DUPONT [_as before, his embarrassment growing_] I told them they ought to build a little wall along the river bank or their house would be flooded. They wouldn’t listen to me and this is the consequence. Happily the water is going down, and they’ll be able to go home to-morrow. But they should have built a wall like their neighbors. Their neighbors built a wall and—and that’s how it was. ANGÈLE [_after a pause_] How is the business doing? Well? DUPONT. Oh, yes. ANGÈLE. And you are all quite well? DUPONT. All of us. I had a touch of bronchitis last year, but it passed off. ANGÈLE. I am glad. [_A silence_]. DUPONT [_to Angèle, who is gazing at him_] You find me looking older, eh? ANGÈLE. On the contrary. I was just thinking— DUPONT. And you? You are well? ANGÈLE. Quite, thank you. [_Another silence. Then Angèle rises and the Duponts rise too_]. DUPONT. You can’t stay any longer? ANGÈLE. No. I’m afraid I must—[_Another silence_]. DUPONT. You came straight from the station? ANGÈLE. No. I had my things taken to the Lion d’Or. DUPONT. You are staying at the Lion d’Or? ANGÈLE. Yes. DUPONT. Just so. Well, until to-morrow. Four o’clock at the lawyer’s. His house is just opposite. [_He points through the window_]. You can see his door from here. You can’t miss it. ANGÈLE. I understand. [_A pause_]. Julie—she is there? [_She points to the door_]. DUPONT. Tut, tut, what am I thinking of? I had forgotten. Yes; she is there. They will take you to her. [_To Madame Dupont_] Go and see if—I’ll tell someone to go and find Caroline. [_He rings_]. MME. DUPONT [_opening a door and calling through it_] Julie: your sister Angèle is here. JULIE [_from her room_] Angèle? Ask her to come in. MME. DUPONT. You can go in to her. _Angèle goes. Dupont has rung and says a few words to the maid, who goes out at once._ DUPONT. Ouf! [_To Madame Dupont_] Ah well, it has all gone off excellently. I didn’t say a word of what I had got ready, but still it was all right. Don’t you think so? MME. DUPONT. Quite. Poor girl! I felt sorry for her. DUPONT. She is quite happy. She was very well dressed, quite like a lady in fact. Who would think to see her—Eh? [_Madame Dupont nods_]. And yet—But when one has had a good education it always comes out. It is curious. I thought I should be quite upset when I saw her. Instead of which—Of course I don’t mean that I didn’t feel it. Still it wasn’t so bad as I expected. But now she’s no longer there I feel—I feel my legs giving way under me! [_He sits down. A silence_]. If I were not so sure it was my duty to do as I did—for it was my duty? [_Pause_] You don’t answer. Wasn’t it my duty? MME. DUPONT. I don’t know. _Caroline comes in._ DUPONT. Angèle— CAROLINE. Yes. Courthezon told me. DUPONT [_with assumed carelessness after a pause_] You understand, Caroline, no reproaches. Don’t make any allusion to what you are doing for her sake. CAROLINE. I understand.