre I have some fortune. Without it, in the world as at present constituted, I should be on the straight road for the poor-house.
De Verby It is then from conviction, I suppose, that you have undertaken the defence of young Rousseau?
Dupre Certainly. I believe him to be the dupe of others in a higher station, and I like those who allow themselves to be duped from generous motives and not from self-interest; for in these times the dupe is often as greedy after gain as the man who exploits him.
De Verby You belong, I perceive, to the sect of misanthropes.
Dupre I do not care enough for mankind to hate them, for I have never yet met any one I could love. I am contented with studying my fellow-men; for I see that they are all engaged in playing each, with more or less success, his own little comedy. I have no illusion about anything, it is true, but I smile at it all like a spectator who sits in a theatre to be amused. One thing I never do; I hiss at nothing; for I have not sufficient feeling about things for that.
De Verby (aside) How is it possible to influence such a man? (Aloud) Nevertheless, monsieur, you must sometimes need the services of others?
Dupre Never!
De Verby But you are sometimes sick?
Dupre Then I like to be alone. Moreover, at Paris, anything can be bought, even attendance on the sick; believe me I live because it is my duty to do so. I have tested everything — charity, friendship, unselfish devotion. Those who have received benefits have disgusted me with the doing of kindnesses. Certain philanthropists have made me feel a loathing for charity. And of all humbugs that of sentiment is the most hateful.
De Verby And what of patriotism, monsieur?
Dupre That is a very trifling matter, since the cry of humanity has been raised.
De Verby (somewhat discouraged) And so you take Jules Rousseau for a young enthusiast?
Dupre No, sir, nothing of the sort. He presents a problem which I have to solve, and with your assistance I shall reach the solution. (De Verby changes countenance.) Come, let us speak candidly. I believe that you know something about all this.
De Verby What do you mean, sir?
Dupre You can save the young man.
De Verby I? What can I do?
Dupre You can give testimony which Antoine will corroborate —
De Verby I have reasons for not appearing as a witness.
Dupre Just so. You are one of the conspirators!
De Verby Monsieur!
Dupre It is you who have led on this poor boy.
De Verby Monsieur, this language — !
Dupre Don’t attempt to deceive me, but tell me how you managed to gain this bad influence over him? He is rich, he is in need of nothing.
De Verby Listen! — If you say another word —
Dupre Oh! my life is of no consideration with me!
De Verby Sir, you know very well that Jules will get off; and that if he does not behave properly, he will lose, through your fault, the chance of marriage with my niece, and thus the succession to the title of my brother, the Lord Chamberlain.
Dupre Ah, that’s what he was after, then! He’s like all the rest of the schemers. Now consider, sir, what I am going to propose to you. You have powerful friends, and it is your duty —
De Verby My duty! I do not understand you, sir.
Dupre You have been able to effect his ruin, and can you not bring about his release? (Aside) I have him there.
De Verby I shall give my best consideration to the matter.
Dupre Don’t consider for a moment that you can escape me.
Dupre As you will!
(Exit De Verby, who jostles against Joseph.) SCENE SEVENTH
Dupre and Joseph Binet. Joseph I heard only yesterday, monsieur, that you were engaged for the defence of M. Jules Rousseau; I have been to your place, and have waited for you until I could wait no later. This morning I found that you had left your home, and as I am working for this house, a happy inspiration sent me here. I thought you would be coming here, and I waited for you —
Dupre What do you want with me?
Joseph I am Joseph Binet.
Dupre Well, proceed.
Joseph Let me say without offence, sir, that I have fourteen hundred francs of my own — quite my own! — earned sou by sou. I am a journeyman upholsterer, and my uncle, Du Mouchel, a retired wine merchant, has plenty of the metal.
Dupre Speak out openly! What is the meaning of this mysterious preamble?
Joseph Fourteen hundred francs is of course a mere trifle, and they say that lawyers have to be well paid, and that it is because they are well paid that there are so many of them. I should have done better if I had been a lawyer — then she would have married me!
Dupre Are you crazy?
Joseph Not at all. I have here my fourteen hundred francs; take them, sir — no humbug! They are yours.
Dupre And on what condition?
Joseph You must save M. Jules — I mean, of course, from death — and you must have him transported. I don’t want him to be put to death; but he must go abroad. He is rich, and he will enjoy himself. But save his life. Procure a sentence of simple transportation, say for fifteen years, and my fourteen hundred francs are yours. I will give them to you gladly, and I will moreover make you an office chair below the market price. There now!
Dupre What is your object in speaking to me in this way?
Joseph My object? I want to marry Pamela. I want to have my little Pamela.
Dupre Pamela?
Joseph Pamela Giraud.
Dupre What connection has Pamela Giraud with Jules Rousseau?
Joseph Well I never! Why! I thought that advocates were paid for learning and knowing everything. But you don’t seem to know anything, sir. I am not surprised that there are those who say advocates are know-nothings. But I should like to have back my fourteen hundred francs. Pamela is accused, that is to say, she accuses me of having betrayed his head to the executioner, and you will understand that if after all he escapes, and is transported, I can marry, can wed Pamela; and as the transported man will not be in France, I need fear no disturbance in my home. Get him fifteen years; that is nothing; fifteen years for traveling and I shall have time to see my children grow up, and my wife old enough — you understand —