od mother! (He embraces his mother.) Ah! I see you once
more! (To Mme. du Brocard) Dear aunt!

Mme. Rousseau
My poor child! Come! Come--close to me; they will not dare-- (To the
police, who approach her) Leave him, leave him here!

Rousseau (rushing towards the police)
Be kind enough--

Dupre (to the magistrate)
Monsieur!

Jules
My dear mother, calm yourself! I shall soon be free; yes, be quite
sure of that, and we will not part again.

Antoine (to Rousseau)
Sir, they wish to visit M. Jules's room.

Rousseau (to the magistrate)
In a moment, monsieur. I will go with you myself. (To Dupre, pointing
to Jules) Do not leave him!

(He goes out conducting the magistrate, who makes a sign to the police
to keep guard on Jules.)

Jules (seizing the hand of De Verby)
Ah, general! (To Dupre) And how good and generous of you, M. Dupre, to
come here and comfort my mother. (In a low voice) Ah! conceal from her
my danger. (Aloud, looking at his mother) Tell her the truth. Tell her
that she has nothing to fear.

Dupre
I will tell her that it is in her power to save you.

Mme. Rousseau
In my power?

Mme. du Brocard
How can that be?

Dupre (to Mme. Rousseau)
By imploring him to disclose the names of those who have led him on.

De Verby (to Dupre)
Monsieur!

Mme. Rousseau
Yes, and you ought to do it. I, your mother, demand it of you.

Mme. du Brocard
Oh, certainly! My nephew shall tell everything. He has been led on by
people who now abandon him to his fate, and he in his turn ought--

De Verby (in a low voice to Dupre)
What, sir! Would you advise your client to betray--?

Dupre (quickly)
Whom?

De Verby (in a troubled voice)
But--can't we find some other method? M. Jules knows what a man of
high spirit owes to himself.

Dupre (aside)
He is the man--I felt sure of it!

Jules (to his mother and aunt)
Never, though I should die for it--never will I compromise any one
else.

(De Verby shows his pleasure at this declaration.)

Mme. Rousseau
Ah! my God! (Looking at the police.) And there is no chance of our
helping him to escape here!

Mme. du Brocard
No! that is out of the question.

Antoine (coming into the room)
M. Jules, they are asking for you.

Jules
I am coming!

Mme. Rousseau
Ah! I cannot let you go.

(She turns to the police with a supplicating look.)

Mme