enhances all human happiness, which makes us understand that happiness
which is divine,--do you consider such a love to be dearer and more
precious to us than life?

Gertrude
You have been reading the _Nouvelle Heloise_, my dear. What you say is
rather stilted in diction, but it is nevertheless true.

Pauline
Well, madame, you have just caused me to commit suicide.

Gertrude
The very act you would have been happy to see me commit; and if you
had succeeded in forcing me to it, you would have felt in your heart
the joy which fills mine at present.

Pauline
According to my father, war between civilized nations has its laws;
but the war which you wage against me, madame, is that of savages.

Gertrude
You may do as I do, if you can--but you can do nothing! You shall
marry Godard. He is a very good match for you; you will be very happy,
I assure you, for he has fine qualities.

Pauline
And you think that I will quietly let you marry Ferdinand?

Gertrude
After the few words which we have exchanged this evening, why should
we now indulge in the language of hypocrisy? I was in love with
Ferdinand, my dear Pauline, when you were but eight years old.

Pauline
But now you are more than thirty--and I am still young. Moreover, he
hates you, he abhors you! He has told me so, and he wishes to have
nothing to do with a woman capable of the black treachery with which
you have acted towards my father.

Gertrude
In the eyes of Ferdinand, my love will serve as my vindication.

Pauline
He shares the feelings which I have for you; he despises you, madame.

Gertrude
Do you really believe it? Well, if it is so, my dear, I have one more
reason for the position I take, for if he refuses to become my
husband, to gratify his love, Pauline, you will force me to marry him
for the sake of satisfying my revenge. When he came to this house, was
he not aware that I was here?

Pauline
You probably caught him by some such snare as you have just set for
us, and into which both of us have fallen.

Gertrude
Now, my child, a single word more will put an end to everything
between us. Have you not said a hundred times, a thousand times, in
moments when you were all feeling, all soul, that you would make the
greatest sacrifices for Ferdinand?

Pauline
Yes, madame.

Gertrude
You said you would leave your father, would flee from France; you
would give your life, your honor, your salvation for Ferdinand?

Pauline
Yes, and if there i