and approaches the doctor)
Doctor, when the magistrates arrive, will you explain this experiment
of yours; they will be sure to sanction it; and you may be sure that
God, yes God, will hear me. He will work some miracle, He will give
her back to me!

Vernon
I should have ventured upon it before the action of the poison had
wrought its full effects. If I did so now, I should be looked upon as
the poisoner. No (he places a little flask upon the table), it would
be useless now, and to give it with the most disinterested motives
would be looked upon as a crime.

Ferdinand (after holding a mirror before Pauline's lips)
Anything, everything is yet possible; she still breathes.

Vernon
She will not live till daylight.

Pauline
Ferdinand!

Ferdinand
She has just uttered my name.

Vernon
The vitality of a girl of twenty-two is very tenacious! Moreover, she
will preserve consciousness, even to her last gasp. She might possibly
rise from her bed and talk with us, although the sufferings caused by
this terrible poison are inconceivable.

SCENE SECOND

The same persons and the General.

The General (outside)
Vernon!

Vernon (to Ferdinand)
It is the General. (Ferdinand, overcome with grief, falls back on the
armchair, where he is concealed by the curtains of the bed.) What do
you want?

The General
I want to see Pauline!

Vernon
If you take my advice, you will wait awhile; she is very much worse.

The General (entering)
For that reason I shall come in.

Vernon
Do not come in, General. Listen to me!

The General
No, no! Ah, how motionless, how cold she is, Vernon!

Vernon
Listen! General! (Aside) We must get him away somehow. (Aloud) There
is but a faint hope of saving her.

The General
You told me--You must have been deceiving me!

Vernon
My friend, we have to look this catastrophe in the face, as we had to
look towards the batteries through a shower of bullets! On such
occasions, when I hesitated, you always went forward. (Aside) That is
a good idea! (Aloud) You had better bring to her the consolations of
religion.

The General
Vernon, I wish to see her, to give her my last kiss.

Vernon
Be careful!

The General (kissing her)
Oh! How icy cold she is!

Vernon
That is a peculiarity of her sickness, General. Hurry to the priest's
house, for in case my remedies fail, it is not right that your
daughter, who has been reared as a Christian, should be forgott