g silk curtains.)

Dupre, Pamela, Giraud and Madame Giraud.

(Pamela is seated on a chair reading; her mother is standing in front
of her; Giraud is examining the pictures on the wall; Dupre is
striding up and down the room.)

Dupre (stopping, addresses Giraud)
Did you take your usual precautions in coming here this morning?

Giraud
You may rest assured of that, sir; when I come here I walk with my
head turned backwards! I know well enough that the least want of
caution quickly results in misfortune. Your heart, my daughter, has
led you astray this time; perjury is a terrible thing and I am afraid
you are in a serious mess.

Mme. Giraud
I agree with you. You must be very careful, Giraud, for if any one
were to follow you and discover that our poor daughter was here in
concealment, through the generosity of M. Dupre--

Dupre
Come now, enough of that! (He continues to stride hastily about the
room.) What ingratitude! The Rousseau family are ignorant of what
steps I have taken. They believe that Pamela has been arrested, and
none of them trouble their heads about it! They have sent Jules off to
Brussels; De Verby is in the country; and Rousseau carries on his
business at the Bourse as if nothing else was worth living for. Money,
ambition, are their sole objects. The higher feelings count for
nothing! They all worship the golden calf. Money makes them dance
round their idol; the sight of it blinds them.

(Pamela has been watching him, she rises and approaches him.)

Pamela
M. Dupre, you are agitated, you seem unwell. I fear it is on my
account.

Dupre
Have you not shared my disgust at the hateful want of feeling
manifested by this family, who, as soon as their son is acquitted,
throw you aside as a mere tool that has served their purpose?

Pamela
But what can we do about it, sir?

Dupre
Dear child, does your heart feel no bitterness against them?

Pamela
No, sir! I am happier than any of them; for I feel that I have done a
good deed.

Mme. Giraud (embracing Pamela)
My poor dear daughter!

Giraud
This is the happiest moment of my life.

Dupre (addressing Pamela)
Mademoiselle, you are a noble girl! No one has better ground for
saying it than I, for it was I who came to you imploring you to speak
the truth; and pure and honorable as you are, you have compromised
your character for the sake of anothe