Arabella Yes, truly, some more champagne--without any delay. You can see all my teeth in my mouth. Do you see, I'll be ninety-eight come Easter? Jenny Her youth is the last straw. Arabella There's more still. But I am of a green old age. At the age I'm at, I still don't allow myself any servants--besides, they'd charge me too much. But, do you see, my friend, do you want me to tell you? People today, they're shoddy goods--they're not worth anything, and I wouldn't bend over to pick up the lot of them. Worthy Is she often overcome with these vapors? Albert Alas, never. She must be bewitched. Arabella At my age, I am still worth my weight in gold. My children have done me wrong. I don't look half my age. If I hadn't been married at thirteen--to tell you the truth, marriage and childbearing puts an end to youth. Such great peril. I never can remember having been a child. To tell you the truth, I was pretty enough. At twenty-seven I had fourteen children. Jenny What fertility! Fourteen! Arabella Yes, all swarming. And all boys. I've never had any girls. And you see others turn out like ours. But (winking) they're rogues who'll turn out badly. These evil ones wanted to see me in a hospital. Would you believe that after the death of their late father, they squabbled with me over my dower rights? A dower earned so legitimately. Albert Alas, can one push mental aberration further? Jenny (aside) My word, the little baggage plays her role charmingly. Arabella I will need a hundred crowns. Lend them me, sir, to pay for expenses and to bribe the judge in my unfortunate case. Albert You dream, my child,--but to satisfy you, I will advance expenses and make your case my business. Arabella If I don't have money today, I'll be in despair. Albert But think, child-- Arabella You're an honest man. Don’t refuse to give me that sum. Albert I intend to humor her. Worthy You're wise to do so. You shouldn't contradict her directly. Jenny If you resist her, she's the type of girl to go throw herself out the window. Albert I agree. Jenny I remember that you recently received about a hundred crowns. What risks is there in falling in with her wishes? Albert It's true that, right now, I could take them away from her. (to Arabella) Here. Here's the money--go. May these hundred crowns give great success to your law suit. Arabella Now I am sure of succeeding in our business. (taking the purse) But this aid was quite necessary. Give my lawyer this money, Jenny. I believe he will be diligent in serving me. Jenny He will lack nothing. Worthy You may be sure, Madame, that I wish to serve you with all my soul. Arabella I will go back and return in more decent clothes--to go with you to solicit the judge in this urgent matter and demand justice. Goodbye. May, one day, heaven reward you for this service to a widow who is to be pitied, who has many sorrows, who is set on by rogues. (Exit Arabella.)