Pauline
What a terrible duel it will be!

Ferdinand Terrible!  But, Pauline be courageous, as you have so far been, in keeping the secret of our love; do not acknowledge it, until you find it no longer possible to deny it.

Pauline Oh, why did your father betray the Emperor?  If fathers knew how their children would be punished for the sins of their parents, there would be none but good men!

Ferdinand Perhaps this sad interview will prove the last moment of happiness we shall have!

Pauline (aside) I will rejoin him, if he leaves me—­(Aloud) See, I no longer weep, I am full of courage!  But tell me, will your friend know the place where you are hiding?

Ferdinand
Eugene will be our confidential friend.

Pauline
And the letters?

Ferdinand
To-morrow!  To-morrow!  But where will you conceal them?

Pauline
I shall keep them about me.

Ferdinand
Good!  Farewell!

Pauline
Oh no, not yet!

Ferdinand
A moment more may ruin us.

Pauline
Or unite us for life.  Come, let me show you out, I shall not rest
until I see you in the garden.  Come!

Ferdinand
Let me take one more glance at this maiden chamber, in which you will
think of me—­where all things speak of you.

(Scene curtain.)

Scene eleventh

(The drawing-room before described.)

Pauline on the veranda; Gertrude at the door of the room.

Gertrude
She is seeing him out!  He has been deceiving me!  So has she! (Taking
Pauline by the hand, she leads her to the front of the stage.) Will
you dare tell me, now, mademoiselle, that you do not love him?

Pauline
Madame, I am deceiving no one.

Gertrude
You are deceiving your father.

Pauline
And you, madame?

Gertrude
So both of you are against me—­Oh, I shall—­

Pauline
You shall do nothing, either against me or against him.

Gertrude
Do not compel me to show my power!  You must be obedient to your
father, and—­he is obedient to me.

Pauline
We shall see!

Gertrude (aside)
Her coolness makes my blood boil.  My brain reels! (Aloud) Do you know
that I would rather die than live without him?

Pauline
And so would I, madame.  But I am free.  I have not sworn as you have to
be faithful to a husband—­And your husband is my father!

Gertrude (kneeling before Pauline)
What have I done to you?  I have loved you, I have educated you, I have
been a good mother to you.

Pauline
Be a faithful wife, and I will say no more.

Gertrude
Nay!  Speak!  Say all you like—­Ah! the struggle has begun.

Scenetwelfth

The same persons and the General.