you a bit of advice--
a slight taste of transportation will not do him any harm; in fact, it
will teach him to leave the government in peace. (Exit.)

SCENE EIGHTH

Rousseau, Madame Rousseau, Madame du Brocard (attended by Justine) and
Dupre.

Mme. Rousseau
Poor child! What courage he shows!

Dupre
I hope to save him for you, madame; but it cannot be done without
making great sacrifices.

Rousseau
Sir, the half of our fortune is at your disposal.

Mme. du Brocard
And the half of mine.

Dupre
It is always the half of some fortune or other. I am going to try to
do my duty--afterwards, you must do yours; we shall have to make great
efforts. You, madame, must rouse yourself, for I have great hopes.

Mme. Rousseau
Ah! sir, what can you mean?

Dupre
A little time ago, your son was a ruined man; at the present moment, I
believe he can be saved.

Mme. Rousseau
What must we do?

Mme. du Brocard
What do you ask?

Rousseau
You may be sure we will do as you require.

Dupre
I feel certain you will. This is my plan which will undoubtedly
succeed with the jury. Your son had an intrigue with a certain
working-girl, Pamela Giraud, the daughter of a porter.

Mme. du Brocard
What low people!

Dupre
Yet you will have to humble yourselves to them. Your son was always
with this young girl, and in this point lies the sole hope of his
deliverance. The very evening on which the public prosecutor avers
that he attended a meeting of the conspirators, he was possibly
visiting her. If this is a fact, if she declares that he remained with
her that night, if her father and her mother, if the rival of Jules
confirm the testimony--we shall then have ground for hope. When the
choice has to be made between a sentence of guilty and an alibi, the
jury prefers the alibi.

Mme. Rousseau (aside)
Ah! sir, you bring back life to me.

Rousseau
Sir, we owe you a debt of eternal gratitude.

Dupre (looking at them)
What sum of money must I offer to the daughter, to the father and to
the mother?

Mme. du Brocard
Are they poor?

Dupre
They are, but the matter concerns their honor.

Mme. du Brocard
Oh, she is only a working-girl!

Dupre (ironically)
It ought to be done very cheaply.

Rousseau
What do you think?

Dupre
I think that you are bargaining for the li