PELLERIN I will take care of everything this evening. But the child, do you wish me to find an asylum for him? JEAN Oh, no, I will take him. I have sworn it to that poor, dead darling. Come and join me immediately at my house, and bring him with you. Then I shall have another service to request of you. But how about Musotte, who is going to remain with her? MME. FLACHE I, Monsieur. Have no anxiety; I am acquainted with all that must be done. JEAN Thank you, Madame. [_Approaches the bed; closes_ Musotte's _eyes and kisses her fondly and for a long time upon her forehead_.] Farewell, Musotte, forever! [_Goes softly to the cradle, removes the veil, kisses the child and speaks to it in a firm voice which at the same time is full of tears_.] I shall see you again directly, my little Jean! [_Exit quickly_]. ACT III. SCENE I. (_Same setting as in_ Act I.) (Monsieur de Petitpré, Mme. de Ronchard, M. Martinel, _and_ Léon.) MME. DE RONCHARD [_walks about in an agitated manner_] Seven minutes to midnight! It is nearly two hours since Jean left us! LEON [_seated_ L.] But, my dear Aunt, just allow a half hour in the carriage for going and a half hour for returning, and there remains just one hour for the business he had to attend to. MME. DE RONCHARD Was it so very long, then--the business that called him hence? LEON Yes, my dear Aunt; and now, why worry yourself by counting the minutes? Your agitation will change nothing in the end, and will not hasten Jean's return by a single second, or make the hands of the clock move more quickly. MME. DE RONCHARD How can you ask me not to worry when my mind is full of anxiety, when my heart is beating, and I feel the tears rising into my eyes? LÉON But, my dear Aunt, you know very well you do not feel as badly as that. MME. DE RONCHARD Oh, you irritate me! MARTINEL [_seated near the table_] Don't torment yourself, Madame. True, the situation is a rather delicate one, but it need not disquiet you or frighten us, if we know how to bring to its consideration at this moment coolness and reason. LÉON Just so, my dear Aunt, Monsieur Martinel speaks truly. MME. DE RONCHARD [_crosses_ R.] You ought to be beaten, you two! You know everything, and won't tell anything. How annoying men are! There is never any means of making them tell a secret. MARTINEL Jean will come presently and will tell you everything. Have a little patience. PETITPRÉ Yes; let us be calm. Let us talk of other things, or be silent, if we can. MME. DE RONCHARD Be silent! That is about, the most difficult thing-- A SERVANT [_enters_ R.] A gentleman wishes to see M. Martinel. MARTINEL [_rises_.] Pardon me for a moment. [_To the servant._] Very well, I am coming. [_Exit_ R.] SCENE II. MME. DE RONCHARD [_approaches servant quickly_] Baptiste, Baptiste! Who is asking for M. Martinel? SERVANT I do not know, Madame. It was the hall porter who came upstairs. MME. DE RONCHARD