The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts

Gertrude

Do you accuse me then of something further? What is it?

The Magistrate Madame, if you cannot free yourself from blame with regard to a later event, you may be charged with the crime of poisoning. We must now proceed to seek proofs either of your innocence or of your guilt.

Gertrude

Where will you seek them?

The Magistrate From you! Yesterday you gave Mlle. de Grandchamp an infusion of orange leaves, in another cup which contained arsenic.

Gertrude

Can it be possible!

The Magistrate The day before yesterday you declared that the key of your desk, in which the arsenic was locked, never left your possession.

Gertrude

It is in my dress pocket.

The Magistrate

Have you ever made any use of that arsenic?

Gertrude

No; you will find the parcel still sealed.

Ramel

Ah! madame, I sincerely hope so.

The Magistrate

I very much doubt it; this is one of those audacious criminals —

Gertrude

The chamber is in disorder, permit me —

The Magistrate

No, no! All three of us will enter it.

Ramel

Your innocence is now at stake.

Gertrude

Gentlemen, let us go in together.

SCENE EIGHTH

Vernon (alone) My poor General! He kneels by the bed of his daughter; he weeps, he prays! Alas! God alone can give her back to him.

SCENE NINTH

Vernon, Gertrude, Ramel, the Magistrate and the Sheriff's Officer.

Gertrude

I scarce can believe my senses; I am dreaming – I am —

Ramel

You are ruined, madame.

Gertrude

Yes, sir – But by whom?

The Magistrate (to the sheriff's officer) Write down that Madame de Grandchamp having herself unlocked for us the desk in her bedchamber and having herself given into our hands the parcel sealed by M. Baudrillon, this parcel which two days ago was intact is found unsealed and from it has been taken a dose, more than sufficient to produce death.

Gertrude

Death! – And I?

The Magistrate Madame, it was not without reason that I took from your desk this torn piece of paper. We have also picked up in Mlle. de Grandchamp's chamber a piece of paper, which exactly fits to it; and this proves that when you reached your desk, in that confusion which crime always brings upon criminals, you took up this paper to wrap up the dose, which you intended to mix with the infusion.

Gertrude

You said that you were my protector! And there, see now —

The Magistrate Give me your attention, madame. In face of such suspicions, I feel I shall have to change the writ of summons into a writ of bail or imprisonment. (He signs the document.) And now, madame, you must consider yourself under arrest.

Gertrude Of course, I will do all that you wish! But you told me that your mission was to search for the truth – Ah! Let us search for it here – Let us search for it here!

The Magistrate

Certainly, madame.

Gertrude (to Ramel; she is weeping)

O M. Ramel!

Ramel Have you anything to say in your defence which would lead us to cancel this terrible sentence?