Joseph I shall be dumb. Dupre And let it be thought that we have never met. Joseph We have never seen each other. Dupre Now go. Joseph I am going. (He mistakes the door.) Dupre This is the way. Joseph This is the way, great advocate--but let me give you a bit of advice-- a slight taste of transportation will not do him any harm; in fact, it will teach him to leave the government in peace. (Exit.) SCENE EIGHTH Rousseau, Madame Rousseau, Madame du Brocard (attended by Justine) and Dupre. Mme. Rousseau Poor child! What courage he shows! Dupre I hope to save him for you, madame; but it cannot be done without making great sacrifices. Rousseau Sir, the half of our fortune is at your disposal. Mme. du Brocard And the half of mine. Dupre It is always the half of some fortune or other. I am going to try to do my duty--afterwards, you must do yours; we shall have to make great efforts. You, madame, must rouse yourself, for I have great hopes. Mme. Rousseau Ah! sir, what can you mean? Dupre A little time ago, your son was a ruined man; at the present moment, I believe he can be saved. Mme. Rousseau What must we do? Mme. du Brocard What do you ask? Rousseau You may be sure we will do as you require. Dupre I feel certain you will. This is my plan which will undoubtedly succeed with the jury. Your son had an intrigue with a certain working-girl, Pamela Giraud, the daughter of a porter. Mme. du Brocard What low people! Dupre Yet you will have to humble yourselves to them. Your son was always with this young girl, and in this point lies the sole hope of his deliverance. The very evening on which the public prosecutor avers that he attended a meeting of the conspirators, he was possibly visiting her. If this is a fact, if she declares that he remained with her that night, if her father and her mother, if the rival of Jules confirm the testimony--we shall then have ground for hope. When the choice has to be made between a sentence of guilty and an alibi, the jury prefers the alibi. Mme. Rousseau (aside) Ah! sir, you bring back life to me. Rousseau Sir, we owe you a debt of eternal gratitude. Dupre (looking at them) What sum of money must I offer to the daughter, to the father and to the mother? Mme. du Brocard Are they poor? Dupre They are, but the matter concerns their honor. Mme. du Brocard Oh, she is only a working-girl! Dupre (ironically) It ought to be done very cheaply. Rousseau What do you think? Dupre I think that you are bargaining for the life of your son. Mme. du Brocard Well, M. Dupre, I suppose you may go as high as-- Mme. Rousseau As high as-- Dupre As high as-- Rousseau Upon my word, I don't understand why you hesitate--and you must offer, sir, whatever sum you consider suitable.