Pauline
Thank you, mother!

The General
Mother!  Truly, this is enough to drive one crazy with perplexity!

Pauline
Marguerite, bring me the sugar basin!

(While Marguerite goes out and Gertrude talks with the General, Pauline drops the poison into the cup and lets fall the paper which contained it.)

Gertrude (to the General)
You seem to be indisposed?

The General
My dear, I cannot understand women; I am like Godard.

(Marguerite comes back.)

Gertrude
You are like all other men.

Pauline (hurriedly drinking the poisoned cup)
Ah!

Gertrude
How are you now, my child?

Pauline
I am better.

Gertrude
I am going to prepare another cup for you.

Pauline
Oh, no, madame, this will be quite enough!  I would sooner wait for the
doctor.

(Pauline sets down the empty cup on the table.)

Scenesixteenth

The same persons and Felix, then Godard.

Felix (looking inquiringly at Pauline)
M. Godard asks if you will see him?

Pauline
Certainly.

Gertrude (leaving the room)
What do you intend saying to him.

Pauline
Wait and see.

Godard (entering) I am sorry that mademoiselle is indisposed.  I did not know it.  I will not intrude. (They offer him a chair.) Mademoiselle, allow me to thank you above all for the kindness you have shown in receiving me in this sanctuary of innocence.  Madame de Grandchamp and your father have just informed me of something which would have overwhelmed me with happiness yesterday, but rather astonishes me to-day.

The General
That is to say, M. Godard—­

Pauline
Do not be hasty, father, M. Godard is right.  You do not know all I
said to him yesterday.

Godard You are far too clever, mademoiselle, not to consider as quite natural the curiosity of an honorable young man, who has an income of forty thousand francs, besides his savings, to learn of the reason why he should be accepted after a lapse of twenty-four hours from his rejection—­For, yesterday, it was at this very hour—­(He pulls out his watch) Half-past five—­

The General What do you mean by all this?  It looks as if you are not as much in love as you said you were.  You have come here to complain of a charming girl at the very moment when she has told you—­

Godard
I would not complain, if the subject were not marriage.  Marriage,
General, is at once the cause and the effect of sentiment.

The General
Pardon me, Godard, I am a little hasty, as you know.

Pauline (to Godard)
Sir—­(Aside) Oh, how I suffer! (Aloud) Sir, why should poor young
girls—­

Godard
Poor?  No, no, mademoiselle; you are not poor.  You have four hundred
thousand francs.

Pauline
Why should weak young girls—­