strophe every moment. Yes. And I always
carry about me something which will enable me to quit this life, the
very moment that misfortune falls on us. See! (She shows him a phial.)
Now you know that life that I have lived!

Ferdinand
Ah! you weep!

Gertrude
I swore that I would keep back these tears, but they are strangling
me! For you--While you speak to me with that cold politeness which
is your last insult,--your last insult to a love which you
repudiate!--you show not the least sympathy towards me! You would like
to see me dead, for then you would be unhampered by me. But, Ferdinand,
you do not know me! I am willing to confess everything to the General,
whom I would not deceive. This lying fills me with disgust! I shall take
my child, I shall come to your house, we will flee together. But no more
of Pauline!

Ferdinand
If you did this, I would kill myself.

Gertrude
And I, too, would kill myself! Then we should be united in death, and
you would never be hers!

Ferdinand (aside)
What an infernal creature!

Gertrude
And there is this consideration. What would you do if the barrier
which separates you from Pauline were never broken down?

Ferdinand
Pauline will be able to maintain her own independence.

Gertrude
But if her father should marry her to some one else?

Ferdinand
It would be my death.

Gertrude
People die of love in romance. In real life they console themselves
with some one else, and a man only does his duty by being true to her
with whom he has plighted troth.

The General (outside)
Gertrude! Gertrude!

Gertrude
I hear the general calling. (The General appears.) You will then
finish your business as quickly as you can, M. Ferdinand, and return
promptly; I shall wait for you here.

(Exit Ferdinand.)

SCENE THIRD

The General, Gertrude, then Pauline.

The General
This is rather early in the morning for you to be holding a conference
with Ferdinand! What were you discussing? The factory?

Gertrude
What were we discussing? I will tell you; for you are exactly like
your son; when once you begin to ask questions, you must have a direct
answer. I had an impression that Ferdinand had something to do with
Pauline's refusal to marry Godard.

The General
When I come to think of it, you were perhaps right.

Gertrude
I got M. Ferdinand to come here for the purpose of clearing up my
suspicions, and you interrupted us at the very moment when I seeme