Pauline This is caravan tea. Gertrude Doctor, have you seen the papers? (To Pauline) Go and talk to M. de Rimonville, my daughter, I, myself, will make tea. Godard Perhaps Mlle. De Grandchamp likes my conversation no better than my person? Pauline You are mistaken, sir. The General Godard-- Pauline Should you do me the favor of no longer seeking me in marriage, you would still possess in my eyes qualities of sufficient brilliancy to captivate the young ladies Boudeville, Clinville, Derville, etc. Godard That is enough, mademoiselle. Ah! How you do ridicule an unfortunate lover, in spite of his income of forty thousand francs! The longer I stay here, the more I regret it. What a lucky fellow M. Ferdinand de Charny is! Pauline Lucky? Why is he lucky? Poor fellow! Does his good fortune consist in the fact that he is my father's clerk? Gertrude M. de Rimonville-- The General Godard-- Gertrude M. de Rimonville-- The General Godard, my wife is speaking to you. Gertrude Do you like much or little sugar? Godard A moderate quality. Gertrude Not much cream, I suppose? Godard On the contrary, plenty of cream, countess. (To Pauline) Ah, M. Ferdinand is not then, after all the man who--whom you have distinguished by your favor? I can at least assure you that he is very much to the taste of your stepmother. Pauline (aside) How annoying these inquisitive provincials are! Godard (aside) It is fair that I should amuse myself a little at her expense before I take leave. I must get something out of this visit. Gertrude M. de Rimonville, if you desire anything solid, there are sandwiches here. Godard Thank you, madame. Gertrude (whispering to Godard) Your cause is not wholly lost. Godard O madame! I have thought a great deal over my rejection by Mlle. de Grandchamp. Gertrude Ah! (To the doctor) Doctor, you will take yours as usual, I suppose? Vernon If you please, madame. Godard (to Pauline) Did you say, "poor fellow," mademoiselle? For M. Ferdinand is not so poor as you think him. He is richer than I am! Pauline How do you know that? Godard I am certain of it, and I will tell you why. This M. Ferdinand, whom you think you know, is an exceedingly crafty fellow-- Pauline (aside) Can he possibly know his real name? Gertrude (aside) A few drops of opium in her tea will put her to sleep, and I shall be saved. Godard (to Pauline) You cannot deny the authority of him who has put me on the track. Pauline Oh, sir! Kindly tell-- Godard It was the prosecuting attorney. I remembered that at the house of the Boudevilles it was said that your clerk-- Pauline (aside) He is putting me on the rack. Gertrude (offering a cup to Pauline) Here, Pauline. Vernon (aside) Am I dreaming? I thought I saw her put something into Pauline's cup. Pauline (to Godard) And what did they say?