Napoleon
Yes, dear heart!  What is love made of?

(Exit Napoleon.)

Scenefifth

The same persons, except Napoleon.

The General
When that child begins to ask questions, he is an amusing youngster.

Gertrude
It is often very embarrassing to answer him. (To Pauline) Come,
Pauline, let us go and finish our work.

Vernon
It is your lead, General.

The General Mine?  You ought to get married, and we could visit at your house, as you visit here, and you would have all the happiness of a family.  Don’t forget, Godard, that there is no one in the department happier than I am.

Vernon
When a man reaches sixty-seven without reaching happiness, it is
impossible to catch up.  I shall die a bachelor.

(The two women set to work at the same piece of embroidery.)

Gertrude (seated with Pauline at the front of the stage) How is this, my child!  Godard tells me that you received his advances very coldly; yet he is a very good match for you.

Pauline
My father, madame, has given me leave to choose a husband for myself.

Gertrude
Do you know what Godard will say?  He will say that you refused him
because you had already made your choice.

Pauline
If it were true, you and my father would know it.  What reason have I
for not giving you my confidence?

Gertrude I cannot say, and I do not blame you.  You see in matters of love women keep their secret with heroic constancy, sometimes in the midst of the most cruel torments.

Pauline (aside, picking up the scissors, which she had let drop) Ferdinand was wise in telling me to distrust her—­she is so insinuating!

Gertrude Perhaps you have in your heart a love like that.  If such a misfortune has befallen you, you may rely on my help—­I love you, remember!  I can win your father’s consent; he has confidence in me, and I can sway both his mind and affections.  Therefore, dear child, you may open your heart to me.

Pauline
You can read my heart, madame, for I am concealing nothing from you.

The General
Vernon, what in the name of everything are you doing?

(Faint murmurs are heard among the card players; Pauline casts a look at them.)

Gertrude (aside) The question point-blank does not do with her. (Aloud) How happy you make me!  For this provincial joker, Godard, avers that you almost fainted when he prompted Napoleon to declare that Ferdinand had broken his leg.  Ferdinand is a pleasant young fellow, our intimate friend for some four years; what is more natural than your attachment for the youth, whose birth and talents are both in his favor?

Pauline
He is my father’s clerk.

Gertrude
Thank God, you are not in love with him; I was a little anxious for
the moment, for, my dear child, he is a married man.