The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts. Honore de Balzac
General Come and let me kiss you for that word. He is a little soldier and belongs to the Young Guard.
Vernon (with a glance at Gertrude)
He takes after his father!
Gertrude (quickly) As regards courage, he is his father's counterpart; but as to physique, he resembles me.
Felix
Dinner is served.
Gertrude Very well! But do you know where Ferdinand is? He is generally so punctual. Here, Napoleon, go to the entrance of the factory and see if he is coming. Tell him to hurry; the bell has rung.
The General
We need not wait for Ferdinand. Godard, give your arm to Pauline.
(Vernon offers his arm to Gertrude.) Excuse me, Vernon, you ought to be aware that I never permit anybody but myself to take my wife's arm.
Vernon (aside)
Decidedly, he is incurable.
Napoleon (running back)
I saw Ferdinand down in the main avenue.
Vernon
Give me your hand, you little tyrant!
Napoleon
Tyrant yourself! I'll bet I could tire you out.
(Napoleon turns Vernon round and round. All leave, chatting gaily.)
SCENE SEVENTH
Ferdinand (cautiously stealing from Pauline's room) The youngster saved me, but I do not know how he happened to see me in the avenue! One more piece of carelessness like this may ruin us! I must extricate myself from this situation at any price. Here is Pauline refusing Godard's proposal. The General, and especially Gertrude, will try to find out the motives of her refusal! But I must hasten to reach the veranda, so that I may have the appearance of having come from the main avenue, as Leon said. I hope no one will catch sight of me from the dining-room. (He meets Ramel.) What, Eugene Ramel!
SCENE EIGHTH
Ferdinand and Ramel.
Ramel
You here, Marcandal!
Ferdinand Hush! Don't pronounce that name in this place! If the General heard that my name was Marcandal, he would kill me at once as if I were a mad dog.
Ramel
And why?
Ferdinand
Because I am the son of General Marcandal.
Ramel A general to whom the Bourbons are in part indebted for their second innings.
Ferdinand In the eyes of General Grandchamp, to leave Napoleon for service under the Bourbons was treason against France. Alas! this was also my father's opinion, for he died of grief. You must therefore remember to call me by the name of Ferdinand Charny, my mother's maiden name.
Ramel
And what are you doing here?
Ferdinand
I am the manager, the cashier, the factotum of Grandchamp's factory.
Ramel
How is this? Do you do it from necessity?
Ferdinand From dire necessity! My father spent everything, even the fortune of my poor mother, who lived during her later years in Brittany on the pension she received as widow of a lieutenant-general.
Ramel How is it that your father, who had command of the Royal Guard, a most brilliant position, died without leaving you anything, not even a patron?
Ferdinand Had he never betrayed his friends, and changed sides, without any reason —
Ramel
Come, come, we won't talk any more about that.
Ferdinand My father was a gambler – that was the reason why he was so indulgent to me. But may I ask what has brought you here?
Ramel
A fortnight ago I was appointed king's attorney at Louviers.
Ferdinand I heard something about it. But the appointment was published under another name.
Ramel
De la Grandiere, I suppose.
Ferdinand
That is it.
Ramel In order that I might marry Mlle. de Boudeville, I obtained permission to assume my mother's name – as you have done. The Boudeville family have given me their protection, and in a year's time I shall doubtless be attorney-general at Rouen – a stepping-stone towards a position at Paris.
Ferdinand
And what brings you to our quiet factory?
Ramel I came to investigate a criminal case, a poisoning affair, – a fine introduction into my office.
(Felix enters.)
Felix
Monsieur, Madame is worrying about you —
Ferdinand Please ask her to excuse me for a few moments. (Exit Felix.) My dear Eugene, in case the General – who like all retired troopers is very inquisitive – should inquire how we happen to meet here, don't forget to say that we came up the main avenue. It is important for me that you should say so. But go on with your story. It is on account of the wife of Champagne, our foreman, that you have come here; but he is innocent as a new-born babe!
Ramel You believe so, do you? Well, the officers of justice are paid for being incredulous. I see that you still remain, as I left you, the noblest, the most enthusiastic fellow in the world; in short, a poet! A poet who puts the poetry into his life instead of writing it, and believes in the good and the beautiful! And that reminds me – that angel of your dreams, that Gertrude of yours, whatever has become of her?
Ferdinand Hush! Not only has the minister of justice sent you here, but some celestial influence has sent to me at Louviers the friend whose help I need in my terrible perplexity. Eugene, come here and listen to me a while. I am going to appeal to you as my college friend, as the confidant of my youth; you won't put on the airs of the prosecuting attorney to me, will you? You will see from the nature of my admissions that I impose upon you the secrecy of the confessional.
Ramel
Is it anything criminal?
Ferdinand Oh, nonsense! My faults are such as the judges themselves would be willing to commit.
Ramel
Perhaps I had better not listen to you; or, if I do listen to you —
Ferdinand
Well!
Ramel
I could demand a change of position.
Ferdinand You are always my best and kindest friend. Listen then! For over three years I have been in love with Mlle. Pauline de Grandchamp, and she —
Ramel
You needn't go on; I understand. You have been reviving Romeo andJuliet– in the heart of Normandy.
Ferdinand With this difference, that the hereditary hatred which stood between the two lovers of the play was a mere trifle in comparison with the loathing with which the Comte de Grandchamp contemplates the son of the traitor Marcandal!
Ramel Let me see! Mlle. Pauline de Grandchamp will be free in three years; she is rich in her own right – I know this from the Boudevilles. You can easily take her to Switzerland and keep her there until the General's wrath has had time to cool; and then you can make him the respectful apologies required under the circumstances.
Ferdinand Do you think I would have asked your advice if the only difficulty lay in the attainment of this trite and easy solution of the problem?
Ramel
Ah! I see, my dear friend. You have already married your
Gertrude – your angel – who has become to you like all other angels, after their metamorphoses into