your daughter, by
alleging this?

Mme. Giraud
I would never say such a thing.

Giraud
What! Insult my child! Sir, I have had all possible troubles. I was
once a tailor, now I am reduced to nothing. I am a porter! But I have
remained a father. My daughter is our sole treasure, the glory of our
old age, and you ask us to dishonor her?

Mme. du Brocard
Pray listen to me, sir.

Giraud
No, madame, I will listen to nothing. My daughter is the hope of my
gray hairs.

Pamela
Calm yourself, father, I implore you.

Mme. Giraud
Keep quite, Giraud! Do let this lady and gentleman speak!

Mme. du Brocard
A family in deep affliction implores you to save them.

Pamela (aside)
Poor Jules!

De Verby (in a low voice to Pamela)
His fate is in your hands.

Mme. Giraud
We are respectable people and know what it is for parents, for a
mother, to be in despair. But what you ask is out of the question.

(Pamela puts a handkerchief to her eyes.)

Giraud
We must stop this! You see the girl is in tears.

Mme. Giraud
She has done nothing but weep for several days.

Giraud
I know my daughter; she would be capable of going and making the
declaration they ask, in spite of us.

Mme. Giraud
Yes,--for you must see, she loves him, she loves your nephew! And to
save his life--Well! Well! I would have done as much in her place.

Mme. du Brocard
Have compassion on us!

De Verby
Grant this request of ours--

Mme. du Brocard (to Pamela)
If it is true that you love Jules--

Mme. Giraud (leading Giraud up to Pamela)
Did you hear that? Well! Listen to me. She is in love with this youth.
It is quite certain that he also is in love with her. If she should
make a sacrifice like that, as a return, he ought to marry her.

Pamela (with vehemence)
Never! (Aside) These people would not wish it, not they.

De Verby (to Mme. du Brocard)
They are consulting about it.

Mme. du Brocard (in a low voice to De Verby)
It will be absolutely necessary for us to make a sacrifice. We must
appeal to their interest. It is the only plan!

De Verby
In venturing to ask of you so great a sacrifice, we are quite aware of
the claims that you will have on our gratitude. The family of Jules,
who might have blamed you on account of your relations with him, are,
on the contrary, anxious to discharge the obligations which bind them
to