Works of Honore De Balzac

by Honoré de Balzac

  (Pamela is brought in by her mother. She makes a curtsey to Mme. Rousseau, who gazes at her with emotion; then Dupre leads all but Pamela into the other room; Joseph remains behind.)

  Joseph (aside) I wonder what they mean. They all talk of a sacrifice! And old Giraud won’t say a word to me! Well, I can bide my time. I promised the advocate that I would give him my fourteen hundred francs, but before I do so, I would like to see how he acts with regard to me.

  Dupre (going up to Joseph) Joseph Binet, you must leave the room.

  Joseph And not hear what you say about me?

  Dupre You must go away.

  Joseph (aside) It is evident that they are concealing something from me. (To Dupre) I have prepared her mind; she is much taken with the idea of transportation. Stick to that point.

  Dupre All right! But you must leave the room.

  Joseph (aside) Leave the room! Oh, indeed! Not I.

  (Joseph makes as if he had withdrawn, but, quietly returning, hides himself in a closet.)

  Dupre (to Pamela) You have consented to see me, and I thank you for it. I know exactly what has recently taken place here, and I am not going to address you in the same way as you have been recently addressed.

  Pamela Your very presence assures me of that, sir.

  Dupre You are in love with this fine young man, this Joseph?

  Pamela I am aware, sir, that advocates are like confessors!

  Dupre My child, they have to be just as safe confidants. You may tell me everything without reserve.

  Pamela Well, sir, I did love him; that is to say, I thought I loved him, and I would very willingly have become his wife. I thought that with his energy Joseph would have made a good business, and that we could lead together a life of toil. When prosperity came, we would have taken with us my father and my mother; it was all very clear — it would have been a united family!

  Dupre (aside) The appearance of this young girl is in her favor! Let us see whether she is sincere or not. (Aloud) What are you thinking about?

  Pamela I was thinking about these past days, which seemed to me so happy in comparison with the present. A fortnight ago my head was turned by the sight of M. Jules; I fell in love with him, as young girls do fall in love, as I have seen other young girls fall in love with young men — with a love which would endure everything for those they loved! I used to say to myself: shall I ever be like that? Well, at this moment I do not know anything that I would not endure for M. Jules. A few moments ago they offered me money, — they, from whom I expected such nobleness, such greatness; and I was disgusted! Money! I have plenty of it, sir! I have twenty thousand francs! They are here, they are yours! That is to say, they are his! I have kept them to use in my efforts to save him, for I have betrayed him, because I doubted him, while he was so confident, so sure of me — and I was so distrustful of him!

  Dupre And he gave you twenty thousand francs?

  Pamela Ah, sir! He entrusted them with me. Here they are. I shall return them to his family, if he dies; but he shall not die! Tell me? Is it not so? You ought to know.

  Dupre My dear child, bear in mind that your whole life, perhaps your happiness, depend upon the truthfulness of your answers. Answer me as if you stood in the presence of God.

  Pamela I will.

  Dupre You have never loved any one before?

  Pamela Never!

  Dupre You seem to be afraid! Come, I am terrifying you. You are not giving me your confidence.

  Pamela Oh, yes I am, sir; I swear I am! Since we have been in Paris, I have never left my mother, and I have thought of nothing but my work and my duty. I was alarmed and thrown into confusion a few moments ago, sir, but you inspire me with confidence, and I can tell you everything. Well, I acknowledge it, — I am in love with Jules; he is the only one I love, and I would follow him to the end of the world! You told me to speak as in the presence of God.

  Dupre Well, it is to your heart that I am going to appeal. Do for me what you have refused to do for others. Tell me the truth! You alone have the power to save him before the face of justice! You love him, Pamela; I understand what it would cost you to —

  Pamela To avow my love for him? Would that be sufficient to save him?

  Dupre I will answer for that!

  Pamela Well?

  Dupre My child!

  Pamela Well — he is saved.

  Dupre (earnestly) But — you will be compromised —

  Pamela But after all it is for him.

  Dupre (aside) I never expected it, but I shall not die without having seen with my own eyes an example of beautiful and noble candor, destitute alike of self-interest and designing reserve. (Aloud) Pamela, you are a good and generous girl.

