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N a p o l e o n (his breath taken away by the coolness of her proposal): A fair di — (he gasps). It seems to me, madam, that you

have come to regard my letters as your own property, of which I am trying to rob you.

L a d y (earnestly): No: on my honor I ask for no letter of yours: not a word that has been written by you or to you. That packet con-

tains a stolen letter: a letter written by a woman to a man: a man not her husband: a letter that means disgrace, infamy — ^N a p o 1 e

o n: A love letter?

L a d y (bitter-sweetly): What else but a love letter could stir up so much hate?

N a p o l e o n : Why is it sent to me? To put the husband in my power?

L a d y : No, no: it can be of no use to you: I swear that it will cost you nothing to give it to me. It has been sent to you out of sheer

malice: solely to injure the woman who wrote it.

N a p o l e o n : Then why not send it to her husband instead of to me?

L a d y ( completely taken aback): Oh! (Sinking back into the chair.) I — I don't know. (She breaks down.)

N a p o l e o n : Aha! I thought so: a little romance to get the papers back. Per Bacco,81 can't help admiring you. I wish I could lie like

that. It would save me a great deal of trouble.

L a d y (wringing her hands): Oh how I wish I really had told you some lie! You would have believed me then. The truth is the one

thing nobody will believe.

N a p o l e o n (with coarse familiarity): Capital! Capital! Come: I am a true Corsican in my love for stories. But I could tell them

better than you if I set my mind to it. Next time you are asked why a letter compromising a wife should not be sent to her husband, an -

swer simply that the husband wouldn't read it. Do you suppose, you goose, that a man wants to be compelled by public opinion to

make a scene, to fight a duel, to break up his household, to injure his career by a scandal, when he can avoid it all by taking care not

to know?

L a d y (revolted): Suppose that packet contained a letter about your own wife?

N a p o l e o n (offended): You are impertinent, madam.

L a d y (humbly): I beg your pardon. Caesar's wife is above suspicion.9

N a p o l e o n : You have committed an indiscretion. I pardon you. In future, do not permit yourself to introduce real persons in your

romances.

L a d y : General: there really is a woman's letter there. (Pointing to the packet.) Give it to me.

N a p o l e o n : Why?

L a d y : She is an old friend: we were at school together. She has written to me imploring me to prevent the letter falling into your

hands.

N a p o 1 e o n: Why has it been sent to me?

L a d y : Because it compromises the director Barras! 10

Napoleon (frowning, evidently startled): Barras! (Haughtily.) Take care, madam. The director Barras is my attached personal

friend.

L a d y (nodding placidly): Yes. You became friends through your wife.

N a p o l e o n : Again! Have I not forbidden you to speak of my wife? Barras? Barras? (Very threateningly, his face darkening.) Take