The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts

Vernon

Keep cool, my friend.

Felix (announcing)

Monsieur, the investigating magistrate!

The General

Let him come in.

SCENE THIRD

The same persons, the investigating magistrate, Champagne, Baudrillon and a gendarme who is guarding Champagne.

The Magistrate (bowing to the company)

Monsieur the state's attorney, this is M. Baudrillon, the druggist.

Ramel

Has M. Baudrillon seen the accused?

The Magistrate

No, monsieur, the accused came in charge of a gendarme.

Ramel We shall soon learn the truth in this case! Let M. Baudrillon and the accused approach.

The Magistrate

Come forward, M. Baudrillon; (to Champagne) and you also.

Ramel M. Baudrillon, do you identify this man as the person who bought arsenic from you two days ago?

Baudrillon

Yes, that is the very man.

Champagne

Didn't I tell you, M. Baudrillon, that it was for the mice that were eating up everything, even in the house, and that I wanted it for

Madame?

The Magistrate Do you hear him, madame? This is his plea; he pretends that you yourself sent him to get this stuff, and that he handed the package to you just as he took it from M. Baudrillon.

Gertrude

It is true, sir.

Ramel

Did you make any use of the arsenic, madame?

Gertrude

No, sir.

The Magistrate You can then show us the package sent by M. Baudrillon; it should have his label, and if he acknowledges that it is entire and unbroken, the serious charges made against your foreman will in part be disproved. We shall then have nothing more to do than to receive the report of the physician who held the autopsy.

Gertrude

The package, sir, has never been taken from the desk in my bedroom.

(Exit.)

Champagne

Ah! General, I am saved.

The General

Poor old Champagne!

Ramel General, we shall be very happy if we have to announce the innocence of your foreman; unlike you soldiers, we are always delighted to be beaten.

Gertrude (returning)

Here it is, gentlemen.

(The Magistrate, Baudrillon and Ramel examine the package.)

Baudrillon (putting on his glasses) It is intact, gentlemen, perfectly intact. Here is my seal on it unbroken.

The Magistrate Lock that up carefully, madame, for the assizes for sometime have had to deal with nothing but poisoning cases.

Gertrude You see, sir, I have kept it in my desk, in which none but the General and myself have access.

(Gertrude returns to her bedroom.)

Ramel General, we will not wait for the report of the autopsy. The principal charge, which you will agree with me was very serious, for all the town was talking of it, has been disproved; and we have full confidence in the skill and integrity of Doctor Vernon. (Gertrude returns) Champagne, you are at liberty. (General expression of satisfaction.) But you see, my friend, to what painful suspicions a man exposes himself when his home has a bad name.

Champagne Ask the General, your Honor, if I am not mild as a lamb; but my wife, God forgive her, was the worst that was ever made. An angel could not have stood her. If I have sometimes tried to bring her to reason, the anxious moments you have made me pass here, have been punishment enough! To be taken up for a prisoner, and to know yourself innocent, while you are in the hands of justice. (Weeps.)

The General

Well! well! You are acquitted now!