The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts

Ah! yes, Godard. Well! he is still here.

The General Do not ridicule my words! Ever since yesterday nothing has gone as usual! By God! I'd like to know —

Gertrude Sir, this oath is the first I have ever heard from you. Felix, bring in the tea. (To the General) You are tired, it seems, of twelve years of happiness?

The General I am not, and never will be a tyrant. A little time ago I came unexpectedly upon you and Ferdinand engaged in conversation, and I felt I was in the way. Again, I come home and you are locked in with my daughter, and my appearance seemed to put you out. And to cap all, last night —

Vernon Come, General, you can quarrel with Madame as much as you like, but not before other people. (Godard is heard approaching.) I hear Godard. (Whispers to the General) Is this keeping your promise to me? In treating with women – I am bound as a doctor to admit it – you must leave them to betray themselves; while at the same time you watch them carefully; otherwise your violence draws forth their tears, and when once the hydraulic machinery begins to play, they drown a man as if they had the strength of a triple Hercules!

SCENE NINTH

The same persons and Godard.

Godard Ladies, I came once before to present my compliments and respects to you, but I found the door closed. General, I wish you good-day. (The General takes up a newspaper and waves his hand in greeting.) Ah! Here is my adversary of yesterday's game. Have you come to take your revenge, doctor?

Vernon

No, I came to take some tea.

Godard

Ah! I see you keep up the custom of the English, Russians and Chinese.

Pauline

Would you prefer some coffee?

Godard No, no; allow me to have some tea; I will, for once, deviate from my every-day custom. Moreover, you have your luncheon at noon, I see, and a cup of coffee with cream would take away my appetite for that meal. And then the English, the Russians and the Chinese are not entirely incorrect in taste.

Vernon

Tea, sir, is an excellent thing.

Godard

Yes, when it is good.

Pauline

This is caravan tea.

Gertrude

Doctor, have you seen the papers? (To Pauline) Go and talk to M. de

Rimonville, my daughter, I, myself, will make tea.

Godard Perhaps Mlle. De Grandchamp likes my conversation no better than my person?

Pauline

You are mistaken, sir.

The General

Godard —

Pauline Should you do me the favor of no longer seeking me in marriage, you would still possess in my eyes qualities of sufficient brilliancy to captivate the young ladies Boudeville, Clinville, Derville, etc.

Godard That is enough, mademoiselle. Ah! How you do ridicule an unfortunate lover, in spite of his income of forty thousand francs! The longer I stay here, the more I regret it. What a lucky fellow M. Ferdinand de Charny is!

Pauline Lucky? Why is he lucky? Poor fellow! Does his good fortune consist in the fact that he is my father's clerk?

Gertrude

M. de Rimonville —

The General

Godard —

Gertrude

M. de Rimonville —

The General

Godard, my wife is speaking to you.

Gertrude

Do you like much or little sugar?

Godard

A moderate quality.

Gertrude

Not much cream, I suppose?

Godard On the contrary, plenty of cream, countess. (To Pauline) Ah, M. Ferdinand is not then, after all the man who – whom you have distinguished by your favor? I can at least assure you that he is very much to the taste of your stepmother.

Pauline (aside)

How annoying these inquisitive provincials are!

Godard (aside) It is fair that I should amuse myself a little at her expense before I take leave. I must get something out of this visit.