Pauline。Idaresay——theyareverywelcome——andwhenthedivorceisgot——
hewillmarryagain。IamsureIhopeso。[Weeps。
Widow。Hecouldhavemarriedtherichestgirlintheprovince，ifhehadpleasedit;buthisheadwasturned，poorchild！hecouldthinkofnothingbutyou。[Weeps。
Pauline。Don\'tweep，mother。
Widow。Ah，hehasbehavedveryill，Iknow，butloveissoheadstrongintheyoung。Don\'tweep，madam。
Pauline。So，asyouweresaying——goon。
Widow。Oh，Icannotexcusehim，ma\'am——hewasnotinhisrightsenses。
Pauline。Buthealways——always[sobbing]loved——lovedmethen？
Widow。Hethoughtofnothingelse。Seehere——helearnttopaintthathemighttakeyourlikeness[uncoversthepicture]。Butthat\'sallovernow——Itrustyouhavecuredhimofhisfolly;——but，dearheart，youhavehadnobreakfast！
Pauline。Ican\'ttakeanything——don\'ttroubleyourself。
Widow。Nay，madam，bepersuaded;alittlecoffeewillrefreshyou。
Ourmilkandeggsareexcellent。IwillgetoutClaude\'scoffee—cup——
ItisofrealSevres;hesavedupallhismoneytobuyitthreeyearsago，becausethenameofPaulinewasinscribedonit。
Pauline。Threeyearsago！PoorClaude！——Thankyou;IthinkIwillhavesomecoffee。Oh！ifhewerebutapoorgentleman，evenamerchant:
butagardener\'sson——andwhatahome！——Ohno，——itistoodreadful！
Theyseatthemselvesatthetable，BEAUSEANTopensthelatticeandlooksin。
Beau。So——so——thecoastisclear！IsawClaudeinthelane——
Ishallhaveanexcellentopportunity。Shutsthelatticeandknocksatthedoor。
Pauline。[starting]。Canitbemyfather？——hehasnotsentfor——
himyet？No，hecannotbeinsuchahurrytogetridofme。
Widow。Itisnottimeforyourfathertoarriveyet;itmustbesomeneighbor。
Pauline。Don\'tadmitanyone。
[Widowopensthedoor，BEAUSEANTpushesherasideandenters。
Ha！Heavens！thathatefulBeauseant！Thisisindeedbitter！
Beau。Goodmorning，madam！Owidow，yoursonbegsyouwillhavethegoodnesstogotohiminthevillagehewantstospeaktoyouonparticularbusiness;you\'llfindhimattheinn，orthegrocer\'sshop，orthebaker\'s，oratsomeotherfriend\'sofyourfamily——makehaste。
Pauline。Don\'tleaveme，mother！——don\'tleaveme。
Beau。[withgreatrespect]。Benotalarmed，madam。Believemeyourfriend——yourservant。
Pauline。Sir，Ihavenofearofyou，eveninthishouse！Go，madam，ifyoursonwishesit;Iwillnotcontradicthiscommandswhilst，atleasthehasstilltherighttobeobeyed。
Widow。Idon\'tunderstandthis;however，Isha\'n\'tbelonggone。
[Exit。
Pauline。Sir，Idivinetheobjectofyourvisit——youwishtoexultinthehumiliationofonewhohumbledyou。Beitso;
Iampreparedtoendureall——evenyourpresence！
Beau。Youmistakeme，madam——Pauline，youmistakeme！Icometolaymyfortuneatyourfeet。Youmustalreadybedisenchantedwiththisimpostor;thesewallsarenotworthytobehallowedbyyourbeauty！
Shallthatformbeclaspedinthearmsofabase—bornpeasant？
Beloved，beautifulPauline！flywithme——mycarriagewaitswithout——
Iwillbearyoutoahomemoremeetforyourreception。
Wealth，luxury，station——allshallyetbeyours。Iforgetyourpastdisdain——Irememberonlyyourbeautyandmyunconquerablelove！
