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Pamela Giraud: A Play in Five Acts, a play by Honore de Balzac |
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Act 2 - Scene 6 |
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_ ACT II - SCENE SIXTH Dupre and De Verby.
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. DE VERBY. A general who fears no danger can have no fear of a lawyer-- DUPRE. As you will! (Exit De Verby, who jostles against Joseph.) _ |
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