Scene Fourteenth
The same persons, Gertrude, Marguerite and the General.
Marguerite (running in)
What is it, sir?
Vernon Get me a tea-urn of boiling water, into which you must drop some orange leaves.
(Exit Marguerite.)
Gertrude
What is the matter with you, Pauline?
The General
Dear child, do tell us?
Gertrude Oh, it is nothing! We can understand her feelings. It is because she sees her lot in life decided—
Vernon (to the General)
Her lot decided? And in what way?
The General She is going to marry Godard! (Aside) It seems to me as if she were giving up some love affair of which she did not wish to tell me. As far as I can understand from what my wife has told me, the unknown one is ineligible, and Pauline did not discover his unworthiness until yesterday.
Vernon And you believe this? Do not precipitate matters, General. We will talk it over this evening. (Aside) Before then I am going to have a few words with Madame de Grandchamp.
Pauline (to Gertrude)
The doctor knows all!
Gertrude
Ah!
Pauline (she puts back into the pocket of Gertrude the handkerchief and the key, while the latter is looking at Vernon, who converses with the General)
Keep him away, for he is capable of telling all he knows to the General. We must at least protect Ferdinand.
Gertrude (aside) She is right. (Aloud) Doctor, I have just been informed that Francis, one of our best workmen, is sick; he hasn’t appeared this morning, and you might go and visit him.
The General
Francis? Oh! Vernon, you had better go and see him—
Vernon Doesn’t he live at Pre-l’Eveque? (Aside) More than three leagues away.
The General
Are you alarmed about Pauline?
Vernon
It is simply an attack of nerves.
Gertrude I can take your place here, doctor, if that is so, can’t I?
Vernon Yes. (To the General) I’ll undertake to say that Francis is about as sick as I am! The fact of it is, I see rather too much and my presence is not desired—
The General (in a rage)
What are you talking about? To whom do you refer?
Vernon Are you going to fly into a passion again? Do calm yourself, my old friend, or you will cause yourself eternal remorse.
The General
Remorse?
Vernon
Just keep these people talking, till I return.
The General
But—
Gertrude (to Pauline)
Tell me, how do you feel now, my sweet angel?
The General
Just look at them.
Vernon
Ah! Well, women stab each other with a smile and a kiss.