The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts

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Оноре де Бальзак

Жанр

Зарубежная классика

Год написания книги

2017

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The same persons, Pauline, Godard, Vernon, Napoleon, Ferdinand, the

General, Madame de Grandchamp.

(Gertrude rushes to Marguerite and snatches the cushions from her hands.)

Gertrude Marguerite, you know very well what pain you give me, by not allowing me to do everything for your master; besides, I am the only one who knows how to arrange the cushions to his liking.

Marguerite (to Pauline)

What a to-do about nothing!

Godard

Why, look! Here is the state's attorney!

The General

The state's attorney at my house?

Gertrude

I am surprised!

The General (to Ramel)

Sir, what brings you here?

Ramel

I asked my friend, M. Ferdinand Mar —

(Ferdinand checks him by a gesture. Gertrude and Pauline look at him in alarm.)

Gertrude (aside)

It is his friend, Eugene Ramel.

Ramel My friend, Ferdinand de Charny, to whom I have told the object of my visit, to say nothing about it until you had finished your dinner.

The General

Ferdinand then is your friend?

Ramel I have known him from childhood; and here we met in your avenue. On meeting, after nine years of separation, we had so many things to talk about, that I caused him to be late.

The General

But, sir, to what circumstance am I to attribute your presence here?

Ramel I come in the matter of Jean Nicot, known as Champagne, your foreman, who is charged with a crime.

Gertrude But, sir, our friend, Doctor Vernon, has declared that Champagne's wife died a natural death.

Vernon

Yes, sir, cholera.

Ramel Justice, sir, believes in nothing but investigations and convictions of its own. You did wrong to proceed before my arrival.

Felix

Madame, shall I bring in the coffee?

Gertrude Wait a while! (Aside) How changed this man is, this attorney. I shouldn't have recognized him. He terrifies me.

The General But how could you be brought here by the crime of Champagne, an old soldier for whom I would stand security?

Ramel

You will earn that, on the arrival of the investigating magistrate.

The General

Will you be pleased to take a seat?

Ferdinand (to Ramel, pointing out Pauline)

That is she!

Ramel

A man might lay down his life for such a lovely girl.

Gertrude (to Ramel) We do not know each other! You have never seen me, have you? You must have pity on us!

Ramel

You may depend upon me for that.

The General (who sees Ramel and Gertrude talking together)

Is my wife to be called to this investigation?

Ramel Certainly, General. I came here myself because the countess had not been notified that we required her presence.

The General

My wife mixed up in such an affair? It is an outrage!