_Mad. V._ Why they told me-- _Man._ Then they were mistaken. It's for some of the other lodgers. _Mad. V._ But there's no other lodgers on this floor, and I really cannot think what-- _Man._ At any rate, it is not for me. Take it away. _Mad. V._ [_After slowly taking off cloth._] My lord has probably dined? _Man._ Probably. _Mad. V._ Dear me, dear me, what a pity. A good dinner spoiled, wasted. Really, if you had not dined, my lord, it would so oblige me if-- _Man._ Will you go or not? [_She is dejectedly going, when MANUEL calls._] Louise, I understand, and I thank you, but I am not well to-day. I have no desire to eat. [_He turns away. MADAME VAUBERGER quietly comes back and gently places the dinner on the table._ _Mad. V._ Ah, my Lord, if you knew how you wound my heart. Come now, you shall pay me for the dinner--there--you shall put the money into my hand the moment you have it. But indeed, indeed, if you were to give me a hundred thousand francs, it would not cause me half the pleasure that I should feel in seeing you eat my poor little dinner. Oh, surely, surely, you can comprehend that. _Man._ I do, Louise, I do--and as I can't give you the hundred thousand francs, why, I'll eat your dinner. _Mad. V._ No; _will_ you? _Man._ Louise, your hand. Don't be alarmed, I'm not going to put money into it. [_She timidly gives her hand._ _Mad. V._ Oh! thank you, thank you, my lord, a thousand times. Now, I'll leave you to your dinner. Ah! how good of you to accept my poor gift. You have a noble heart. [_Exit C._ _Man._ And a monstrous appetite. My kind, faithful Louise. Well, well, let us to dinner, since dinner there is. Come, come, here's life for another day or so, at least, and that's something. _DOCTOR and MADAME VAUBERGER heard without._ _Des._ Nonsense, nonsense; I don't believe a word of it. _Mad. V._ I tell you sir, 'tis true; you might have seen it. _Des._ [_Entering._] But, confound it, woman--I _didn't_ see it, and it was your business to tell me. _Mad. V._ It wasn't. _Des._ It was. _Man._ What's the matter now? _Des._ Matter enough! That stupid woman-- _Man._ Doctor, will you do me the pleasure to dine with me? _Des._ My lord, you have done wrong. _Man._ Indeed! _Des._ For you have wounded a friend. You have been cruel. _Man._ Cruel! _Des._ For you have made an old man blush. _Man._ I! _Des._ Yes, you! why was I left in ignorance? How could you, Manuel? why didn't you. Damn it, sir? how dare you starve without letting me know? _Man._ Sir, I could not-- _Des._ My poor boy; there, there, eat your dinner; I've news for you. _Man._ News! _Des._ Yes; eat your dinner. _Man._ But I want to listen. _Des._ Well, you don't listen with your mouth, I suppose. Eat your dinner. _Man._ But-- _Des._ Devil a word you'll get out of me, if you don't eat your dinner. _Man._ Well, well. [_Eats._