t is only my father and mother.

Jules
You have the kindness of an angel. I trust my fate with you. But you
must know that both of us must leave this house at once; and I swear
on my honor, that nothing but good shall result to you.

(He hides again under the roof.)

SCENE THIRD

Pamela, M. Giraud and Mme. Giraud.

Pamela (who stands in such a way as to prevent her parents from
entering fully into the room; aside)
Evidently here is a man in danger--and a man who loves me--two reasons
why I should be interested in him.

Mme. Giraud
How is this, Pamela--you the solace of all our misfortunes, the prop
of our old age, our only hope!

Giraud
A girl brought up on the strictest principles.

Mme. Giraud
Keep quiet, Giraud! You don't know what you are talking about.

Giraud
Certainly, Madame Giraud.

Mme. Giraud
And besides all this, Pamela, your example was cited in all the
neighborhood as a girl who'd be useful to your parents in their
declining years!

Giraud
And worthy to receive the prize of virtue!

Pamela
Then what is the meaning of all these reproaches?

Mme. Giraud
Joseph has just told us that you had a man hidden in your room.

Giraud
Yes--he heard the voice.

Mme. Giraud
Silence, Giraud!--Pamela--pay no attention to your father--

Pamela
And do you, mother, pay no attention to Joseph.

Giraud
What did I tell you on the stairs, Madame Giraud? Pamela knows how we
count upon her. She wishes to make a good match as much on our account
as on her own; her heart bleeds to see us porters, us, the authors of
her life! She is too sensible to blunder in this matter. Is it not so,
my child, you would not deceive your father?

Mme. Giraud
There is nobody here, is there, my love? For a young working-girl to
have any one in her room, at ten o'clock at night--well--she runs a
risk of losing--

Pamela
But it seems to me that if I had any one you would have seen him on
his way up.

Giraud
She is right.

Mme. Giraud
She does not answer straight out. Please open the door of this room.

Pamela
Mother, stop! Do not come in here,--you shall not come in here!--
Listen to me; as I love you, mother, and you, father, I have nothing
to reproach myself with!--and I swear to it before God!--Do not in a
moment withdraw from your daughter the confidence which y