forgive
me! (Aloud) It was my saint's day--my name is Louise Pamela--and he
was kind enough to bring me a bouquet, without the knowledge of my
father or mother; he came in the evening, late. Ah! you need have no
fear, sir--you see I shall tell all. (Aside) And all is a lie!

Dupre
He will be saved! (Rousseau appears) Ah! sir! (running to the door of
the room) Come all of you and thank your deliverer!

SCENE SIXTH

Rousseau, De Verby, Madame du Brocard, Giraud, Madame Giraud, Dupre,
and later Joseph Binet.

All
Does she consent?

Rousseau
You have saved my son. I shall never forget it.

Mme. du Brocard
You have put us under eternal obligations, my child.

Rousseau
My fortune shall be at your disposal.

Dupre
I will not say anything to you, my child! We shall meet again!

Joseph (coming out of the closet)
One moment! One moment! I have heard everything--and do you believe
that I am going to put up with that? I was here in concealment all the
time. And do you think I am going to let Pamela, whom I have loved and
have wished to make my wife, say all that? (To Dupre) This is the way
you are going to earn my fourteen hundred francs, eh! Well, I shall go
to court myself and testify that the whole thing is a lie.

All
Great heaven!

Dupre
You miserable wretch!

De Verby
If you say a single word--

Joseph
Oh, I am not afraid!

De Verby (to Rousseau and Mme. du Brocard)
He shall never go to court! If necessary, I will have him shadowed,
and I will put men on the watch to prevent him from entering.

Joseph
I'd just like to see you try it!

(Enter a sheriff's officer, who goes up to Dupre.)

Dupre
What do you want?

The sheriff's officer
I am the court officer of the Assizes--Mlle. Pamela Giraud! (Pamela
comes forward.) In virtue of discretionary authority of the presiding
judge, you are summoned to appear before him to-morrow at ten o'clock.

Joseph (to De Verby)
I will go also.

The officer
The porter has told me that you have here a gentleman called Joseph
Binet.

Joseph
Here I am!

The officer
Please take your summons.

Joseph
I told you that I would go!

(The officer withdraws; every one is alarmed at the threats of Binet.
Dupre tries to speak to him and reason with him, but he steals away.)

Curtain to the Third Act.