LITMIR.BIZ

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Mafflu. I should like her to see for herself how nice you are. Her friends have been talking to her. They thought that you—well—they say feminist women are like the women were in the time of the Commune. They said perhaps you'd even go on a deputation!

      Madame Nérisse. You wouldn't approve of that?

      Monsieur Mafflu. Oh, talkin' of that, one of my friends has an argument nobody can answer. "Let these women," he says, "let 'em do their military service."

      Madame Nérisse. Well, you tell him that if men make wars, women make soldiers; and get killed at that work too, sometimes.

      Monsieur Mafflu [after reflecting for some moments] I'll tell him, but he won't understand.

      Madame Nérisse. Well, no matter. I won't detain you any longer, Monsieur Mafflu.

      Monsieur Mafflu. Oh! Madame. I should like to stay and talk to you for hours.

      Madame Nérisse [laughing] You're too kind.

      Monsieur Mafflu. Then you forgive me?

      Madame Nérisse [going to the door with him] What would one not forgive you?

      Monsieur Mafflu [turning back] I say—

      Madame Nérisse. No, no. Good-bye, Monsieur.

      Monsieur Mafflu. Good-bye, Madame.

      He goes out.

      Madame Nérisse [to herself] One really couldn't be angry!

      Thérèse comes in with a little moleskin bag on her arm. She is in a light dress, is very gay, and looks younger.

      Thérèse. Good-morning, Madame. I'm so sorry to be late. I met Monsieur Féliat, my godmother's brother.

      Madame Nérisse. How is Madame Guéret?

      Thérèse. Very well, he says.

      Madame Nérisse. And does Monsieur Guéret like his new home?

      Thérèse. Yes, very much.

      Madame Nérisse. And Madame Guéret?

      Thérèse. She seems to be quite happy.

      Madame Nérisse. What a good thing. Here's the letter Monsieur Nérisse has written for you to that editor. [She hands her an unsealed letter]

      Thérèse. Oh, thank you!

      Madame Nérisse. Did you find out when he could see you?

      Thérèse. To-morrow at Two O'clock. Can you spare me then?

      Madame Nérisse. Yes, certainly.

      Thérèse. Thank you.

      Madame Nérisse. Why don't you read your letter? You see it's open.

      Thérèse. I'll shut it up.

      Madame Nérisse. Read it.

      Thérèse. Shall I?

      Madame Nérisse. Yes, do.

      Thérèse [reading] Oh, it's too much. This is too kind. With a letter like this my article is certain to be read. Monsieur Nérisse is kind! Will you tell him how very grateful I am?

      Madame Nérisse [coldly] Yes. [She makes an effort to be kind] I'll tell him, of course. But I dictated the letter myself. Monsieur Nérisse only signed it. [She rings]

      Thérèse. Then I have one more kindness to thank you for.

      Madame Nérisse [to the page boy] I expect Monsieur Cazarès.

      Boy. Monsieur—?

      Madame Nérisse. Our old editor—Monsieur Cazarès. You know him very well.

      Boy. Oh, yes, Madame, yes!

      Madame Nérisse. He will have another gentleman with him. You must show them straight into Monsieur Nérisse's room and let me know.

      Boy. Yes, Madame.

      During this conversation Thérèse has taken off her hat and put it into a cupboard. She has opened a green cardboard box and put her gloves and veil into it—folding the latter carefully—also Monsieur Nérisse's letter. She has taken out a little mirror, given some touches to her hair, and has put it back. Finally she closes the box.

      Madame Nérisse. Monsieur Cazarès is bringing us a new backer. We're going to make changes in the paper. I'll tell you all about it presently. [With a change of tone] Tell me, what was there between you and Monsieur Cazarès?

      Thérèse [simply] Nothing at all.

      Madame Nérisse. Isn't he just a wee bit in love with you?

      Thérèse. I haven't the least idea. He's said nothing to me about it, if he is.

      Madame Nérisse. He's always behaved quite nicely to you?

      Thérèse. Always.

      Madame Nérisse. And Monsieur Nérisse?

      Thérèse. Monsieur Nérisse? I don't understand.

      Madame Nérisse. Oh, yes, you do. Has he ever made love to you?

      Thérèse. [hurt] Oh, Madame!

      Madame Nérisse. [looking closely at her and then taking both her hands affectionately] Forgive me, dear child. I know how good and straight you are. You mustn't mind the things I say. Sometimes I'm horrid I know. I have an idea that Monsieur Nérisse is not as fond of me as he used to be.

      Thérèse. Oh, indeed that's only your fancy.

      Madame Nérisse. I hope so. I'm a bit nervous I think. I've such a lot of trouble with the paper just now. It's not going well. [Gesture of Thérèse] We're going to try something fresh. This time I think it'll be all right. You'll see it will. [A pause] What's that? Did he call? I'm sure that idiot of a boy hasn't made up his fire, and he'd never think of it. He's like a great baby. [As she goes towards Monsieur Nérisse's door—the door on the left—the door on the right opens, and Mademoiselle Grégoire comes in. She has taken off her hat. Madame Nérisse turns to her] Why, it's Mademoiselle Grégoire! You know, Dr. Grégoire! [To Mademoiselle Grégoire] This is Mademoiselle Thérèse. [They shake hands] I spoke to you about her. She'll explain everything to you in no time. I'll come back very soon and introduce you to the others. Excuse me for a minute. [She goes out to the left]

      Thérèse. [pleasantly] I really don't know what Madame Nérisse wants me to explain to you. You know our paper?

      Mademoiselle Grégoire. No, I've never seen it.

      Thérèse. Never seen it! Never seen Woman Free?

      Mademoiselle Grégoire. Never. I only know it by name.

      Thérèse. How odd! Well, here's a copy. It's in two parts, you see, and they're quite different from each other. Here the doctrine, there the attractions. Madame Nérisse thought of that.

      Mademoiselle Grégoire [reading as she turns over the leaves] "Votes for Women."

      Thérèse [reading with her] "Votes for Women," "An End of Slavery." And then, on here, lighter things.

      Mademoiselle Grégoire. Frivolities?

      Thérèse. Frivolities. A story. "Beauty Notes."

      Mademoiselle Grégoire [reading and laughing a little] "The Doctor's Page."

      Thérèse. Oh, too bad! But it wasn't I who first said frivolities!

      Mademoiselle Grégoire [still laughing] I shall bear up. And what comes after "The Doctor's Page"?

      Thérèse. "Beauty Notes" and "Gleanings."

      Mademoiselle Grégoire. Gleanings?

      Thérèse.

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