sure of this is enough for us, us for whom a pure, a heavenly love is something never to be realized.  Men never believe that they are loved by us, until they have brought us down into the mire!  And this is how he has rewarded me!  He makes nocturnal assignations with this stupid girl!  Ah!  He may as well pronounce my sentence of death; and if he has the courage to do so, I shall have the courage at once to bring about their eternal separation; I can do it!  But here he comes!  I feel faint!  My God!  Why hast Thou made me love with such desperate devotion him who no longer loves me!

Scenesecond

Ferdinand and Gertrude.

Gertrude Yesterday you deceived me.  You came here last night, through this room, entering by means of a false key, to see Pauline, at the risk of being killed by M. de Grandchamp!  Oh! you needn’t lie about it.  I saw you, and I came upon Pauline just as you concluded your nocturnal promenade.  You have made a choice upon which I cannot offer you my congratulations.  If only you had heard us discussing the matter, on this very spot!  If you had seen the boldness of this girl, the effrontery with which she denied everything to me, you would have trembled for your future, that future which belongs to me, and for which I have sold myself, body and soul.

Ferdinand (aside) What an avalanche of reproach! (Aloud) Let us try, Gertrude, both of us, to behave wisely in this matter.  Above all things, let us try to avoid base accusations.  I shall never forget what you have been to me; I still entertain towards you a friendship which is sincere, unalterable and absolute; but I no longer love you.

Gertrude
That is, since eighteen months ago.

Ferdinand
No.  Since three years ago.

Gertrude You must admit then that I have the right to detest and make war upon your love for Pauline; for this love has rendered you a traitor and criminal towards me.

Ferdinand
Madame!

Gertrude Yes, you have deceived me.  In standing as you did between us two, you made me assume a character which is not mine.  I am violent as you know.  Violence is frankness, and I am living a life of outrageous duplicity.  Tell me, do you know what it is to have to invent new lies, on the spur of the moment, every day,—­to live with a dagger at your heart?  Oh!  This lying!  But for us, it is the Nemesis of happiness.  It is disgraceful, when it succeeds; it is death, when it fails.  And you, other men envy you because you make women love you.  You will be applauded, while I shall be despised.  And you do not wish me to defend myself!  You have nothing but bitter words for a woman who has hidden from you everything—­her remorse—­her tears!  I have suffered alone and without you the wrath of heaven; alone and without you I have descended into my soul’s abyss, an abyss which has been opened by the earthquake of sorrow; and, while repentance was gnawing at my heart, I had for you nothing but looks of tenderness, and smiles of gaiety!  Come, Ferdinand, do not despise a slave who lies in such utter subjection to your will!