  Pamela To act this way consoles me for many little miseries of life.

  Dupre My child, that is not everything! You are true as steel, you are high- spirited. But in order to succeed it is necessary to have assurance — determination —

  Pamela Oh, sir! You shall see!

  Dupre Do not be over-anxious. Dare to confess everything. Be brave! Imagine that you are before the Court of Assizes, the presiding judge, the public prosecutor, the prisoner at the bar, and me, his advocate; the jury is on one side. The big court-room is filled with people. Do not be alarmed.

  Pamela You needn’t fear for me.

  Dupre A court officer brings you in; you have given your name and surname! Then the presiding judge asks you “How long have you known the prisoner, Rousseau?” — What would you answer?

  Pamela The truth! — I met him about a month before his arrest at the Ile d’Amour, Belleville.

  Dupre Who were with him?

  Pamela I noticed no one but him.

  Dupre Did you hear them talk politics?

  Pamela (in astonishment) Oh, sir! The judges must be aware that politics are matters of indifference at the Ile d’Amour.

  Dupre Very good, my child! But you must tell them all you know about Jules Rousseau.

  Pamela Of course. I shall still speak the truth, and repeat my testimony before the police justice. I knew nothing of the conspiracy, and was infinitely surprised when he was arrested in my room; the proof of which is that I feared M. Jules was a thief and afterwards apologized for my suspicion.

  Dupre You must acknowledge that from the time of your first acquaintance with this young man, he constantly came to see you. You must declare —

  Pamela I shall stick to the truth — He never left me alone! He came to see me for love, I received him from friendship, and I resisted him from a sense of duty —

  Dupre And at last?

  Pamela (anxiously) At last?

  Dupre You are trembling! Take care! Just now you promised me to tell the truth!

  Pamela (aside) The truth! Oh my God!

  Dupre I also am interested in this young man; but I recoil from a possible imposture. If he is guilty, my duty bids me defend him, if he is innocent, his cause shall be mine. Yes, without doubt, Pamela, I am about to demand from you a great sacrifice, but he needs it. The visits which Jules made to you were in the evening, and without the knowledge of your parents.

  Pamela Why no! never!

  Dupre How is this? For in that case there would be no hope for him.

  Pamela (aside) No hope for him! Then either he or I must be ruined. (Aloud) Sir, do not be alarmed; I felt a little fear because the real danger was not before my eyes. But when I shall stand before the judges! — when once I shall see him, see Jules — and feel that his safety depends upon me —

  Dupre That is good, very good. But what is most necessary to be made known is that on the evening of the twenty-fourth, he came here. If that is once understood, I shall be successful in saving him; otherwise, I can answer for nothing. He is lost!

  Pamela (murmuring, greatly agitated) Lost! — Jules lost! — No, no, no! — Better that my own good name be lost! (Aloud) Yes, he came here on the twenty-fourth. (Aside) God forgive me! (Aloud) It was my saint’s day — my name is Louise Pamela — and he
was kind enough to bring me a bouquet, without the knowledge of my father or mother; he came in the evening, late. Ah! you need have no fear, sir — you see I shall tell all. (Aside) And all is a lie!

  Dupre He will be saved! (Rousseau appears) Ah! sir! (running to the door of the room) Come all of you and thank your deliverer!

  SCENE SIXTH

  Rousseau, De Verby, Madame du Brocard, Giraud, Madame Giraud, Dupre, and later Joseph Binet. All Does she consent?

  Rousseau You have saved my son. I shall never forget it.

  Mme. du Brocard You have put us under eternal obligations, my child.

  Rousseau My fortune shall be at your disposal.

  Dupre I will not say anything to you, my child! We shall meet again!

  Joseph (coming out of the closet) One moment! One moment! I have heard everything — and do you believe that I am going to put up with that? I was here in concealment all the time. And do you think I am going to let Pamela, whom I have loved and have wished to make my wife, say all that? (To Dupre) This is the way you are going to earn my fourteen hundred francs, eh! Well, I shall go to court myself and testify that the whole thing is a lie.

  All Great heaven!

  Dupre You miserable wretch!

