e, you are beside yourself!

Godard (to Pauline)
Ah! Mademoiselle, that is bad play!

Pauline
You lost a great deal by not taking my stepmother for a partner.

Gertrude (to Ferdinand)
Ferdinand, I do not know whether I am rightly or wrongly informed; but
this I do know; I prefer death to the loss of our hopes.

Ferdinand
Take care! The doctor has been watching us very keenly for the last
few days.

Gertrude (aside)
She has not once looked back at him! (Aloud) She will marry Godard,
for her father will compel her to do so.

Ferdinand
Godard would make an excellent match for any one.

The General
I can't stay here any longer! My daughter plays vilely, and you,
Vernon, have trumped my king!

Vernon
My dear General, it was a finesse.

The General
You stupid! Come, it is ten o'clock, and time to go to sleep instead
of playing cards. Ferdinand, be good enough to take Godard to his
room. As for you, Vernon, you deserve to sleep on the floor as a
punishment, for trumping my king.

Godard
It is, after all, merely a matter of five francs, General.

The General
It is also a matter of honor. (To Vernon) Come, now, although you have
played so badly, let me hand you your hat and cane.

(Pauline takes a flower from the vase and plays with it.)

Gertrude (aside)
A signal! I will watch her this night, even though my husband should
afterwards kill me for it!

Ferdinand (taking a candlestick from Felix)
M. de Rimonville, I am at your service.

Godard
I wish you good-night, madame. My respects to you, mademoiselle.
General, good-night.

The General
Good-night, Godard.

Godard
De Rimonville--Doctor, I--

Vernon (looking at him and blowing his nose)
Good-bye, my friend.

The General (attending the doctor on his way out)
Good-bye till to-morrow, Vernon, but come early.

SCENE SIXTH

Gertrude, Pauline and the General.

Gertrude
My dear, Pauline refuses Godard.

The General
And what are your reasons, my daughter?

Pauline
I do not like him sufficiently to take him for a husband.

The General
Well, never mind! We will look out some one else for you; but it is
time for this to end, for you are now twenty-two, and people will
begin to talk about you, my wife and me unless you make an early
choice.

Pauline
May I not be permitted, if I choose, to remain single?

Gertrude
She has made her choice, but probably wishes to tell you by yourself.
I will leave you, a