e
Death!--And I?

The Magistrate
Madame, it was not without reason that I took from your desk this torn
piece of paper. We have also picked up in Mlle. de Grandchamp's
chamber a piece of paper, which exactly fits to it; and this proves
that when you reached your desk, in that confusion which crime always
brings upon criminals, you took up this paper to wrap up the dose,
which you intended to mix with the infusion.

Gertrude
You said that you were my protector! And there, see now--

The Magistrate
Give me your attention, madame. In face of such suspicions, I feel I
shall have to change the writ of summons into a writ of bail or
imprisonment. (He signs the document.) And now, madame, you must
consider yourself under arrest.

Gertrude
Of course, I will do all that you wish! But you told me that your
mission was to search for the truth--Ah! Let us search for it
here--Let us search for it here!

The Magistrate
Certainly, madame.

Gertrude (to Ramel; she is weeping)
O M. Ramel!

Ramel
Have you anything to say in your defence which would lead us to cancel
this terrible sentence?

Gertrude
Gentlemen, I am innocent of the crime of poisoning, and yet all is
against me! I implore you, give my your help instead of torturing me!
And listen to me--Some one must have taken my key,--can you not
understand? Some one must have come into my room--Ah! I see it all
now-- (To Ramel) Pauline loved as I loved; she has poisoned herself!

Ramel
For the sake of your honor, do not say that, without the most
convincing proofs, otherwise--

The Magistrate
Madame, is it true that, yesterday, you, knowing Doctor Vernon was to
dine with you, sent him--

Gertrude
Oh! you,--your questions are so many daggers at my heart! And yet you
go on, you still go on.

The Magistrate
Did you send him away to attend a workman at Pre-l'Eveque?

Gertrude
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 Vern