Ferdinand To-morrow I shall put into your hands the letters which she wrote to me, some of them before, some of them after her marriage. Pauline, do not read them! Swear this to me, in the name of our love, in the name of our happiness! It will be sufficient, should it ever become absolutely necessary, that she knows that they are in your possession; at that moment you will see her trembling and groveling at your feet, for all her machinations then are foiled. But do not use them excepting as a last resort, and keep them well concealed. Pauline What a terrible duel it will be! Ferdinand Terrible! But, Pauline be courageous, as you have so far been, in keeping the secret of our love; do not acknowledge it, until you find it no longer possible to deny it. Pauline Oh, why did your father betray the Emperor? If fathers knew how their children would be punished for the sins of their parents, there would be none but good men! Ferdinand Perhaps this sad interview will prove the last moment of happiness we shall have! Pauline (aside) I will rejoin him, if he leaves me--(Aloud) See, I no longer weep, I am full of courage! But tell me, will your friend know the place where you are hiding? Ferdinand Eugene will be our confidential friend. Pauline And the letters? Ferdinand To-morrow! To-morrow! But where will you conceal them? Pauline I shall keep them about me. Ferdinand Good! Farewell! Pauline Oh no, not yet! Ferdinand A moment more may ruin us. Pauline Or unite us for life. Come, let me show you out, I shall not rest until I see you in the garden. Come! Ferdinand Let me take one more glance at this maiden chamber, in which you will think of me--where all things speak of you. (Scene curtain.) SCENE ELEVENTH (The drawing-room before described.) Pauline on the veranda; Gertrude at the door of the room. Gertrude She is seeing him out! He has been deceiving me! So has she! (Taking Pauline by the hand, she leads her to the front of the stage.) Will you dare tell me, now, mademoiselle, that you do not love him? Pauline Madame, I am deceiving no one. Gertrude You are deceiving your father. Pauline And you, madame? Gertrude So both of you are against me--Oh, I shall-- Pauline You shall do nothing, either against me or against him. Gertrude Do not compel me to show my power! You must be obedient to your father, and--he is obedient to me. Pauline We shall see! Gertrude (aside) Her coolness makes my blood boil. My brain reels! (Aloud) Do you know that I would rather die than live without him? Pauline And so would I, madame. But I am free. I have not sworn as you have to be faithful to a husband--And your husband is my father! Gertrude (kneeling before Pauline) What have I done to you? I have loved you, I have educated you, I have been a good mother to you. Pauline Be a faithful wife, and I will say no more. Gertrude Nay! Speak! Say all you like--Ah! the struggle has begun.