A man who has no excuse for crime is indeed defenceless!
Damas. There's something fine in the rascal, after all!
M. Deschap. Where is the impostor?--Are you thus shameless, traitor?
Can you brave the presence of that girl's father?
Mel. Strike me, if it please you--you are her father.
Pauline. Sir--sir, for my sake; whatever his guilt, he has acted nobly in atonement.
Mme. Deschap. Nobly! Are you mad, girl? I have no patience with you--to disgrace all your family thus! Nobly! Oh you abominable, hardened, pitiful, mean, ugly villain!
Damas. Ugly! Why he was beautiful yesterday!
Pauline. Madame, this is his roof, and he is my husband.
Respect your daughter, or let blame fall alone on her.
Mme. Deschap. You--you--Oh, I'm choking.
M. Deschap. Sir, it were idle to waste reproach upon a conscience like yours--you renounce all pretensions to the person of this lady?
Mel. I do. [Gives a paper.] Here is my consent to a divorce--my full confession of the fraud which annuls the marriage.
Your daughter has been foully wronged--I grant it, sir; but her own lips will tell you that, from the hour in which she crossed this threshold, I returned to my own station, and respected hers.
Pure and inviolate, as when yestermorn you laid your hand upon her head, and blessed her, I yield her back to you. For myself--I deliver you for ever from my presence. An outcast and a criminal, I seek some distant land, where I may mourn my sin, and pray for your daughter's peace. Farewell--farewell to you all, for ever!
Willow. Claude, Claude, you will not leave your poor old mother?
She does not disown you in your sorrow no, not even in your guilt.
No divorce can separate a mother from her son.
Pauline. This poor widow teaches me my duty. No, mother,--no, for you are now my mother also!--nor should any law, human or divine, separate the wife from her husband's sorrows. Claude--Claude--all is forgotten forgiven--I am. thine for ever!
Mme. Deschap. What do I hear?--Come away, or never see my face again.
M. Deschap. Pauline, we never betrayed you!--do you forsake us for him?
Pauline. [going back to her father]. Oh no--but you will forgive him too;we will live together--he shall be your son.
M. Deschap. Never! Cling to him and forsake your parents!
His home shall be yours--his fortune yours--his fate yours: the wealth I have acquired by honest industry shall never enrich the dishonest man.
Pauline. And you would have a wife enjoy luxury while a husband toils!
Claude, take me; thou canst not give me wealth, titles, station--but thou canst give me a true heart I will work for thee, tend thee, bear with thee, and never, never shall these lips reproach thee for the past.
Damas. I'll be hanged if I am not going to blubber!
Mel. This is the heaviest blow of all!--What a heart I have wronged!--Do not fear me, sir; I am not all hardened--I will not rob her of a holier love than mine. Pauline!--angel of love and mercy!--your memory shall lead me back to virtue!--The husband of a being so beautiful in her noble and sublime tenderness may be poor--may be low born;--(there is no guilt in the decrees of providence!)--but he should be one who can look thee in the face without a blush,--to whom thy love does not bring remorse,--who can fold thee to his heart, and say,--"Here there is no deceit!"I am not that man!
Damas. [aside to MELNOTTE]. Thou art a noble fellow, notwithstanding;and wouldst make an excellent soldier. Serve in my regiment.
I have had a letter from the Directory--our young general takes the command of the army in Italy,--I am to join him at Marseilles,Iwill depart this day, if thou wilt go with me.
Mel. It is the favor I would have asked thee, if I dared.
Place me wherever a foe is most dreaded,--wherever France most needs a life!
Damas. There shall not be a forlorn hope without thee!
Mel. There is my hand!--mother, your blessing. I shall see you again,--a better man than a prince,--a man who has bought the right to high thoughts by brave deeds. And thou!--thou! so wildly worshipped, so guiltily betrayed, all is not yet lost!--for thy memory, at least, must be mine till death! If I live, the name of him thou hast once loved shall not rest dishonored;--if I fall, amidst the carnage and the roar of battle, my soul will fly back to thee, and love shall share with death my last sigh!--More--more would I speak to thee!--to pray!--to bless!
But no; When I am less unworthy I will utter it to Heaven!--I cannot trust myself to [turning to DESCHAPPELLES] Your pardon, sir; they are my last words Farewell! [Exit.
Damas. I will go after him.--France will thank me for this.
Pauline [starting from her father's arms]. Claude!--Claude!--my husband!
M. Deschap. You have a father still!
