rd
You talk about the tea in order to distract my attention from the
interest you take in what I am telling you. I see through it all!
Well, come now, I am going to astonish you. You must know that M.
Ferdinand is--

Pauline
Is--?

Godard
A millionaire.

Pauline
You are joking, M. Godard.

Godard
On my word of honor, mademoiselle, he possesses a treasure. (Aside)
She is madly in love with him.

Pauline (aside)
How this fool startled me.

(Pauline rises from her seat and Vernon takes the teacup from her
hand.)

Vernon
Let me take it, my child.

The General (to his wife)
What ails you, dearest? You seem--

Vernon (who has retained Pauline's cup and returned his own in its
place to Gertrude. Aside)
It is laudanum; fortunately the dose is light; but it is very certain
that something is about to happen. (To Godard) M. Godard, you are a
crafty fox. (Godard takes out his handkerchief as if to blow his
nose.) Ah!

Godard
Doctor, I bear no ill-will.

Vernon
Listen! Do you think that you could carry off the General to the
factory and keep him there for an hour.

Godard
I would like to have that youngster to help me.

Vernon
He is at school until dinner-time.

Godard
Why do you wish me to do this?

Vernon
Now I beg of you, for you are a good fellow, to do as I bid you; it is
necessary. Do you love Pauline?

Godard
I did love her yesterday, but this morning-- (Aside) I must find out
what he is concealing from me. (To Vernon) It shall be done! I will go
on to the veranda and come back again with a message that Ferdinand
sends for the General. You may rely upon me. Ah! Here is Ferdinand
himself, that is all right!

(Godard goes on the veranda.)

Pauline
'Tis peculiar, how drowsy I feel.

(Pauline lies down on the divan; Ferdinand appears and talks with
Godard.)

SCENE TENTH

The same persons and Ferdinand.

Ferdinand
General, it will be necessary for you to come to the office and the
factory in order to verify my accounts.

The General
That is only just to you.

Pauline (drowsily)
Ferdinand!

Godard
Ah, General, I'll take advantage of this occasion to visit your
establishment with you, for I have never seen it.

The General
Very good, come along, Godard.

Godard
De Rimonville.

Gertrude (aside)
If they go away, fortune will favor me indeed.

Vernon (who has overheard her, aside)
Fortune, in this case, is represented by me--