ANTONIN [_in a tone of mild reproach_] M. Dupont, this is very annoying. Here are my parents coming to me to complain that you have called them swindlers. I must say it’s pretty hard on me if I can’t even spend a Sunday in the country in peace. From the moment you arrive on Saturday night you begin quarrelling. And now—swindlers! Come, come, M. Dupont, that’s not the sort of name one calls people, is it? They are very angry, and I don’t blame them. DUPONT. Oh, it was really nothing. ANTONIN. Maman is furious. DUPONT. That’s absurd of her. You know what it is when people begin disputing; one word leads to another, and one says things one only half believes. However, to show how reasonable I am, I will go and make my apologies to Madame Mairaut. [_To Madame Dupont_] Come, my dear: you must do the talking. ANTONIN. If you put yourself in my place, you will see how unpleasant this kind of thing is. DUPONT [_with dignity_] Quite so. [_He and Madame Dupont turn towards the door_]. ANTONIN [_calling them back_] Here are M. and Madame Pouchelet. Wait. [_He goes to the door and calls to his parents_] Maman! They’re here, and M. Dupont wants to apologize. It was a misunderstanding, and please don’t let’s have any quarrelling before visitors. [_To Julie_] Go and help them to get their things off. _Julie goes out to welcome the arrivals. M. and Madame Mairaut come in at the same moment as M. and Madame Pouchelet, Julie helping the latter to take off their wraps. M. Pouchelet is in evening dress, Madame Pouchelet in a ball dress._ JULIE. How good of you to come. My husband and I are so delighted. POUCHELET. I promised your husband we would look in. Otherwise we should have gone straight home. The Préfet kept us longer than we wished, and we neither of us like late hours. We can only stay a moment. MME. MAIRAUT [_pushing forward a chair for Madame Pouchelet_] Won’t you sit down? ANTONIN [_to Pouchelet_] Naturally the Préfet was only too glad to get you to come. POUCHELET. Yes. There is a scheme on foot for reclassifying the roads in the Department. ANTONIN [_with an assumption of great interest_] Really! MME. MAIRAUT [_following suit_] Reclassifying the roads. Most interesting. ANTONIN. It is a matter of the greatest importance. And you, of course, are the very man to give him the necessary information. POUCHELET [_pompously_] I flatter myself I do know something of the subject. DUPONT. It is a question I have also had a great deal to do with. Twelve years ago I printed— POUCHELET. I intend to make— DUPONT. No; it was thirteen— MME. MAIRAUT [_to her husband_] Listen, dear: M. Pouchelet is speaking. MAIRAUT. Yes, yes; I am listening. POUCHELET. I intend to make an important speech on the subject at the Council. But you will read the report in the papers. ANTONIN. I should think so. We must not miss that, Julie, must we? POUCHELET. Oh, madame, I’m afraid my speech is not likely to interest you.