  De Verby If you say a single word —

  Joseph Oh, I am not afraid!

  De Verby (to Rousseau and Mme. du Brocard) He shall never go to court! If necessary, I will have him shadowed, and I will put men on the watch to prevent him from entering.

  Joseph I’d just like to see you try it!

  (Enter a sheriff’s officer, who goes up to Dupre.)

  Dupre What do you want?

  The sheriff’s officer I am the court officer of the Assizes — Mlle. Pamela Giraud! (Pamela comes forward.) In virtue of discretionary authority of the presiding judge, you are summoned to appear before him to-morrow at ten o’clock.

  Joseph (to De Verby) I will go also.

  The officer The porter has told me that you have here a gentleman called Joseph Binet.

  Joseph Here I am!

  The officer Please take your summons.

  Joseph I told you that I would go!

  (The officer withdraws; every one is alarmed at the threats of Binet. Dupre tries to speak to him and reason with him, but he steals away.) Curtain to the Third Act.

  ACT IV

  SCENE FIRST

  (The stage represents Madame du Brocard’s salon, from which can be seen the Court of Assizes.)

  Madame du Brocard, Madame Rousseau, Rousseau, Joseph Binet, Dupre and Justine. (Dupre is seated reading his note-book.)

  Mme. Rousseau M. Dupre!

  Dupre Yes, madame, the court adjourned after the speech of the prosecuting attorney. And I came over to reassure you personally.

  Mme. du Brocard I told you, sister, that some one was sure to come and keep us informed of things. In my house, here, which is so close to the court house, we are in a favorable position for learning all that goes on at the trial. Ah, M. Dupre! How can we thank you enough! You spoke superbly! (To Justine) Justine, bring in something to drink — Quick!

  Rousseau Sir, your speech — (To his wife) He was magnificent.

  Dupre Sir, —

  Joseph (in tears) Yes, you were magnificent, magnificent!

  Dupre I am not the person you ought to thank, but that child, that Pamela, who showed such astonishing courage.

  Joseph And didn’t I do well?

  Mme. Rousseau And he (pointing to Binet), did he carry out the threat he made to us?

  Dupre No, he took your side.

  Joseph It was your fault! But for you — Ah! — Well — I reached the court house, having made up my mind to mix up everything; but when I saw all the people, the judge, the jury, the crowd, and the terrible silence, I trembled! Nevertheless I screwed up my courage. When I was questioned, I was just about to answer, when my glance met the eyes of Mlle. Pamela, which were filled with tears — I felt as if my tongue was bound. And on the other side I saw M. Jules — a handsome youth, his fine face conspicuous among them all. His expression was as tranquil as if he had been a mere spectator. That knocked me out! “Don’t be afraid,” said the judge to me. I was absolutely beside myself! I was afraid of making some mistake; and then I had sworn to keep to the truth; and then M. Dupre fixed his eye on me. I can’t tell you what that eye seemed to say to me — My tongue seemed twisted up. I broke out into a sweat — my heart beat hard — and I began to cry, like a fool. You were magnificent. And then in a moment it was all over. He made me do exactly what he wanted. This is the way I lied: I said that on the evening of the twenty-fourth I unexpectedly came to Pamela’s room and found M. Jules there — Yes, at Pamela’s, the girl whom I was going to marry, whom I still love — and our marriage will be the talk of the whole neighborhood. Never mind, he’s a great lawyer! Never mind! (To Justine) Give me something to drink, will you?

  Rousseau, Mme. Rousseau, Mme. du Brocard (To Joseph) Dear friend! You showed yourself a fine fellow!

  Dupre The energy shown by Pamela makes me hopeful. I trembled for a moment while she was giving evidence; the prosecuting attorney pressed her very hard and seemed to doubt her veracity; she grew pale and I thought she was going to faint.

  Joseph And what must my feelings have been?

  Dupre Her self-sacrifice was wonderful. You don’t realize all that she has undergone for you; I, myself even, was deceived by her; she was her own accuser, yet all the time was innocent. Only one moment did she falter; but darting a rapid glance at Jules, she suddenly rallied, a blush took the place of pallor on her countenance, and we felt that she had saved her lover; in spite of the risk she was running, she repeated once more before all those people the story of her own disgrace, and then fell weeping into the arms of her mother.