Pauline。Sir！leavethishouse——itishumble:butahusband\'sroof，howeverlowly，is，intheeyesofGodandman，thetempleofawife\'shonor！KnowthatIwouldratherstarve——yes——withhimwhohasbetrayedme，thanacceptyourlawfulhand，evenwereyoutheprincewhosenamehebore。——Go。
Beau。What！isnotyourpridehumbledyet？
Pauline。Sir，whatwasprideinprosperityinafflictionbecomesvirtue。
Beau。Lookround:theseruggedfloors——thesehomelywalls——
thiswretchedstruggleofpovertyforcomfort——thinkofthis！andcontrastwithsuchapicturetherefinement，theluxury，thepomp，thatthewealthiestgentlemanofLyonsofferstotheloveliestlady。
Ah，hearme！
Pauline。Oh！myfather！——whydidIleaveyou？——whyamIthusfriendless？
Sir，youseebeforeyouabetrayed，injured，miserablewoman！——
respectheranguish[MELNOTTEopensthedoorsilently，andpausesatthethreshold。
Beau。No！letmeratherthusconsoleit;letmesnatchfromthoselipsonebreathofthatfragrancewhichnevershouldbewastedonthelowchurlthyhusband。
Pauline。Help！Claude！——Claude！——HaveInoprotector？\'
Beau。Besilent！[showingapistol。]See，Idonotcomeunpreparedevenforviolence。Iwillbraveallthings——thyhusbandandallhisrace——
forthysake。Thus，then，Iclaspthee！
Mel。[dashinghimtotheotherendofthestage]。Pauline——lookup，Pauline！thouartsafe。
Beau。[levellinghispistol]。Dareyouthusinsultamanofmybirth，ruffian？
Pauline。Oh，sparehim——sparemyhusband！——Beauseant——Claude——no——
no[faints]。
Mel。Miserabletrickster！shameuponyou！bravedevicestoterrifyawoman！Coward！——youtremble——youhaveoutragedthelaws——youknowthatyourweaponisharmless——youhavethecourageofthemountebank，notthebravo！——Pauline，thereisnodanger。
Beau。Iwishthouwertagentleman——asitis，thouartbeneathme。——
Goodday，andahappyhoneymoon。——[Aside。]IwillnotdietillI
amavenged。[Exit。
Mel。Iholdherinthesearms——thelastembraceNever，ahnevermore，shallthisdearheadBepillow\'dontheheartthatshouldhaveshelter\'dAndhasbetray\'d！——Soft——soft！onekiss——poorwretch！
Noscornonthatpalelipforbidsmenow！
Onekiss——soendsallrecordofmycrime！
Itisthesealuponthetombofhope，Bywhich，likesomelost，sorrowingangel，sitsSadmemoryevermore;shebreathes——shemovesShewakestoscorn，tohate，butnottoshudderBeneaththetouchofmyabhorredlove。
Placesheronaseat。There——wearestrangersnow！
Pauline。Allgone——allcalmIseverythingadream？thouartsafe，unhurtIdonotlovethee;——but——butIamwoman，And——and——nobloodisspilt？
Mel。No，lady，no;MyguilthathnotdeservedsorichablessingAsevendangerinthycause。
EnterWIDOW。
Widow。Myson，Ihavebeeneverywhereinsearchofyou;whydidyousendforme？
Mel。Ididnotsendforyou。
Widow。No！butImusttellyouyourexpresshasreturned。
Mel。Sosoon！impossible！
Widow。Yes，hemetthelady\'sfatherandmotherontheroad;
theyweregoingintothecountryonavisit。YourmessengersaysthatMonsieurDeschappellesturnedalmostwhitewithangerwhenhereadyourletter。Theywillbeherealmostimmediately。
Oh，Claude，Claude！whatwilltheydotoyou？HowItremble！
