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Pamela Giraud: A Play in Five Acts, a play by Honore de Balzac |
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Act 5 - Scene 9 |
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_ ACT V - SCENE NINTH The same persons and Dupre.
(Mme du Brocard hands him the letter she has been writing; De Verby hands him his; and it is passed over to Rousseau who reads it with astonishment; De Verby casts a furious glance at Dupre and the Rousseau family, and dashes out of the room.) DUPRE. (to Rousseau) And what decision have you made, sir? ROUSSEAU. I shall let my son do exactly what he wants in the matter. MME. ROUSSEAU. Dear husband! DUPRE. (aside) He thinks that Jules is out of town. ROUSSEAU. At present Jules is at Brussels, and he must return at once. DUPRE. That is perfectly fair! It is quite clear that I can't demand anything at the moment of you, so long as he is away; to do so would be absurd. ROUSSEAU. Certainly! We can settle matters later. DUPRE. Yes, as soon as he returns. ROUSSEAU. Oh! as soon as he returns. (Aside) I will take pretty good care that he remains where he is. DUPRE. (going towards the door on the left) Come in, young man, and thank your family, who have given their full consent to your marriage. MME. ROUSSEAU. It is Jules! MME. DU BROCARD. It is my nephew! JULES. Can it be possible? DUPRE. (darting towards another room) And you, Pamela, my child, my daughter!--embrace your husband. (Jules rushes towards her.) MME. DU BROCARD. (to Rousseau) How has all this come about? DUPRE. Pamela never was arrested. There is no likelihood of her ever being. I haven't a title of nobility. I am not the brother of a peer of France, but still I have some influence. The self-sacrifice of this poor girl has aroused the sympathy of the government--the indictment has been quashed. The Keeper of the Seals has sent me word of this by an orderly on horseback, whom this simpleton took for a regiment of soldiers in pursuit of him. JOSEPH. It is very hard to see plainly through a garret window. MME. DU BROCARD. Sir, you have caught me by surprise; I take back my promise. DUPRE. But I still have possession of your latter. Do you wish to have a lawsuit about it? Very well, I will appear against you on the other side. GIRAUD AND MME. GIRAUD. (entering and approaching Dupre) M. Dupre! DUPRE. Are you satisfied with me? (In the meantime Jules and Mme. Rousseau have been imploring Rousseau to yield his consent; he hesitates, but at last kisses Pamela on the forehead. Dupre approaches Rousseau and, seeing him kiss Pamela, wrings his hand.) DUPRE. You have done well, sir. (Then turning to Jules) Will you make her happy? JULES. Ah, my friend, you need not ask! (Pamela kisses the hand of Dupre.) JOSEPH. (to Dupre) What a fool I have been! Well, he is going to marry her, and I am actually glad for them! But am I not to get something out of all this? DUPRE. Certainly, you shall have all the fees that come to me from the lawsuit. JOSEPH. You may count on my gratitude. DUPRE. That will be receipt in full!
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