MADELEINE. Three months. When I think I once loved you so much, and here I am before you so calm and indifferent! You look like anybody else now. How funny, how disgusting life is! You meet some one, do no end of foolish and wicked and mean things in order to belong to him, and the day comes when you don't know one another. Each takes his turn! I think it would have been better--[_Gesture from Marcel._] Yes--I ought to try to forget everything. MARCEL. That's all buried in the past! Wasn't it worth the trouble, and the suffering we have to undergo now? MADELEINE. You, too! You have to recall--! MARCEL. I'm sorry, but I didn't begin this conversation. MADELEINE. Never mind! It's all over, let's say no more about it! MARCEL. No, please! Let's--curse me, Madeleine say anything you like about me: I deserve it all! MADELEINE. Stop! Behave yourself, married man! What if your wife heard you! MARCEL. She? Dear child! She is much too afraid of what I might say to listen. MADELEINE. Dear child! You cynic! I'll wager you have not been a model husband since your marriage! MARCEL. You are mistaken this time, my dear. MADELEINE. You are lying! MARCEL. Seriously; and I'm more surprised than you at the fact--but it's true. MADELEINE. Poor Marcel! MARCEL. I do suffer! MADELEINE. Then you are a faithful husband? MARCEL. I am frivolous and--compromising--that is all. MADELEINE. It's rather funny: you seem somehow to be ready to belong to some one! MARCEL. Madeleine, you are the first who has come near tempting me. MADELEINE. Is it possible? MARCEL. I feel myself weakening. MADELEINE. Thank you so much for thinking of me, dear; I appreciate it, but for the time being, I'll--consider. MARCEL. Have you made up your mind? MADELEINE. We shall see later; I'll think it over--perhaps! Yet, I rather doubt if--. You haven't been nice to me to-day, your open honest face hasn't pleased me at all. You're so carelessly dressed! I don't think you're interesting any more. No, I hardly think so! MARCEL. But, Madeleine-- MADELEINE. Don't call me Madeleine. MARCEL. Madame Guérin! Madame Guérin! if I told you how much your note meant to me! How excited I was! I trembled when I read it! MADELEINE. I'll warrant you read it before your wife? MARCEL. It was so charming of you! MADELEINE. How depraved you are! MARCEL. How well you know me! MADELEINE. Fool! MARCEL. I adore you! MADELEINE. That's merely a notion of yours! You imagine, since you haven't seen me for so long--I've just come back from a long trip! MARCEL. Don't shake my faith in you! MADELEINE. Think of your duties, my dear; don't forget-- MARCEL. My children? I have none. MADELEINE. Your wife. MARCEL [_in desperation_]. You always speak of her!