MME. DE RONCHARD Indeed, I am. You were too small a boy to recollect it, but nevertheless, I went a great deal into society before my husband spent all my money, and let me tell you that I was a great success. For instance, at a grand ball given by the Turkish ambassador, at which I was dressed as Salammbô-- LÉON [_interrupts_] What, you, the Carthaginian princess? MME. DE RONCHARD Certainly. Why not? Let me tell you that I was greatly admired, for my appearance was exquisite. My dear, that was in eighteen hundred and sixty-- LÉON [_sits near_ Mme. de Ronchard] Oh, no dates! for goodness sake, no dates! MME. DE RONCHARD It is not necessary to be sarcastic. LÉON What! I, sarcastic? God forbid! It is simply this: in view of the fact that you did not wish this marriage to take place, and that I did, and that the marriage has taken place, I feel very happy. Do you understand me? It is a triumph for me, and I must confess that I feel very triumphant this evening. Tomorrow, however, vanish the triumpher, and there will remain only your affectionate little nephew. Come, smile, Auntie. At heart you are not as ill-natured as you pretend to be, and that is proved by the generosity of soul you have evinced in founding at Neuilly, despite your modest means, a hospital for--lost dogs! MME. DE RONCHARD What else could I do. When a woman is alone and has no children--and I was married such a short time--do you know what I am, after all? Simply an old maid, and like all old maids-- LÉON [_finishes the sentence for her_] You love toy dogs. MME. DE RONCHARD As much as I hate men. LÉON You mean to say one man. Well, I could hardly blame you for hating him. MME. DE RONCHARD And you know for what kind of girl he abandoned and ruined me. You never saw her, did you? LÉON Pardon me, I did see her once in the Champs-Elysées. I was walking with you and my father. A gentleman and lady came toward us; you became excited, quickened your steps, and clutched nervously at my father's arm, and I heard you say in a low voice, “Don't look at them; it is she!” MME. DE RONCHARD And what were you doing? LÉON I?--I was looking at him. MME. DE RONCHARD [_rises_] And you thought her horrible, didn't you? LÉON I really don't know. You know I was only eleven years old. MME. DE RONCHARD [_crosses_ R.] You are insufferable! Go away, or I shall strike you. LÉON [_soothingly, and rising_] There, there, Aunt, I won't do it again. I will be good, I promise you, if you will forgive me. MME. DE RONCHARD [_rises, as if to go out_ C.] I will not! LÉON Please do! MME. DE RONCHARD [_returns_] I will not! If it were simply a case of teasing me, I could let it pass, for I can take care of myself; but you have done your sister a wrong, and that is unforgivable. LÉON How? MME. DE RONCHARD [_stands_ R. _of table and drums on it with her fingers_] Why, this marriage! You brought it about. LÉON [_imitates her action at_ L. _of table_]