Ah，madam！donotlettheminjurehim——ifyouknewhowhedoatedonyou。
Pauline。Injurehim！no，ma\'am，benotafraid;——myfather！howshallImeethim？howgobacktoLyons？thescoffofthewholecity！
Cruel，cruel，Claude[ingreatagitation]。Sir，youhaveactedmosttreacherously。
Mel。Iknowit，madam。
Pauline[aside。]Ifhewouldbutaskmetoforgivehim！——
Inevercanforgiveyou，sir。
Mel。Ineverdaredtohopeit。
Pauline。Butyouaremyhusbandnow，andIhaveswornto——
toloveyou，sir。
Mel。Thatwasunderafalsebelief，madam;Heavenandthelawswillreleaseyoufromyourvow。
Pauline。Hewilldrivememad！ifhewerebutlessproud——
ifhewouldbutaskmetoremain——hark，hark——Ihearthewheelsofthecarriage——Sir——Claude，theyarecoming;haveyounowordtosayereitisloolate？Quickspeak。
Mel。Icanonlycongratulateyouonyourrelease。BeholdyourparentsEnterMONSIEURandMADAMEDESCHAPPELLESandCOLONELDAMAS。
M。Deschap。Mychild！mychild！
Mme。Deschap。Oh，mypoorPauline！——whatavillanoushovelthisis！
Oldwoman，getmeachair——IshallfaintIcertainlyshall。
Whatwilltheworldsay？Child，youhavebeenafool。
Amother\'sheartiseasilybroken。
Damas。Ha，ha！mostnoblePrince——Iamsorrytoseeamanofyourqualityinsuchacondition;IamafraidyourhighnesswillgototheHouseofCorrection。
Mel。Taunton，sir;Isparedyouwhenyouwereunarmed——Iamunarmednow。
Amanwhohasnoexcuseforcrimeisindeeddefenceless！
Damas。There\'ssomethingfineintherascal，afterall！
M。Deschap。Whereistheimpostor？——Areyouthusshameless，traitor？
Canyoubravethepresenceofthatgirl\'sfather？
Mel。Strikeme，ifitpleaseyou——youareherfather。
Pauline。Sir——sir，formysake;whateverhisguilt，hehasactednoblyinatonement。
Mme。Deschap。Nobly！Areyoumad，girl？Ihavenopatiencewithyou——
todisgraceallyourfamilythus！Nobly！Ohyouabominable，hardened，pitiful，mean，uglyvillain！
Damas。Ugly！Whyhewasbeautifulyesterday！
Pauline。Madame，thisishisroof，andheismyhusband。
Respectyourdaughter，orletblamefallaloneonher。
Mme。Deschap。You——you——Oh，I\'mchoking。
M。Deschap。Sir，itwereidletowastereproachuponaconsciencelikeyours——yourenounceallpretensionstothepersonofthislady？
Mel。Ido。[Givesapaper。]Hereismyconsenttoadivorce——
myfullconfessionofthefraudwhichannulsthemarriage。
Yourdaughterhasbeenfoullywronged——Igrantit，sir;butherownlipswilltellyouthat，fromthehourinwhichshecrossedthisthreshold，Ireturnedtomyownstation，andrespectedhers。
Pureandinviolate，aswhenyestermornyoulaidyourhanduponherhead，andblessedher，Iyieldherbacktoyou。Formyself——
Ideliveryouforeverfrommypresence。Anoutcastandacriminal，Iseeksomedistantland，whereImaymournmysin，andprayforyourdaughter\'speace。Farewell——farewelltoyouall，forever！
Willow。Claude，Claude，youwillnotleaveyourpooroldmother？
Shedoesnotdisownyouinyoursorrowno，noteveninyourguilt。
Nodivorcecanseparateamotherfromherson。
Pauline。Thispoorwidowteachesmemyduty。No，mother，——no，foryouarenowmymotheralso！——norshouldanylaw，humanordivine，separatethewifefromherhusband\'ssorrows。Claude——Claude——allisforgottenforgiven——Iam。thineforever！
