ANTONIN. They did as most parents do. JULIE. And so most marriages are unhappy. ANTONIN. If you really loved me— JULIE. But I don’t love you. That is just the point. And you don’t love me. And here we are chained to one another. ANTONIN. Nonsense. I not love you? JULIE. No, indeed. You don’t love me. ANTONIN. Come, come, you are talking foolishly. It’s late. Let’s go to bed. Things will be all right to-morrow morning. [_He goes into the bedroom_]. JULIE [_sits staring in front of her for awhile: then she says to herself_] No: things will never be all right. Never. Never. ANTONIN [_calls_] Are you coming, Julie? [_Julie starts as if she had been dreaming. She looks round her in a dazed way_]. Come along. JULIE [_with a deep sigh, her face showing a mingled expression of profound disgust and sorrowful resignation_] I am coming. [_She goes slowly towards the door of the bedroom_]. ACT III _The scene is the same as in the first Act. It is September. Dupont and his wife are sitting together. There is a pile of account books on the table between them._ DUPONT [_to his wife, who is holding a paper_] You see what the accounts say. They aren’t brilliant. [_To the maid who enters_] As soon as Mlle. Caroline comes in ask her to come here. SERVANT. Yes, sir. [_The maid goes out_]. MME. DUPONT. The turnover is smaller than last year. DUPONT. The profits are down to nothing. I’m wrong. 112 francs 17. Splendid things accounts! MME. DUPONT. What’s to happen next? DUPONT. I don’t know. One thing is certain. Things can’t go on like this. MME. DUPONT. What are we to do, then? DUPONT. Next year it will be worse, unless— MME. DUPONT. Unless? DUPONT. The fact is the business wants new plant. At present we are using an old machine worked by hand, which I inherited from my father. We have a gas engine not worth twopence. In fact, there’s only one hope for us. MME. DUPONT. What is that? DUPONT. To get fresh capital somehow. MME. DUPONT. That’s not very likely. DUPONT. Who knows? It’s lucky for you your husband is no fool, my dear. I am going to see if I can get you out of this mess. [_Caroline comes in_]. Here is Caroline. Go and find Julie. I shall want you both in a moment. I will call you. _Madame Dupont goes out._ DUPONT [_to Caroline_] My dear child, I have asked you to come here because I want to have a serious talk with you. After our long arguments you have at last come to see that it is your duty to accept the legacy from your aunt. Your sister Angèle is coming here. CAROLINE. Coming here?