. Giraud (opening the door)
There are some people here!

Giraud
A lady and a gentleman.

Joseph
What did you say?

(Pamela rises from her seat and takes a step toward M. de Verby, who
bows to her.)

Mme. du Brocard
Is this Mlle. Pamela Giraud?

Pamela
It is, madame.

De Verby
Forgive us, mademoiselle, for presenting ourselves without previous
announcement--

Pamela
There is no harm done. May I know the object of this visit?

Mme. du Brocard
And you, good people, are her father and mother?

Mme. Giraud
Yes, madame.

Joseph
She calls them good people--she must be one of the swells.

Pamela
Will you please be seated.

(Mme. Giraud offers them seats.)

Joseph (to Giraud)
My eye! The gentleman has on the ribbon of the Legion of Honor! He
belongs to high society.

Giraud (looking at De Verby)
By my faith, that's true!

Mme. du Brocard
I am the aunt of M. Jules Rousseau.

Pamela
You, madame? Then this gentleman must be his father?

Mme. du Brocard
He is merely a friend of the family. We are come, mademoiselle, to ask
a favor of you. (Looking at Binet with embarrassment.) Your brother?

Giraud
No, madame, just a neighbor of ours.

Mme. du Brocard (to Pamela)
Send him away.

Joseph (aside)
Send him away, indeed. I'd like to know what right she has--

(Pamela makes a sign to Joseph.)

Giraud (to Joseph)
My friend, you had better leave us. It seems this is a private matter.

Joseph
Very well. (Exit.)

SCENE FOURTH

The same persons excepting Binet.

Mme. du Brocard (to Pamela)
You are acquainted with my nephew. I do not intend to reproach you.
Your parents alone have the right.

Mme. Giraud
But, thank God, they have no reason.

Giraud
It is your nephew who has caused all this talk about her, but she is
blameless!

De Verby (interrupting him)
But suppose that we wish her to be guilty?

Pamela
What do you mean, sir?

Giraud and Mme. Giraud
To think of it!

Mme. du Brocard (seizing De Verby's meaning)
Yes, suppose, to save the life of a poor young man--

De Verby
It were necessary to declare that M. Jules Rousseau spent nearly the
whole night of the twenty-fourth of August here with you?

Pamela
Ah! sir!

De Verby (to Giraud and his wife)
Yes, suppose it were necessary to testify against