Mme。Deschap。WhatdoIhear？——Comeaway，orneverseemyfaceagain。
M。Deschap。Pauline，weneverbetrayedyou！——doyouforsakeusforhim？
Pauline。[goingbacktoherfather]。Ohno——butyouwillforgivehimtoo;
wewilllivetogether——heshallbeyourson。
M。Deschap。Never！Clingtohimandforsakeyourparents！
Hishomeshallbeyours——hisfortuneyours——hisfateyours:
thewealthIhaveacquiredbyhonestindustryshallneverenrichthedishonestman。
Pauline。Andyouwouldhaveawifeenjoyluxurywhileahusbandtoils！
Claude，takeme;thoucanstnotgivemewealth，titles，station——
butthoucanstgivemeatrueheartIwillworkforthee，tendthee，bearwiththee，andnever，nevershalltheselipsreproachtheeforthepast。
Damas。I\'llbehangedifIamnotgoingtoblubber！
Mel。Thisistheheaviestblowofall！——WhataheartIhavewronged！——
Donotfearme，sir;Iamnotallhardened——Iwillnotrobherofaholierlovethanmine。Pauline！——angelofloveandmercy！——
yourmemoryshallleadmebacktovirtue！——Thehusbandofabeingsobeautifulinhernobleandsublimetendernessmaybepoor——
maybelowborn;——（thereisnoguiltinthedecreesofprovidence！）——
butheshouldbeonewhocanlooktheeinthefacewithoutablush，——towhomthylovedoesnotbringremorse，——whocanfoldtheetohisheart，andsay，——\"Herethereisnodeceit！\"
Iamnotthatman！
Damas。[asidetoMELNOTTE]。Thouartanoblefellow，notwithstanding;
andwouldstmakeanexcellentsoldier。Serveinmyregiment。
IhavehadaletterfromtheDirectory——ouryounggeneraltakesthecommandofthearmyinItaly，——IamtojoinhimatMarseilles，I
willdepartthisday，ifthouwiltgowithme。
Mel。ItisthefavorIwouldhaveaskedthee，ifIdared。
Placemewhereverafoeismostdreaded，——whereverFrancemostneedsalife！
Damas。Thereshallnotbeaforlornhopewithoutthee！
Mel。Thereismyhand！——mother，yourblessing。Ishallseeyouagain，——abettermanthanaprince，——amanwhohasboughttherighttohighthoughtsbybravedeeds。Andthou！——thou！sowildlyworshipped，soguiltilybetrayed，allisnotyetlost！——
forthymemory，atleast，mustbeminetilldeath！IfIlive，thenameofhimthouhastoncelovedshallnotrestdishonored;——
ifIfall，amidstthecarnageandtheroarofbattle，mysoulwillflybacktothee，andloveshallsharewithdeathmylastsigh！——More——morewouldIspeaktothee！——topray！——tobless！
Butno;WhenIamlessunworthyIwillutterittoHeaven！——Icannottrustmyselfto[turningtoDESCHAPPELLES]Yourpardon，sir;theyaremylastwordsFarewell！[Exit。
Damas。Iwillgoafterhim。——Francewillthankmeforthis。
Pauline[startingfromherfather\'sarms]。Claude！——Claude！——myhusband！
M。Deschap。Youhaveafatherstill！
ACTV。
TwoyearsandahalffromthedateofActIV。
SCENEI。
TheStreetsofLyons。
EnterFirst，Second，andThirdOfficers。
FirstOfficer。Well，hereweareatLyons，withgallantoldDamas:
itishisnativeplace。
SecondOfficer。Yes;hehasgainedastepinthearmysincehewasherelast。TheLyonneseoughttobeveryproudofstoutGeneralDamas。
ThirdOfficer。PromotionisquickintheFrencharmy。
