class="smcap">Madame Guéret. You really are ridiculous. One would think that it was only her money the lawyer took. It's gone, of course; but so is ours.

Guéret. We still have La Tremblaye.

Madame Guéret. Yes, thank goodness, because La Tremblaye belongs to me.

René. Where is Mademoiselle Thérèse? She'll keep the stage waiting! [Listening] No, she's coming, I hear her. Nice fright she's given me! [To Madame Guéret] Above all, Madame, don't forget the bell, almost the moment that Mademoiselle Thérèse comes off the stage.

Madame Guéret. Yes, yes.

René. And my properties! [He runs out]

Féliat. Now we can talk for a minute.

Madame Guéret. Yes.

Féliat. You've quite made up your minds to come to Evreux?

Guéret. Quite.

Féliat. Are you sure you won't regret Paris?

Madame Guéret. Oh, no.

Guéret. For the last two years I've hated Paris.

Madame Guéret. Since you began to play cards.

Guéret. For the last two years we've had the greatest difficulty in keeping up appearances. This lawyer absconding is the last blow.

Féliat. Aren't you afraid you will be horribly bored at La Tremblaye?

Guéret [rising] What are we to do?

Féliat. Well, now listen to me. I told you—

René comes in and takes something off a table. Féliat stops suddenly.

René. Good-morning, uncle. [He hurries out]

Féliat. Good-morning, René.

Guéret. He knows nothing about it yet?

Féliat. No; and my sister-in-law asked me to tell him.

Madame Guéret. Well, why shouldn't you? If they are engaged, we know nothing about it.

Guéret. Oh!

Madame Guéret. We know nothing officially, because in these days young people don't condescend to consult their parents.

Féliat. René told his people and they gave their consent.

Madame Guéret. Unwillingly.

Féliat. Oh certainly, unwillingly. Then I'm to tell him?

Madame Guéret. The sooner the better.

Féliat. I'll tell him to-night.

Guéret. I'm afraid it'll be an awful blow to the poor chap.

Madame Guéret. Oh, he's young. He'll get over it.

Féliat. What was I saying when he came in? Ah, yes; you know I've decided to add a bindery to my printing works at Evreux; you saw the building started when you were down there. If things go as I want them to, I shall try to do some cheap artistic binding. I want to get hold of a man who won't rob me to manage this new branch and look after it; a man who won't be too set in his ideas, because I want him to adopt mine; and, at the same time, I'd like him to be not altogether a stranger. I thought I'd found him; but I saw the man yesterday and I don't like him. Now will you take on the job? Would it suit you?

Guéret. Would it suit me! Oh, my dear Féliat, how can I possibly thank you? To tell