you.

Mme. Giraud
Ah! Did I not tell you so?

Pamela
Can it be possible that Jules--

De Verby
I am authorized to make a promise to you.

Pamela (with emotion)
Oh!

De Verby
Tell me, how much do you ask for the sacrifice required of you?

Pamela (in consternation)
What do you mean? How much--I ask--for saving Jules? What do you take
me for?

Mme. du Brocard
Ah! Mademoiselle!

De Verby
You misunderstand me.

Pamela
No, it is you who misunderstand us! You are come here, to the house of
poor people, and you are quite unaware of what you ask from them. You,
madame, ought to know that whatever be the rank or the education of a
woman, her honor is her sole treasure! And that which you in your own
families guard with so much care, with so much reverence, you actually
believe that people here, living in an attic, would be willing to
sell! And you have said to yourselves: "Let us offer them money! We
need just now the sacrifice of a working-girl's honor!"

Giraud
That is excellent! I recognize my own blood there.

Mme. du Brocard
My dear child, do not be offended! Money is money, after all.

De Verby (addressing Giraud)
Undoubtedly! And six thousand francs for a solid annual income as a
price of--a--

Pamela
As the price of a lie! For I must out with it. But thank God I haven't
yet lost my self-respect! Good-bye, sir.

(Pamela makes a low bow to Mme. du Brocard, then goes into her bed-
chamber.)

De Verby
What is to be done?

Mme. du Brocard
I am quite nonplussed.

Giraud
I quite admit that an income of six thousand francs is no trifle, but
our daughter has a high spirit, you see; she takes after me--

Mme. Giraud
And she will never yield.

SCENE FIFTH

The same persons, Joseph Binet, Dupre and Mme. Rousseau.

Joseph
This way, sir. This way, madame. (Dupre and Mme. Rousseau enter.)
These are the father and mother of Pamela Giraud!

Dupre (to De Verby)
I am very sorry, sir, that you have got here before me!

Mme. Rousseau
My sister has doubtless told you, madame, the sacrifice which we
expect your daughter to make for us. Only an angel would make it.

Joseph
What sacrifice?

Mme. Giraud
It is no business of yours.

De Verby
We have just had an interview with Mlle. Pamela--

Mme. du Brocard
She has refused!

Mme