ThismysteriousMorier，——theheroofLodi，andthefavoriteofthecommander—in—chief，——hasrisentoacolonel\'sranktotwoyearsandahalf。EnterDAMAS，asaGeneral。
Damas。Goodmorrow，gentlemen;IhopeyouwillamuseyourselvesduringourshortstayatLyons。Itisafinecity:improvedsinceIleftit。
Ah！itisapleasuretogrowold，whentheyearsthatbringdecaytoourselvesdobutripentheprosperityofourcountry。
YouhavenotmetwithMorier？
FirstOfficer。No:wewerejustspeakingofhim。
SecondOfficer。Pray，general，canyoutelluswhothisMorierreallyis？
Damas。Is！——whyacolonelintheFrencharmy。
ThirdOfficer。True。Butwhatwasheatfirst？
Damas。Atfirst？Whyababyinlongclothes，Isuppose。
FirstOfficer。Ha，ha！Everfacetious，general。
SecondOfficer。[toThird]。Thegeneralissoreuponthispoint;
youwillonlychafehim。——Anycommands，general？
Damas。None。Gooddaytoyou。[ExeuntSecondandThirdOfficers。
Damas。Ourcomradesareveryinquisitive。PoorMorieristhesubjectofavastdealofcuriosity。
FirstOfficer。Sayinterest，rather，general。Hisconstantmelancholy，thelonelinessofhishabits，——hisdaringvalor，hisbrilliantriseintheprofession，——yourfriendship，andthefavorsofthecommander—in—chief，——alltendtomakehimasmuchthematterofgossipasofadmiration。Butwhereishe，general？Ihavemissedhimallthemorning。
Damas。Why，captain，I\'llletyouintoasecret。MyyoungfriendhascomewithmetoLyonsinhopesoffindingamiracle。
FirstOfficer。Amiracle！
Damas。Yes，amiracle！inotherwords，——aconstantwoman。
FirstOfficer。Oh！anaffairoflove！
Damas。Exactlyso。NosoonerdidheenterLyonsthanhewavedhishandtome，threwhimselffromhishorse，andisnow，Iwarrant，askingeveryonewhocanknowanythingaboutthematter，whetheracertainladyisstilltruetoacertaingentleman！
FirstOfficer。Successtohim！andofthatsuccesstherecanbenodoubt。ThegallantColonelMorier，theheroofLodi，mightmakehischoiceoutoftheproudestfamiliesinFrance。
Damas。Oh，ifpridebearecommendation，theladyandhermotheraremosthandsomelyendowed。Bytheway，captain，ifyoushouldchancetomeetwithMorier，tellhimhewillfindmeatthehotel。
FirstOfficer。Iwill，general。[Exit。
Damas。NowwillIgototheDeschappelles，andmakeareporttomyyoungColonel。Ha！byMars，Bacchus，Apollo，Virorum，——
herecomesMonsieurBeauseant！
EnterBEAUSEANT。
Goodmorrow，MonsieurBeauseant！Howfaresitwithyou？
Beau。[aside。]Damas！thatisunfortunate;——iftheItaliancampaignshouldhavefilledhispockets，hemayseektobafflemeinthemomentofmyvictory。[Aloud]。Yourservant，general，——forsuch，Ithink，isyournewdistinction！JustarrivedinLyons？
Damas。Notanhourago。Well，howgoontheDeschappelles？HavetheyforgivenyouinthataffairofyoungMelnotte？Youhadsomehandinthatnotabledevice，——eh？
Beau。Why，lessthanyouthinkfor！Thefellowimposeduponme。
Ihavesetitallrightnow。Whathasbecomeofhim？
Hecouldnothavejoinedthearmy，afterall。Thereisnosuchnameinthebooks。
Damas。IknownothingaboutMelnotte。Asyousay，IneverheardthenameintheGrandArmy。
Beau。Hem！——Youarenotmarried，general？
Damas。DoIlooklikeamarriedman，sir？——No，thankHeaven！
