Honoré de Balzac

“ They believe that Pamela has been arrested, and none of them trouble their heads about it! They have sent Jules off to Brussels; De Verby is in the country; and Rousseau carries on his business at the Bourse as if nothing else was worth living for. Money, ambition, are their sole objects. The higher feelings count for nothing! They all worship the golden calf. Money makes them dance round their idol; the sight of it blinds them. (Pamela has been watching him, she rises and approaches him.) Pamela M. Dupre, you are agitated, you seem unwell. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Dupre I can well believe it, for it was you who led astray and who induced Pamela to act as she did! Mme. du Brocard I feel, sir, that it is always a mistake to associate with people of a certain class—say, with a Bonapartist—a man who has neither conscience nor heart. (De Verby, who has been listening, shrinks back with a gesture of rage.) Dupre You always seemed to have such a high opinion of him! Mme. du Brocard His family was highly thought of! And the prospect of this brilliant marriage! I always dreamt of a distinguished future for my nephew. ”

“ Mme. Giraud Yes, madame. Joseph She calls them good people—she must be one of the swells. Pamela Will you please be seated. (Mme. Giraud offers them seats.) Joseph (to Giraud) My eye! The gentleman has on the ribbon of the Legion of Honor! He belongs to high society. Giraud (looking at De Verby) By my faith, that's true! Mme. du Brocard I am the aunt of M. Jules Rousseau. Pamela You, madame? Then this gentleman must be his father? Mme. du Brocard He is merely a friend of the family. We are come, mademoiselle, to ask a favor of you. ”

“ 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 ”

“ These are the strong men. I humbly beg that you will pardon my frankness when I say that I don't look upon you as being one of them. De Verby Sir! What language to use to me! You are a singular man! Dupre More than that! I believe that I am an original man! Listen to me. You throw out hints to me, and you think that as a future ambassador you can try on me your diplomatic methods; but you have chosen the wrong man and I am going to tell you something, which you will take no pleasure in learning. You are ambitious, but you are also prudent, and you have taken the lead in a certain conspiracy. ”

“ 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! Giraud O Lord! Pamela Poor Adolph! The sheriff (to his agents) Remain here. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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! ”

“ 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. ”

“ Rousseau Ah! you are joking! Dupre On the contrary, I am quite serious. Your son will marry their daughter—and you will provide a pension for the old people. Rousseau Sir— SCENE SEVENTH The same persons and Joseph (coming in pale and faint) . Joseph M. Dupre, M. Dupre, save me! All three What has happened? What is the matter? Joseph Soldiers! Mounted soldiers are coming to arrest me! Dupre Hold your tongue! Hold your tongue! (Everybody seems alarmed. Dupre looks with anxiety towards the room where Pamela is. To Joseph) To arrest you? Joseph I saw one of them. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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! ”

“ 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! ”

“ 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! ”

“ 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. ”

“ And now they repulse you and treat you with contempt; but I look upon you with hearty admiration— you shall yet be happy, for I will make full reparation to you! Pamela, I am forty-eight years old. I have some reputation, and a fortune. I have spent my life as an honest man, and will finish it as such; will you be my wife? Pamela (much moved) I, sir? Giraud His wife! Our daughter his wife! What do you say to that, Mme. Giraud? Mme. Giraud Can it be possible? Dupre Why should you wonder at this? ”

“ Mlle. Pamela, whose friend I shall be all my life, did not effect the deliverance of my nephew on the understanding that she should blight his prospects. Rousseau There ought to be some basis of equality in a union by marriage. My son will some day have an income of eighty thousand francs. Joseph (aside) That suits me to a T. I shall marry her now. But this fellow here, he talks more like a Jewish money-changer than a father. De Verby (to Dupre) I think, sir, that your talent and character are such as to claim our highest admiration and esteem. ”

“ You occupy the first place among the men whose talents and character claim my attention. Dupre Ah! sir, you compel me to say that you, a veteran of the Empire, have always seemed to me by your loyalty and your independence to be a fitting representative of that glorious epoch. (Aside) I hope I have paid him back in full. De Verby I suppose I may rely upon you for assistance? Dupre Certainly. De Verby I would like to ask for some information with regard to young Pamela Giraud. Dupre I felt sure that was your object. De Verby The Rousseau family have behaved abominably. ”

“ Then you rush to me, trembling with the fear of being unmasked, of losing the promotion which has caused you so many efforts to attain! You come to me with an air of obsequiousness, and with the words of flattery, expecting to make me your dupe, and thus to show your sincerity! ”

“ 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 ”

“ It is of very great importance to explain this affair of the working-girl, otherwise the Comtesse de Verby might oppose the marriage. We must explain away this apparent amour, and she must be made to understand that the girl's evidence was a piece of self- sacrifice for which she had been paid. Rousseau I certainly intend to do my duty towards that young girl. I shall give her eight or ten thousand francs. It seems to me that that will be liberal, very liberal! Mme. Rousseau (while Mme. du Brocard tries to restrain her) Ah, sir, but what of her honor? ”

“ Dupre Would you have behaved any better? De Verby I intend to espouse her cause! Since her arrest as a perjurer, how do things go on? Dupre That can have very little interest for you. De Verby That may be true, but— Dupre (aside) He is trying to make me talk in order to find out whether he is likely to be compromised in the case. (Aloud) General de Verby, there are some men who cannot be seen through, either in their plans or in their thoughts; the actions and events which they give rise to alone reveal and explain such men. ”

“ 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. ”

“ ACT I SCENE FIRST (Setting is an attic and workshop of an artificial flower-maker. It is poorly lighted by means of a candle placed on the work-table. The ceiling slopes abruptly at the back allowing space to conceal a man. On the right is a door, on the left a fireplace. Pamela is discovered at work, and Joseph Binet is seated near her.) 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! ”