before his arrest at the Ile
d'Amour, Belleville.

Dupre
Who were with him?

Pamela
I noticed no one but him.

Dupre
Did you hear them talk politics?

Pamela (in astonishment)
Oh, sir! The judges must be aware that politics are matters of
indifference at the Ile d'Amour.

Dupre
Very good, my child! But you must tell them all you know about Jules
Rousseau.

Pamela
Of course. I shall still speak the truth, and repeat my testimony
before the police justice. I knew nothing of the conspiracy, and was
infinitely surprised when he was arrested in my room; the proof of
which is that I feared M. Jules was a thief and afterwards apologized
for my suspicion.

Dupre
You must acknowledge that from the time of your first acquaintance
with this young man, he constantly came to see you. You must declare--

Pamela
I shall stick to the truth--He never left me alone! He came to see me
for love, I received him from friendship, and I resisted him from a
sense of duty--

Dupre
And at last?

Pamela (anxiously)
At last?

Dupre
You are trembling! Take care! Just now you promised me to tell the
truth!

Pamela (aside)
The truth! Oh my God!

Dupre
I also am interested in this young man; but I recoil from a possible
imposture. If he is guilty, my duty bids me defend him, if he is
innocent, his cause shall be mine. Yes, without doubt, Pamela, I am
about to demand from you a great sacrifice, but he needs it. The
visits which Jules made to you were in the evening, and without the
knowledge of your parents.

Pamela
Why no! never!

Dupre
How is this? For in that case there would be no hope for him.

Pamela (aside)
No hope for him! Then either he or I must be ruined. (Aloud) Sir, do
not be alarmed; I felt a little fear because the real danger was not
before my eyes. But when I shall stand before the judges!--when once I
shall see him, see Jules--and feel that his safety depends upon me--

Dupre
That is good, very good. But what is most necessary to be made known
is that on the evening of the twenty-fourth, he came here. If that is
once understood, I shall be successful in saving him; otherwise, I can
answer for nothing. He is lost!

Pamela (murmuring, greatly agitated)
Lost!--Jules lost!--No, no, no!--Better that my own good name be lost!
(Aloud) Yes, he came here on the twenty-fourth. (Aside) God