ou have had
in her for so long a time.

Mme. Giraud
But why not tell us?

Pamela (aside)
Impossible! If they were to see this young man every one would soon
know all about it.

Giraud (interrupting her)
We are your father and mother, and we must see!

Pamela
For the first time in my life, I refuse to obey you!--But you force me
to it!--These lodgings are rented by me from the earnings of my work!
I am of age and mistress of my own actions.

Mme. Giraud
Oh, Pamela! Can this be you, on whom we have placed all our hopes?

Giraud
You will ruin yourself!--and I shall remain a porter to the end of my
days.

Pamela
You needn't be afraid of that! Well--I admit that there is some one
here; but silence! You must go down stairs again to your lodge. You
must tell Joseph that he does not know what he is talking about, that
you have searched everywhere, that there is no one in my lodging; you
must send him away--then you shall see this young man; you shall learn
what I purpose doing. But you must keep everything the most profound
secret.

Giraud
Unhappy girl! What do you take us for? (He sees the banknotes on the
table.) Ah! what is this? Banknotes!

Mme. Giraud
Banknotes! (She recoils from Pamela.) Pamela, where did you get them?

Pamela
I will tell you when I write.

Giraud
When you write! She must be going to elope!

SCENE FOURTH

The same persons, and Joseph Binet.

Joseph (entering)
I was quite sure that there was something wrong about him!--He is a
ringleader of thieves! The gendarmes, the magistrate, all the
excitement she showed mean something--and now the house is surrounded!

Jules (appearing)
I am lost!

Pamela
I have done all that I could!

Giraud
And you, sir, who are you?

Joseph
Are you a--?

Mme. Giraud
Speak!

Jules
But for this idiot, I would have escaped! You will now have the ruin
of an innocent man on your consciences.

Pamela
M. Adolph, are you innocent?

Jules
I am!

Pamela
What shall we do? (Pointing to the dormer window.) You can elude
their pursuit that way out.

(She opens the dormer window and finds the police agents on the roof
outside.)

Jules
It is too late. All you can do is to confirm my statement. You must
declare that I am your daughter's lover; that I have asked you to give
her in m