Well, what do you advise? JACQUES DE RANDOL I do not know; we shall see. But I do not, I cannot, advise you to venture on a scandal which will put you outside the pale of society. MME. DE SALLUS Well, yes, there is another law, an unwritten law which permits one to have lovers, even though it be shameful, because [_sarcastically_] it does not outrage society. JACQUES DE RANDOL That is not the question. The thing is to avoid taking up a wrong position in your quarrel with your husband. Have you decided to leave him? MME. DE SALLUS Yes. JACQUES DE RANDOL Finally and forever? MME. DE SALLUS Yes. JACQUES DE RANDOL Do you mean for _all_ time? MME. DE SALLUS For _all_ time. JACQUES DE RANDOL Well, now, be cautious; be careful and cunning; guard your reputation and your name. Make neither commotion nor scandal, and await your opportunity. MME. DE SALLUS [_ironically_] And must I continue to be very charming when he returns to me, and be ready for all his fancies? JACQUES DE RANDOL Oh, Madeline, I speak to you in the truest friendship. MME. DE SALLUS [_bitterly_] In the truest friendship! JACQUES DE RANDOL Yea, as a friend who loves you far too dearly to advise you to commit any folly. MME. DE SALLUS And loves me just enough to advise me to be complaisant to a man I despise. JACQUES DE RANDOL I! Never, never. My most ardent desire is to be with you forever. Get a divorce, and then if you still love me, let us wed. MME. DE SALLUS Oh, yes, yes--two years from now. Certainly, you _are_ a patient lover! JACQUES DE RANDOL But supposing I were to carry you off, he would take you back to-morrow; would shut you up in his house, and would never get a divorce lest you should become my wife. MME. DE SALLUS Well, do you mean to say I could fly nowhere but to your house, that I could not hide myself in such fashion that he would never find me? JACQUES DE RANDOL Yes, you could hide yourself, but it would be necessary for you to live abroad under another name, or buried in the country, till death. That is the curse of our love. In three months you would hate me. I never will let you commit such a folly. MME. DE SALLUS I thought you loved me enough to fly with me, but it seems that I am mistaken. Adieu! JACQUES DE RANDOL Madeline, listen to me for God's-- MME. DE SALLUS Jacques, take me, or leave me--answer! JACQUES DE RANDOL Madeline, I implore you! MME. DE SALLUS Never! Adieu! [_Rises and goes to the door_.] JACQUES DE RANDOL Once more I implore you, Madeline, listen to me. MME. DE SALLUS Oh, no, no; adieu! [De Randol _takes her by the arms; she frees herself angrily_.] Unhand me! Let me go, or I shall call for help! JACQUES DE RANDOL