e General
She is going to marry Godard! (Aside) It seems to me as if she were
giving up some love affair of which she did not wish to tell me. As
far as I can understand from what my wife has told me, the unknown one
is ineligible, and Pauline did not discover his unworthiness until
yesterday.

Vernon
And you believe this? Do not precipitate matters, General. We will
talk it over this evening. (Aside) Before then I am going to have a
few words with Madame de Grandchamp.

Pauline (to Gertrude)
The doctor knows all!

Gertrude
Ah!

Pauline (she puts back into the pocket of Gertrude the handkerchief
and the key, while the latter is looking at Vernon, who converses with
the General)
Keep him away, for he is capable of telling all he knows to the
General. We must at least protect Ferdinand.

Gertrude (aside)
She is right. (Aloud) Doctor, I have just been informed that Francis,
one of our best workmen, is sick; he hasn't appeared this morning, and
you might go and visit him.

The General
Francis? Oh! Vernon, you had better go and see him--

Vernon
Doesn't he live at Pre-l'Eveque? (Aside) More than three leagues away.

The General
Are you alarmed about Pauline?

Vernon
It is simply an attack of nerves.

Gertrude
I can take your place here, doctor, if that is so, can't I?

Vernon
Yes. (To the General) I'll undertake to say that Francis is about as
sick as I am! The fact of it is, I see rather too much and my presence
is not desired--

The General (in a rage)
What are you talking about? To whom do you refer?

Vernon
Are you going to fly into a passion again? Do calm yourself, my old
friend, or you will cause yourself eternal remorse.

The General
Remorse?

Vernon
Just keep these people talking, till I return.

The General
But--

Gertrude (to Pauline)
Tell me, how do you feel now, my sweet angel?

The General
Just look at them.

Vernon
Ah! Well, women stab each other with a smile and a kiss.

SCENE FIFTEENTH

The same persons (except Vernon) and Marguerite.

Gertrude (to the General, who seems as if he were bewildered by the
last words of Vernon)
What is the matter with you?

The General (passing before Gertrude to the side of Pauline)
Nothing, nothing! Tell me, my little Pauline, is your engagement with
Godard to be quite voluntary?

Pauline
Quite voluntary.

Gertrude (aside)
Ah!

The General
He will be here soon.

Pauline
I am expecting