MADAME COGÉ. Good evening. [_Returning to him._] Do you want me to tell you something? Though I may be superficial, _you_ are a selfish egotist, and you find your happiness in the tears and suffering of those who love you! Good-by! [_She starts to go again._] LAMBLIN. Mathilde, Mathilde, dear! To-morrow? MADAME COGÉ [_returning_]. Do you want me to tell you something else? When a man is married and wants to have a mistress, he would do much better and act more uprightly to leave his wife! LAMBLIN [_simply_]. Why? MADAME COGÉ. Why?--Good evening! [_She goes out._] LAMBLIN. Mathilde, Mathilde! Did I make her angry? Oh, she'll forget it all in a quarter of an hour. My, what a headache! [_Catching sight of Marthe, who enters from the right._] Marthe! She looks furious! She saw Mathilde go out! What luck! MARTHE [_furiously_]. Who was that who just left? LAMBLIN. Why-- MARTHE. Who was that who just left? Answer me! LAMBLIN. It was-- MARTHE. Madame Cogé, wasn't it? Don't lie, I saw her! What can you be thinking of? To bring your mistress here! I don't know what's prevented my going away before, and leaving you to your debauchery! This is the end--understand? I've had enough. You're going to live alone from now on. [_He starts to speak._] Alone. Good-by, monsieur! LAMBLIN [_moved_]. Marthe! [_She dashes out. Lamblin goes to the door through which Marthe has gone._] Marthe, Marthe, little one! Tell me that you forgive me. [_Coming down-stage._] It's all up! Good Lord! [_Enter Madame Bail._] LAMBLIN [_goes to her, nearly in tears_]. Oh, Mother, all is lost! MADAME BAIL. No, no, you great child! I know everything, and I promise it will be all right. LAMBLIN. No, no, I tell you. Marthe told me she wanted to leave me. MADAME BAIL. Now, don't carry on that way. I don't want to see you cry. LAMBLIN. But how can I be calm when my whole future is ruined? MADAME BAIL. Nothing of the sort. Don't you think I know my own daughter? She is too well educated, she has too much common sense, to leave you. LAMBLIN [_a little consoled_]. You think so? Oh, if that were only true! MADAME BAIL. But it is true! She's crying now; her tears will ease her, and make her change her mind. LAMBLIN. Yes, yes, let her cry, let her cry all she wants to! MADAME BAIL. I tell you she is yours; she loves you. LAMBLIN [_brightening_]. Is that true? [_Madame Bail nods._] How happy I am! [_A pause. His attitude changes._] But there's one thing that troubles me. MADAME BAIL. What? LAMBLIN [_embarrassed_]. No, nothing. MADAME BAIL. Confide in me. Tell me. [_A pause._] LAMBLIN. Well, that lady who came here this evening--I'm afraid I was a little short with her. I think I offended her. I practically showed her the door. MADAME BAIL. Don't worry about that. Perhaps you weren't so rude as you thought you were. LAMBLIN. No, I'm sure. I know very well that-- MADAME BAIL. You mustn't worry and get all excited-- LAMBLIN. Do you know anything about it?