r tears)
Thank God for that!

Dupre
What do you expect to do? What are your plans?

Jules
What are my plans? To unite my fortune with hers. If necessary, to
forfeit everything for her, and under God's protection to say to her,
"Pamela, will you be mine?"

Dupre
The deuce you say! But there is a slight difficulty in the way--for I
am going to marry her myself.

Jules (in great astonishment)
You?

Dupre
Yes, I! (Pamela casts down her eyes.) I have no family to oppose my
wishes.

Jules
I will win over mine.

Dupre
They will send you off to Brussels again.

Jules
I must run and find my mother; my courage has returned! Were I to
forfeit the favor of my father, were my aunt to cut me off with a sou,
I would stand my ground. If I did otherwise, I should be destitute of
self-respect, I should prove myself a soulless coward.--After that, is
there any hope for me?

Dupre
Do you ask such a question of me?

Jules
Pamela, answer, I implore you!

Pamela (to Dupre)
I have given you my word, sir.

SCENE THIRD

The same persons and a servant.

(The servant hands a card to Dupre.)

Dupre (looking at the card with great surprise)
How is this? (To Jules) Do you know where M. de Verby is?

Jules
He is in Normandy, staying with his brother, Comte de Verby.

Dupre (looking at the card)
Very good. Now you had better go and find your mother.

Jules
But you promise me?

Dupre
I promise nothing.

Jules
Good-bye, Pamela! (Aside, as he goes out) I will come back soon.

Dupre (turning towards Pamela, after the departure of Jules)
Must he come back again?

Pamela (with great emotion, throwing herself into his arms)
Ah! sir! (Exit.)

Dupre (looking after her and wiping away a tear)
Gratitude, forsooth! (Opening a narrow secret door.) Come in, general;
come in!

SCENE FOURTH

Dupre and De Verby.

Dupre
Strange, sir, to find you here, when every one believes that you are
fifty leagues away from Paris.

De Verby
I arrived this morning.

Dupre
Without doubt some powerful motive brought you here?

De Verby
No selfish motive; but I couldn't remain wholly indifferent to the
affairs of others! You may prove useful to me.

Dupre
I shall be only too happy to have an opportunity of serving you.

Du Verb