The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts

Автор

Оноре де Бальзак

Жанр

Зарубежная классика

Год написания книги

2017

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Gertrude, you are beside yourself!

Godard (to Pauline)

Ah! Mademoiselle, that is bad play!

Pauline

You lost a great deal by not taking my stepmother for a partner.

Gertrude (to Ferdinand) Ferdinand, I do not know whether I am rightly or wrongly informed; but this I do know; I prefer death to the loss of our hopes.

Ferdinand Take care! The doctor has been watching us very keenly for the last few days.

Gertrude (aside) She has not once looked back at him! (Aloud) She will marry Godard, for her father will compel her to do so.

Ferdinand

Godard would make an excellent match for any one.

The General

I can't stay here any longer! My daughter plays vilely, and you,

Vernon, have trumped my king!

Vernon

My dear General, it was a finesse.

The General You stupid! Come, it is ten o'clock, and time to go to sleep instead of playing cards. Ferdinand, be good enough to take Godard to his room. As for you, Vernon, you deserve to sleep on the floor as a punishment, for trumping my king.

Godard

It is, after all, merely a matter of five francs, General.

The General It is also a matter of honor. (To Vernon) Come, now, although you have played so badly, let me hand you your hat and cane.

(Pauline takes a flower from the vase and plays with it.)

Gertrude (aside) A signal! I will watch her this night, even though my husband should afterwards kill me for it!

Ferdinand (taking a candlestick from Felix)

M. de Rimonville, I am at your service.

Godard

I wish you good-night, madame. My respects to you, mademoiselle.

General, good-night.

The General

Good-night, Godard.

Godard

De Rimonville – Doctor, I —

Vernon (looking at him and blowing his nose)

Good-bye, my friend.

The General (attending the doctor on his way out)

Good-bye till to-morrow, Vernon, but come early.

SCENE SIXTH

Gertrude, Pauline and the General.

Gertrude

My dear, Pauline refuses Godard.

The General

And what are your reasons, my daughter?

Pauline

I do not like him sufficiently to take him for a husband.

The General Well, never mind! We will look out some one else for you; but it is time for this to end, for you are now twenty-two, and people will begin to talk about you, my wife and me unless you make an early choice.

Pauline

May I not be permitted, if I choose, to remain single?

Gertrude

She has made her choice, but probably wishes to tell you by yourself.

I will leave you, and she will confess it. (To Pauline) Good-night, my child; talk freely with your father. (Aside) I will listen.

(Gertrude enters her chamber and proceeds to close the door.)

SCENE SEVENTH