Pauline (locking the door) Madame, do you consider that a pure love, a love which comprises and enhances all human happiness, which makes us understand that happiness which is divine,--do you consider such a love to be dearer and more precious to us than life? Gertrude You have been reading the _Nouvelle Heloise_, my dear. What you say is rather stilted in diction, but it is nevertheless true. Pauline Well, madame, you have just caused me to commit suicide. Gertrude The very act you would have been happy to see me commit; and if you had succeeded in forcing me to it, you would have felt in your heart the joy which fills mine at present. Pauline According to my father, war between civilized nations has its laws; but the war which you wage against me, madame, is that of savages. Gertrude You may do as I do, if you can--but you can do nothing! You shall marry Godard. He is a very good match for you; you will be very happy, I assure you, for he has fine qualities. Pauline And you think that I will quietly let you marry Ferdinand? Gertrude After the few words which we have exchanged this evening, why should we now indulge in the language of hypocrisy? I was in love with Ferdinand, my dear Pauline, when you were but eight years old. Pauline But now you are more than thirty--and I am still young. Moreover, he hates you, he abhors you! He has told me so, and he wishes to have nothing to do with a woman capable of the black treachery with which you have acted towards my father. Gertrude In the eyes of Ferdinand, my love will serve as my vindication. Pauline He shares the feelings which I have for you; he despises you, madame. Gertrude Do you really believe it? Well, if it is so, my dear, I have one more reason for the position I take, for if he refuses to become my husband, to gratify his love, Pauline, you will force me to marry him for the sake of satisfying my revenge. When he came to this house, was he not aware that I was here? Pauline You probably caught him by some such snare as you have just set for us, and into which both of us have fallen. Gertrude Now, my child, a single word more will put an end to everything between us. Have you not said a hundred times, a thousand times, in moments when you were all feeling, all soul, that you would make the greatest sacrifices for Ferdinand? Pauline Yes, madame. Gertrude You said you would leave your father, would flee from France; you would give your life, your honor, your salvation for Ferdinand? Pauline Yes, and if there is anything else that I can offer besides myself--this world and heaven! Gertrude Let me tell you, then, that all that you have wished to do, I have done! It is enough therefore to assure you that nothing, not even death itself, can arrest my course.