  Joseph Yes, she is a fine girl.

  Dupre But I must leave you; the summing up of the judge will come this afternoon.

  Rousseau You must be going then.

  Dupre One moment! Do not forget Pamela! That young girl has compromised her own honor for you and for him.

  Joseph As for me, I don’t ask anything, but I have been led to expect —

  Mme. du Brocard, Mme. Rousseau We can never pay our debt of gratitude to you.

  Dupre Very good; come, gentlemen, we must be starting.

  (Exeunt Dupre and Rousseau.)

  SCENE SECOND

  The same persons excepting Dupre and Rousseau. Mme. du Brocard (stopping Joseph on his way out) Listen to me!

  Joseph What can I do for you?

  Mme. du Brocard You see in what a state of anxiety we are; don’t fail to let us know the least turn in our favor which the trial makes.

  Mme. Rousseau Yes, keep us well informed on the whole business.

  Joseph You may rest assured of that — But look here, I needn’t leave the court house to do that, I intend to see everything, and to hear everything. But do you see that window there? My seat is just under it; you watch that window, and it if he is declared innocent you will see me wave my handkerchief.

  Mme. Rousseau Do not forget to do so.

  Joseph No danger of that; I am a poor chap, but I know what a mother’s heart is! I am interested in this case, and for you, and for Pamela, I have said a lot of things! But when you are fond of people you’ll do anything, and then I have been promised something — you may count upon me. (Exit.)

  SCENE THIRD

  The same persons excepting Joseph. Mme. Rousseau Justine, open this window, and wait for the signal which the young man has promised to give — Ah! but suppose my boy were condemned!

  Mme. du Brocard M. Dupre has spoken very hopefully about matters.

  Mme. Rousseau But with regard to this good girl, this admirable Pamela — what must we do for her?

  Mme. du Brocard We ought to do something to make her happy! I acknowledge that this young person is a succor sent from heaven! Only a noble heart could make the sacrifice that she has made! She deserves a fortune for it! Thirty thousand francs! That
is what she ought to have. Jules owes his life to her. (Aside) Poor boy, will his life be saved?

  (Mme. du Brocard looks toward the window.)

  Mme. Rousseau Well, Justine, do you see anything?

  Justine Nothing, madame.

  Mme. Rousseau Nothing yet! Yes, you are right, sister, it is only the heart that can prompt such noble actions. I do not know what you and my husband would think about it, but if we considered what was right, and had full regard to the happiness of Jules, apart from the brilliant prospect of an alliance with the family of De Verby, if my son loved her and she loved my son — it seems to me reasonable —

  Mme. du Brocard and Justine No! No!

  Mme. Rousseau Oh, sister! Say yes! Has she not well deserved it? But there is some one coming.

  (The two women remain in their seats with clasped hands.)

  SCENE FOURTH

  The same persons and De Verby. Justine M. le General de Verby!

  Mme. Rousseau and Mme. du Brocard Ah!

  De Verby Everything is going on well! My presence was no longer necessary, so I return to you. There are great hopes of your son’s acquittal. The charge of the presiding judge is decidedly in his favor.

  Mme. Rousseau (joyfully) Thank God!

  De Verby Jules has behaved admirably! My brother the Comte de Verby is very much interested in his favor. My niece looks upon him as a hero, and I know courage and honorable conduct when I see them. When once this affair has been settled, we will hasten the marriage.

  Mme. Rousseau We ought to tell you, sir, that we have made certain promises to this young girl.

  Mme. du Brocard Never mind that, sister.

  De Verby Doubtless the young girl deserves some recompense, and I suppose you will give her fifteen or twenty thousand francs, — that is due her.

  Mme. du Brocard You see, sister, that M. de Verby is a noble and generous man, and since he has fixed upon this sum, I think it will be sufficient.

  Justine M. Rousseau!

  Mme. du Brocard O brother!

  Mme. Rousseau Dear husband!

  SCENE FIFTH

  The same persons and Rousseau. De Verby (to Rousseau) Have you good news?

  Mme. Rousseau Is he acquitted?