tands death before me! The doctor told us yesterday, in
reference to Champagne's wife, that this terrible substance required
some hours, almost a whole night, to produce its deadly effects, and
that it was possible, during the first hours, to nullify these
effects; if the doctor remains at the house, he will provide this
antidote.

(Some one knocks.)

Vernon (from without)
It is I.

Pauline
Come in, doctor! (Aside) Curiosity brings him to see me, curiosity
will take him away.

Vernon
I see, my child, that between you and your stepmother, there are
secrets of life and death?

Pauline
Yes, and, above all, death.

Vernon
I was afraid so! And that, of course, I must attend to. But tell
me--You must have had some terrible quarrel with your stepmother.

Pauline
Let me hear no more of that creature. She deceives my father.

Vernon
I know it.

Pauline
She never loved him.

Vernon
I was quite sure of that!

Pauline
She has sworn to ruin me.

Vernon
How? Is it in an affair of your heart that she wishes to do you harm?

Pauline
Rather say, it is my life she threatens.

Vernon
What a horrible suspicion! Pauline, my child, I love you well, you
know I do. Tell me, can nothing save you?

Pauline
In order to change my fate, it would be necessary that my father
change his ideas. Listen; I am in love with M. Ferdinand.

Vernon
I already know that. But who would hinder you from marrying him?

Pauline
Can you keep a secret? Well, he is the son of General Marcandal!

Vernon
My God! You may rely on my keeping that secret! Why, your father would
fight with him to the death, if for nothing else, because he has had
him under his roof for three years.

Pauline
You will then see very plainly that there is no hope for me.

(Pauline sinks back overwhelmed with emotion in an armchair.)

Vernon
Poor child! I fear she is going to faint. (He rings and calls)
Marguerite! Marguerite!

SCENE FOURTEENTH

The same persons, Gertrude, Marguerite and the General.

Marguerite (running in)
What is it, sir?

Vernon
Get me a tea-urn of boiling water, into which you must drop some
orange leaves.

(Exit Marguerite.)

Gertrude
What is the matter with you, Pauline?

The General
Dear child, do tell us?

Gertrude
Oh, it is nothing! We can understand her feelings. It is because she
sees her lot in life decided--

Vernon (to the General)
Her lot decided? And in what way?

Th