ng me in this
sanctuary of innocence. Madame de Grandchamp and your father have just
informed me of something which would have overwhelmed me with
happiness yesterday, but rather astonishes me to-day.

The General
That is to say, M. Godard--

Pauline
Do not be hasty, father, M. Godard is right. You do not know all I
said to him yesterday.

Godard
You are far too clever, mademoiselle, not to consider as quite natural
the curiosity of an honorable young man, who has an income of forty
thousand francs, besides his savings, to learn of the reason why he
should be accepted after a lapse of twenty-four hours from his
rejection--For, yesterday, it was at this very hour--(He pulls out his
watch) Half-past five--

The General
What do you mean by all this? It looks as if you are not as much in
love as you said you were. You have come here to complain of a
charming girl at the very moment when she has told you--

Godard
I would not complain, if the subject were not marriage. Marriage,
General, is at once the cause and the effect of sentiment.

The General
Pardon me, Godard, I am a little hasty, as you know.

Pauline (to Godard)
Sir--(Aside) Oh, how I suffer! (Aloud) Sir, why should poor young
girls--

Godard
Poor? No, no, mademoiselle; you are not poor. You have four hundred
thousand francs.

Pauline
Why should weak young girls--

Godard
Weak?

Pauline
Well, then, innocent young persons--be so very fastidious about the
character of the man who presents himself as their lord and master? If
you love me, will you punish yourself--will you punish me--because
your love has been submitted to a test?

Godard
Of course, from that point of view--

The General
Oh! These women! These women!

Godard
You may just as well say, "These daughters."

The General
Yes, for I am quite sure that mine has more brains than I have.

SCENE SEVENTEENTH

The same persons, Gertrude and then Napoleon.

Gertrude
How has it turned out, M. Godard?

Godard
Ah, Madame! General! My happiness is complete, and my dream fulfilled.
For now I am to be admitted into a family like yours. To think that I
--Ah! Madame! General! (Aside) I'd like to find out the mystery, for
she has precious little love for me.

Napoleon (entering)
Papa, I have won the school medal--Good-day, mamma--and where is
Pauline? And so you are sick? Poor little sister! I'll tell you
something--I have found out where justice c