Leave the room! Oh, indeed! Not I.

(Joseph makes as if he had withdrawn, but, quietly returning, hides
himself in a closet.)

Dupre (to Pamela)
You have consented to see me, and I thank you for it. I know exactly
what has recently taken place here, and I am not going to address you
in the same way as you have been recently addressed.

Pamela
Your very presence assures me of that, sir.

Dupre
You are in love with this fine young man, this Joseph?

Pamela
I am aware, sir, that advocates are like confessors!

Dupre
My child, they have to be just as safe confidants. You may tell me
everything without reserve.

Pamela
Well, sir, I did love him; that is to say, I thought I loved him, and
I would very willingly have become his wife. I thought that with his
energy Joseph would have made a good business, and that we could lead
together a life of toil. When prosperity came, we would have taken
with us my father and my mother; it was all very clear--it would have
been a united family!

Dupre (aside)
The appearance of this young girl is in her favor! Let us see whether
she is sincere or not. (Aloud) What are you thinking about?

Pamela
I was thinking about these past days, which seemed to me so happy in
comparison with the present. A fortnight ago my head was turned by the
sight of M. Jules; I fell in love with him, as young girls do fall in
love, as I have seen other young girls fall in love with young men--
with a love which would endure everything for those they loved! I used
to say to myself: shall I ever be like that? Well, at this moment I do
not know anything that I would not endure for M. Jules. A few moments
ago they offered me money,--they, from whom I expected such nobleness,
such greatness; and I was disgusted! Money! I have plenty of it, sir!
I have twenty thousand francs! They are here, they are yours! That is
to say, they are his! I have kept them to use in my efforts to save
him, for I have betrayed him, because I doubted him, while he was so
confident, so sure of me--and I was so distrustful of him!

Dupre
And he gave you twenty thousand francs?

Pamela
Ah, sir! He entrusted them with me. Here they are. I shall return them
to his family, if he dies; but he shall not die! Tell me? Is it not
so? You ought to know.

Dupre
My dear child, bear in mind that your whole life, perhaps your
happiness, depen