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_ ACT IV - FIRST SCENE. THE LUXEMBOURG GARDENS
(In the Luxembourg Gardens, at the group of Adam and Eve. The wind is shaking the trees and stirring up dead leaves, straws, and pieces of paper from the ground.)
(MAURICE and HENRIETTE are seated on a bench.)
HENRIETTE.
So you don't want to die?
MAURICE.
No, I am afraid. I imagine that I am going to be very cold down there in the grave, with only a sheet to cover me and a few shavings to lie on. And besides that, it seems to me as if there were still some task waiting for me, but I cannot make out what it is.
HENRIETTE.
But I can guess what it is.
MAURICE.
Tell me.
HENRIETTE.
It is revenge. You, like me, must have suspected Jeanne and Emile of sending the detectives after me yesterday. Such a revenge on a rival none but a woman could devise.
MAURICE.
Exactly what I was thinking. But let me tell you that my suspicions go even further. It seems as if my sufferings during these last few days had sharpened my wits. Can you explain, for instance, why the waiter from the Auberge des Adrets and the head waiter from the Pavilion were not called to testify at the hearing?
HENRIETTE.
I never thought of it before. But now I know why. They had nothing to tell, because they had not been listening.
MAURICE.
But how could the Commissaire then know what we had been saying?
HENRIETTE.
He didn't know, but he figured it out. He was guessing, and he guessed right. Perhaps he had had to deal with some similar case before.
MAURICE.
Or else he concluded from our looks what we had been saying. There are those who can read other people's thoughts-- Adolphe being the dupe, it seemed quite natural that we should have called him an ass. It's the rule, I understand, although it's varied at times by the use of "idiot" instead. But ass was nearer at hand in this case, as we had been talking of carriages and triumphal chariots. It is quite simple to figure out a fourth fact, when you have three known ones to start from.
HENRIETTE.
Just think that we have let ourselves be taken in so completely.
MAURICE.
That's the result of thinking too well of one's fellow beings. This is all you get out of it. But do you know, _I_ suspect somebody else back of the Commissaire, who, by-the-bye, must be a full-fledged scoundrel.
HENRIETTE.
You mean the Abbe, who was taking the part of a private detective.
MAURICE.
That's what I mean. That man has to receive all kinds of confessions. And note you: Adolphe himself told us he had been at the Church of St. Germain that morning. What was he doing there? He was blabbing, of course, and bewailing his fate. And then the priest put the questions together for the Commissaire.
HENRIETTE.
Tell me something: do you trust Adolphe?
MAURICE.
I trust no human being any longer.
HENRIETTE.
Not even Adolphe?
MAURICE.
Him least of all. How could I trust an enemy--a man from whom I have taken away his mistress?
HENRIETTE.
Well, as you were the first one to speak of this, I'll give you some data about our friend. You heard he had returned that medal from London. Do you know his reason for doing so?
MAURICE.
No.
HENRIETTE.
He thinks himself unworthy of it, and he has taken a penitential vow never to receive any kind of distinction.
MAURICE.
Can that he possible? But what has he done?
HENRIETTE.
He has committed a crime of the kind that is not punishable under the law. That's what he gave me to understand indirectly.
MAURICE.
He, too! He, the best one of all, the model man, who never speaks a hard word of anybody and who forgives everything.
HENRIETTE.
Well, there you can see that we are no worse than others. And yet we are being hounded day and night as if devils were after us.
MAURICE.
He, also! Then mankind has not been slandered--But if he has been capable of ONE crime, then you may expect anything of him. Perhaps it was he who sent the police after you yesterday. Coming to think of it now, it was he who sneaked away from us when he saw that we were in the papers, and he lied when he insisted that those fellows were not detectives. But, of course, you may expect anything from a deceived lover.
HENRIETTE.
Could he be as mean as that? No, it is impossible, impossible!
MAURICE.
Why so? If he is a scoundrel?--What were you two talking of yesterday, before I came?
HENRIETTE.
He had nothing but good to say of you.
MAURICE.
That's a lie!
HENRIETTE.
[Controlling herself and changing her tone]
Listen. There is one person on whom you have cast no suspicion whatever-- for what reason, I don't know. Have you thought of Madame Catherine's wavering attitude in this matter? Didn't she say finally that she believed you capable of anything?
MAURICE.
Yes, she did, and that shows what kind of person she is. To think evil of other people without reason, you must be a villain yourself.
(HENRIETTE looks hard at him. Pause.)
HENRIETTE.
To think evil of others, you must be a villain yourself.
MAURICE.
What do you mean?
HENRIETTE.
What I said.
MAURICE.
Do you mean that I--?
HENRIETTE.
Yes, that's what I mean now! Look here! Did you meet anybody but Marion when you called there yesterday morning?
MAURICE.
Why do you ask?
HENRIETTE.
Guess!
MAURICE.
Well, as you seem to know--I met Jeanne, too.
HENRIETTE. Why did you lie to me?
MAURICE.
I wanted to spare you.
HENRIETTE.
And now you want me to believe in one who has been lying to me? No, my boy, now I believe you guilty of that murder.
