ROGER. What a long while it is since I’ve seen you!—Once more! (_He kisses her hand again_) DUCHESS. (_Aside_) That embrace wouldn’t smother anyone! MME. DE CÉRAN. The Duchess, my dear! ROGER. (_Approaching the_ DUCHESS) Duchess! DUCHESS. Call me Aunt, and give me a kiss! ROGER. My dear Aunt! (_He starts to kiss her hand_) DUCHESS. No! No! On the cheek! You must kiss me on the cheek! That is one of the privileges of age—Look at him now! Same little fellow as ever! Oh, you’ve let your moustache grow; isn’t he charming! MME. DE CÉRAN. I hope, Roger, you will shave that off! ROGER. Don’t let it disturb you, Mother, I shall do it at once!—Ah, how do you do, Lucy? LUCY. How do you do, Roger? (_They shake hands_) Have you had a pleasant trip? ROGER. Oh, most interesting. Think of it, an almost unexplored country, a veritable paradise for the scholar, the poet, and the artist—but I wrote you all about that! DUCHESS. (_Sitting down_) Tell me about the women. MME. DE CÉRAN. Duchess! ROGER. (_Astonished_) What women do you mean, Aunt? DUCHESS. Why, the Oriental women they say are so beautiful. Ah, you villain! ROGER. Let me assure you, Aunt, I had no time to investigate that—detail! DUCHESS. (_Indignantly_) Detail, indeed! ROGER. (_Smiling_) Besides, the Government did not send me there for that! DUCHESS. What did you see, then? ROGER. You will find that in the _Revue Archéologique_. LUCY. _Tombs of Eastern Asia_; isn’t that the subject, Roger? ROGER. Yes, Lucy; now among those mounds— LUCY. Ah, the mounds—those _Tumuli_—— DUCHESS. Come, come, you can chatter when you two are alone! Tell me, aren’t you tired? Did you just arrive? ROGER. Oh, no, Aunt. I’ve been in Paris since yesterday. DUCHESS. Did you go to the theater last night, Roger? ROGER. No, I went at once to see the Minister. MME. DE CÉRAN. Good! And what did he have to say to you? LUCY. I’ll leave you alone! MME. DE CÉRAN. You needn’t go, LUCY. LUCY. Oh, I think I ought to go. I shall return in a few minutes. I’ll see you later. ROGER. (_Taking her hand_) Until later, Lucy. DUCHESS. (_Aside_) There’s a grand passion indeed! (LUCY _goes out_. ROGER _accompanies her as far as the door to the left, while_ MME. DE CÉRAN _takes her place in the arm-chair, at the other side of the table_.) MME. DE CÉRAN. Now, let’s hear what the Minister had to say! DUCHESS. Ah, yes! Let’s hear. We’re anxious to know. ROGER. He questioned me as to the results of my trip and asked me to submit my report as soon as possible, promising me a reward on the day it was handed in. You can guess what that reward will be. (_He touches the lapel of his coat, as if to show the ribbon of the Legion of Honor_) MME. DE CÉRAN. Officer? That’s all very well, but I have something better. And then? ROGER. Then he asked me to convey to you his kindest regards, and begged you keep him in mind when that law came up for consideration by the Senate.