Well, tell me, now, truly, how much has the one you liked best among all your numerous mistresses cost you, let us say--in three months? M. DE SALLUS I cannot tell. MME. DE SALLUS Listen to me. I repeat the question. How much has the most charming of your numerous mistresses cost you in the space of three months--not only in money, but in gifts of jewelry, in dainty little suppers, in ceremonious dinners, in theater boxes,--in everything? M. DE SALLUS How can I tell? MME. DE SALLUS You should be able to. Come, let us make an estimate. Did you give her a round sum, or did you pay for everything separately? However, I know you are not a man to bother over details, so I conclude that you gave her a round sum. M. DE SALLUS Madeline, you are absolutely unbearable. MME. DE SALLUS Follow me closely. When you began to neglect me, you took away three horses from our stables--one of them was mine and the other two were yours. Then you took away a coachman and a footman; you then found it necessary to make me economize at home in order that you might be extravagant abroad. M. DE SALLUS That is not true. MME. DE SALLUS Oh! yes, it is. I have every date; do not deny it, for I shall confound you if you do. You also stopped giving me jewels, for, of course, you had other ears, other fingers, other wrists, and other necks to adorn. You also deprived me of one of my nights at the Opéra, and I do not know how many other things less important. And all this, according to my idea, should mean about five thousand francs a month. Am I not right? M. DE SALLUS You may be, but you are mad. MME. DE SALLUS No, no, confess; did the most expensive one of your mistresses cost you about five thousand francs a month? M. DE SALLUS You are crazy. MME. DE SALLUS If you are going to answer me thus, I bid you good evening. [_She rises as if to retire, but_ M. de Sallus _interposes_.] M. DE SALLUS Come now, Madeline, a truce to this jesting. MME. DE SALLUS [_in a determined manner_] Five thousand francs? Tell me, did she cost you five thousand francs? M. DE SALLUS [_shrugs his shoulders_] Oh, yes, thereabouts. MME. DE SALLUS [_looks him straight in the face_] Ah, ah! Well, listen. If you will give me immediately five thousand francs, you may be my husband for a month--but only a month. M. DE SALLUS You have lost your head! MME. DE SALLUS Well, farewell, good night! M. DE SALLUS What a farce! Stop, Madeline, let us talk seriously. MME. DE SALLUS About what? M. DE SALLUS Of--of--hang it--of my love for you. MME. DE SALLUS [_archly_] But that's not a serious question at all. M. DE SALLUS I swear it is! MME. DE SALLUS