MAURICE.
Wait a moment! We have now reached the place for which my thoughts have been heading all the time, though I resisted as long as possible. It's queer that what lies next to one is seen last of all, and what one doesn't WANT to believe cannot be believed--Tell me something: where did you go yesterday morning, after we parted in the Bois?
HENRIETTE.
[Alarmed]
Why?
MAURICE.
You went either to Adolphe--which you couldn't do, as he was attending a lesson--or you went to--Marion!
HENRIETTE.
Now I am convinced that you are the murderer.
MAURICE.
And I, that you are the murderess! You alone had an interest in getting the child out of the way--to get rid of the rock on the road, as you so aptly put it.
HENRIETTE.
It was you who said that.
MAURICE.
And the one who had an interest in it must have committed the crime.
HENRIETTE.
Now, Maurice, we have been running around and around in this tread-mill, scourging each other. Let us quit before we get to the point of sheer madness.
MAURICE.
You have reached that point already.
HENRIETTE.
Don't you think it's time for us to part, before we drive each other insane?
MAURICE.
Yes, I think so.
HENRIETTE.
[Rising]
Good-bye then!
(Two men in civilian clothes become visible in the background.)
HENRIETTE.
[Turns and comes back to MAURICE]
There they are again!
MAURICE.
The dark angels that want to drive us out of the garden.
HENRIETTE.
And force us back upon each other as if we were chained together.
MAURICE.
Or as if we were condemned to lifelong marriage. Are we really to marry? To settle down in the same place? To be able to close the door behind us and perhaps get peace at last?
HENRIETTE.
And shut ourselves up in order to torture each other to death; get behind locks and bolts, with a ghost for marriage portion; you torturing me with the memory of Adolphe, and I getting back at you with Jeanne--and Marion.
MAURICE.
Never mention the name of Marion again! Don't you know that she was to be buried today--at this very moment perhaps?
HENRIETTE.
And you are not there? What does that mean?
MAURICE.
It means that both Jeanne and the police have warned me against the rage of the people.
HENRIETTE.
A coward, too?
MAURICE.
All the vices! How could you ever have cared for me?
HENRIETTE.
Because two days ago you were another person, well worthy of being loved---
MAURICE.
And now sunk to such a depth!
HENRIETTE.
It isn't that. But you are beginning to flaunt bad qualities which are not your own.
MAURICE.
But yours?
HENRIETTE.
Perhaps, for when you appear a little worse I feel myself at once a little better.
MAURICE.
It's like passing on a disease to save one's self- respect.
HENRIETTE.
And how vulgar you have become, too!
MAURICE.
Yes, I notice it myself, and I hardly recognise myself since that night in the cell. They put in one person and let out another through that gate which separates us from the rest of society. And now I feel myself the enemy of all mankind: I should like to set fire to the earth and dry up the oceans, for nothing less than a universal conflagration can wipe out my dishonour.
HENRIETTE.
I had a letter from my mother today. She is the widow of a major in the army, well educated, with old-fashioned ideas of honour and that kind of thing. Do you want to read the letter? No, you don't!--Do you know that I am an outcast? My respectable acquaintances will have nothing to do with me, and if I show myself on the streets alone the police will take me. Do you realise now that we have to get married?
MAURICE.
We despise each other, and yet we have to marry: that is hell pure and simple! But, Henriette, before we unite our destinies you must tell me your secret, so that we may be on more equal terms.
HENRIETTE.
All right, I'll tell you. I had a friend who got into trouble--you understand. I wanted to help her, as her whole future was at stake--and she died!
MAURICE.
That was reckless, but one might almost call it noble, too.
HENRIETTE.
You say so now, but the next time you lose your temper you will accuse me of it.
MAURICE.
No, I won't. But I cannot deny that it has shaken my faith in you and that it makes me afraid of you. Tell me, is her lover still alive, and does he know to what extent you were responsible?
HENRIETTE.
He was as guilty as I.
MAURICE.
And if his conscience should begin to trouble him--such things do happen--and if he should feel inclined to confess: then you would be lost.
HENRIETTE.
I know it, and it is this constant dread which has made me rush from one dissipation to another--so that I should never have time to wake up to full consciousness.
MAURICE.
And now you want me to take my marriage portion out of your dread. That's asking a little too much.
HENRIETTE.
But when I shared the shame of Maurice the murderer---
MAURICE.
Oh, let's come to an end with it!
HENRIETTE.
No, the end is not yet, and I'll not let go my hold until I have put you where you belong. For you can't go around thinking yourself better than I am.
MAURICE.
So you want to fight me then? All right, as you please!
HENRIETTE.
A fight on life and death!
(The rolling of drums is heard in the distance.)
MAURICE.
The garden is to be closed. "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee."
HENRIETTE.
"And the Lord God said unto the woman---"
A GUARD.
[In uniform, speaking very politely]
Sorry, but the garden has to be closed.
(Curtain.) _
Read next: Act 4 - Scene 2. The Cremerie
Read previous: Act 3 - Scene 2. The Auberge Des Adrets
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