Godard
Weak?

Pauline Well, then, innocent young persons—­be so very fastidious about the character of the man who presents himself as their lord and master?  If you love me, will you punish yourself—­will you punish me—­because your love has been submitted to a test?

Godard
Of course, from that point of view—­

The General
Oh!  These women!  These women!

Godard
You may just as well say, “These daughters.”

The General
Yes, for I am quite sure that mine has more brains than I have.

Sceneseventeenth

The same persons, Gertrude and then Napoleon.

Gertrude
How has it turned out, M. Godard?

Godard
Ah, Madame!  General!  My happiness is complete, and my dream fulfilled. 
For now I am to be admitted into a family like yours.  To think that I
—­Ah!  Madame!  General! (Aside) I’d like to find out the mystery, for
she has precious little love for me.

Napoleon (entering)
Papa, I have won the school medal—­Good-day, mamma—­and where is
Pauline?  And so you are sick?  Poor little sister!  I’ll tell you
something—­I have found out where justice comes from.

Gertrude
And who told you?  Ah! see what a lovely boy he is!

Napoleon
The master told me that justice comes from God.

Godard
It is very plain that your master was not born in Normandy.

Pauline (in a low voice to Marguerite)
O Marguerite!  Dear Marguerite!  Do send them all away.

Marguerite
Gentlemen, Mlle. Pauline desires to take a little nap.

The General
Just so, Pauline, we will leave you, and you need not get up till
dinner time.

Pauline
I will certainly get up then if I can.  Father, kiss me before you go.

The General (kissing her)
My darling child! (To Napoleon) Come, my boy.

(They all go out, except Pauline, Marguerite and Napoleon.)

Napoleon (to Pauline)
And how is it you do not kiss me?  Tell me what ails you?

Pauline
Oh!  I am dying!

Napoleon
Do people die?  Pauline, what is death made of?

Pauline
Death—­is made—­like this—­

(Pauline falls back into Marguerite’s arms.)

Marguerite
Oh!  My God!  Help!  Help!

Napoleon
Oh!  Pauline, you frighten me! (Running away.) Mamma!  Mamma!

Curtain to the Fourth Act.

ActV

Scenefirst

(The chamber of Pauline as before.)

Pauline, Ferdinand and Vernon.

(Pauline lies stretched upon her bed.  Ferdinand holds her hand in an attitude of profound grief and despair.  It is just before dawn and a lamp is burning.)