The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts

I did, sir.

The Magistrate

This workman, madame, was found in a tavern, and in excellent help.

Gertrude

Champagne had told me that he was sick.

The Magistrate We have questioned Champagne, and he denies this, averring that he said nothing about sickness. The fact of it was, you wished to preclude the possibility of medical aid.

Gertrude (aside) It was Pauline! It was she who made me send away Vernon! O Pauline! You have dragged me down with yourself into the tomb, to which I sink bearing the name of criminal! No! No! No! (To Ramel) Sir, I have but one avenue of escape. (To Vernon) Is Pauline still alive?

Vernon (pointing to the General)

Here is my answer.

SCENE TENTH

The same persons and the General.

The General (to Vernon)

She is dying, my friend! If I lose her, I shall never survive it.

Vernon

My friend!

The General It seems to me that there are a great many people here – What must be done? Oh, try to save her! I wonder where Gertrude is.

(They give the General a seat.)

Gertrude (sinking at the feet of the General) My friend! Poor father! I would this instant I might be killed without a trial. (She rises.) No, Pauline has wrapped me in her shroud, I feel her icy hands about my neck. And yet I was resigned. Yes, I would have buried with me the secret of this terrible drama, which every woman should understand! But I am weary of this struggle with a corpse that holds me tight, and communicates to me the coldness and the stiffness of death! I have made up my mind that my innocence of this crime shall come forth victorious at the expense of somebody's honor; for never, never could I become a vile and cowardly poisoner. Yes, I shall tell the whole, dark tale.

The General (rising from his seat and coming forward) Ah! so you are going to say in the face of justice all that for two days you have concealed by such obstinate silence – vile and ungrateful creature, fawning liar! – you have killed my daughter. Are you going to kill me also?

Gertrude

Ought I to keep silence? – Ought I to speak?

Ramel

General, be kind enough to retire. The law commands.

The General

The law? You represent the justice of men, I represent the justice of

God, and am higher than you all! I am at once accuser, tribunal, sentence and executioner – Come, madame, tell us what you have to say?

Gertrude (at the General's feet)

Forgive me, sir – Yes – I am —

Ramel

Oh, poor wretch!

Gertrude (aside) I cannot say it! Oh! for his honor's sake, may he never know the truth. (Aloud) I am guilty before all the world, but to you I say, and will repeat it to my last breath, I am innocent! And some future day the truth shall speak from out two tombs, the cruel truth, which will show to you that you also are not free from reproach, but from the very blindness of your hate are culpable in all.

The General

I? I? Am I losing my senses? Do you dare to accuse me? (Perceiving

Pauline.) Ah! Ah! My God!

SCENE ELEVENTH

The same persons, and Pauline (supported by Ferdinand).

Pauline They have told me all! This woman is innocent of the crime whereof she is accused. Religion has at last taught me that pardon cannot be obtained on high except by those who leave it behind them here below. I took from Madame the key of her desk, I myself sought the poison. I myself tore off the paper to wrap it up, for I wished to die.

Gertrude

O Pauline! Take my life, take all I love – Oh, doctor, save her!

The Magistrate

Is this the truth, mademoiselle?

Pauline

The truth, yes, for the dying alone speak it —

The Magistrate

We know then actually nothing about this business.

Pauline (to Gertrude) Do you know why I came to draw you from the abyss which had engulfed you? It is because Ferdinand spoke to me a word which brought me back from the tomb. He has so great a horror of being left with you in life that he follows me, and will follow me to the grave, where we shall rest together, wedded in death.

Gertrude

Ferdinand! Ah, my God! At what a price have I been saved!

The General But unhappy child, wherefore must you die? Am I not, have I ceased for one moment to be a good father? And yet they say that I am culpable.

Ferdinand Yes, General, I alone can give the answer to the riddle, and can explain to you your guilt.

The General

You, Ferdinand, you to whom I offered my daughter, you who loved her —

Ferdinand My name is Ferdinand Comte de Marcandal, son of General Marcandal. Do you understand?

The General Ah! son of a traitor! What could you bring to my home but death and treachery! Defend yourself!

Ferdinand

Would you fight, General, with the dead?

(Ferdinand falls.)

Gertrude (rushes to Ferdinand with a cry) Oh! (She recoils before the General, and approaches his daughter, then draws forth a phial, but immediately flings it away.) I will condemn myself to live for this old man! (The General kneels beside his dying daughter.) Doctor, what will become of him? Is he likely to lose his reason?

The General (stammering like a man who has lost his speech)

I – I – I —

Vernon

General, what is it?

The General

I – I am trying – to pray – for my daughter!

Final curtain.