Scene Eighth
Vernon (alone) My poor General! He kneels by the bed of his daughter; he weeps, he prays! Alas! God alone can give her back to him.
Scene Ninth
Vernon, Gertrude, Ramel, the Magistrate and the Sheriff’s Officer.
Gertrude
I scarce can believe my senses; I am dreaming—I am—
Ramel
You are ruined, madame.
Gertrude
Yes, sir—But by whom?
The Magistrate (to the sheriff’s officer) Write down that Madame de Grandchamp having herself unlocked for us the desk in her bedchamber and having herself given into our hands the parcel sealed by M. Baudrillon, this parcel which two days ago was intact is found unsealed and from it has been taken a dose, more than sufficient to produce death.
Gertrude
Death!—And I?
The Magistrate Madame, it was not without reason that I took from your desk this torn piece of paper. We have also picked up in Mlle. de Grandchamp’s chamber a piece of paper, which exactly fits to it; and this proves that when you reached your desk, in that confusion which crime always brings upon criminals, you took up this paper to wrap up the dose, which you intended to mix with the infusion.
Gertrude
You said that you were my protector! And there, see now—
The Magistrate Give me your attention, madame. In face of such suspicions, I feel I shall have to change the writ of summons into a writ of bail or imprisonment. (He signs the document.) And now, madame, you must consider yourself under arrest.
Gertrude Of course, I will do all that you wish! But you told me that your mission was to search for the truth—Ah! Let us search for it here—Let us search for it here!
The Magistrate
Certainly, madame.
Gertrude (to Ramel; she is weeping)
O M. Ramel!
Ramel Have you anything to say in your defence which would lead us to cancel this terrible sentence?
Gertrude Gentlemen, I am innocent of the crime of poisoning, and yet all is against me! I implore you, give my your help instead of torturing me! And listen to me—Some one must have taken my key,—can you not understand? Some one must have come into my room—Ah! I see it all now— (To Ramel) Pauline loved as I loved; she has poisoned herself!
Ramel For the sake of your honor, do not say that, without the most convincing proofs, otherwise—
The Magistrate Madame, is it true that, yesterday, you, knowing Doctor Vernon was to dine with you, sent him—
Gertrude Oh! you,—your questions are so many daggers at my heart! And yet you go on, you still go on.
The Magistrate Did you send him away to attend a workman at Pre-l’Eveque?
Gertrude
I did, sir.
The Magistrate This workman, madame, was found in a tavern, and in excellent help.
Gertrude
Champagne had told me that he was sick.
The Magistrate We have questioned Champagne, and he denies this, averring that he said nothing about sickness. The fact of it was, you wished to preclude the possibility of medical aid.
Gertrude (aside) It was Pauline! It was she who made me send away Vernon! O Pauline! You have dragged me down with yourself into the tomb, to which I sink bearing the name of criminal! No! No! No! (To Ramel) Sir, I have but one avenue of escape. (To Vernon) Is Pauline still alive?
Vernon (pointing to the General)
Here is my answer.