Myprofessionistomakewidows，notwives。
Beau。YoumusthavegainedmuchbootyinItaly！Paulinewillbeyourheiress——eh？
Damas。Booty！NotI！Heiresstowhat？Twotrunksandaportmanteau，——
fourhorses，——threeswords，twosuitsofregimentals，andsixpairofwhiteleatherinexpressibles！Aprettyfortuneforayounglady！
Beau。[aside。]Thenallissafe！[Aloud]。Ha！ha！Isthatreallyallyourcapital，GeneralDamas？Why，IthoughtItalyhadbeenasecondMexicotoyousoldiers。
Damas。Allatoss—up，sir。Iwasnotoneoftheluckyones！
MyfriendMorier，indeed，savedsomethinghandsome。
Butourcommander—in—chieftookcareofhim，andMorierisathrifty，economicaldog，——notliketherestofussoldiers，whospendourmoneyascarelesslyasifitwereourblood。
Beau。Well，itisnomatter！IdonotwantfortunewithPauline。Andyoumustknow，GeneralDamas，thatyourfaircousinhasatlengthconsentedtorewardmylongandardentattachment。
Damas。You！——thedevil！Why，sheisalreadymarried！
Thereisnodivorce！
Beau。True;butthisverydaysheisformallytoauthorizethenecessaryproceedings，thisverydaysheistosignthecontractthatistomakeherminewithinoneweekfromthedayonwhichherpresentillegalmarriageisannulled。
Damas。Youtellmewonders！——Wonders！No;Ibelieveanythingofwomen！
Beau。Imustwishyougoodmorning。[Asheisgoing，enterDESCHAPPELLES。
M。Deschap。Oh，Beauseant！wellmet。Letuscometothenotaryatonce。
Damas[toDeschap。]。Why，cousin！
M。Deschap。Damas，welcometoLyons。Praycallonus;mywifewillbedelightedtoseeyou。
Damas。Yourwifebe—blessedforhercondescension！But[takinghimaside]whatdoIhear？Isitpossiblethatyourdaughterhasconsentedtoadivorce？——thatshewillmarryMonsieurBeauseant？
M。Deschap。Certainly。Whathaveyoutosayagainstit？
Agentlemanofbirth，fortune，character。Wearenotsoproudaswewere;
evenmywifehashadenoughofnobilityandprinces！
Damas。ButPaulinelovedthatyoungmansotenderly！
M。Deschap。[takingsnuff]。Thatwastwoyearsandahalfago。
Damas。Verytrue。PoorMelnotte！
M。Deschap。Butdonottalkofthatimpostor;Ihopeheisdeadorhasleftthecountry。Nay，evenwereheinLyonsatthismoment，heoughttorejoicethat，inanhonorableandsuitablealliance，mydaughtermayforgethersufferingsandhiscrime。
Damas。——Nay，ifitbeallsettled，Ihavenomoretosay。
MonsieurBeauseantinformsmethatthecontractistobesignedthisveryday。
M。Deschap，Itis;atoneo\'clockprecisely。Willyoubeoneofthewitnesses？
Damas。I？——No;thatistosay——yes，certainly！——atoneo\'clockI
willwaitonyou。
M。Deschap。Tillthen，adieu——comeBeauseant。
[ExeuntBEAUSEANTandDESCHAPELLES
Damas。ThemanwhosetshisheartuponawomanIsachameleon，anddothfeedonair;
Fromairhetakeshiscolors——holdshislife，——
Changeswitheverywind，——growsleanorfat，Rosywithhope，orgreenwithjealousy，Orpallidwithdespair——justasthegaleVariesfromNorthtoSouth——fromheattocold！
Oh，woman！woman！thoushouldsthavefewsinsOfthineowntoanswerfor！ThouarttheauthorOfsuchabookoffolliesinaman，ThatitwouldneedthetearsofalltheangelsToblottherecordout！
[EnterMELNOTTE，paleandagitated。