MME. MAIRAUT [_appearing not to have heard_] After what passed between us yesterday, I intended never to set foot in this house again. DUPONT [_bowing_] It rested entirely with you, madame. MME. MAIRAUT. Since then, however, grave differences have arisen between our children. DUPONT. Very grave. MME. MAIRAUT. You know, then? DUPONT. Yes. MME. MAIRAUT. We are come therefore, my husband and I, in the name of our son, formally to request your daughter, Madame Antonin Mairaut, to return to her husband’s roof. DUPONT. _His_ roof? MME. MAIRAUT. To St. Laurent. My son awaits her there. DUPONT. He’ll have to wait some time. My daughter will not return to her husband. You are welcome to bring an officer of the Court to bear witness to the fact. It will provide your son with a ground for his divorce. MME. MAIRAUT [_sweetly_] There is no question of a divorce. DUPONT [_astonished_] What? No question of a divorce? MME. MAIRAUT. None, monsieur. DUPONT. In spite of my daughter’s refusal— MME. MAIRAUT. In spite of her refusal. DUPONT. In spite of what she has said to her husband? MME. MAIRAUT. In spite of that, too. DUPONT. In spite of anything she may do in the future? MME. MAIRAUT. In spite of anything she may do. There is no question of a divorce and there never will be. DUPONT. On your part, you mean? MME. MAIRAUT. On yours also. We shall give you no grounds. My son is waiting for his wife to return to him. He is ready to receive her whenever she sees fit to present herself. DUPONT. Whatever she does? MME. MAIRAUT. Whatever she does. DUPONT. Even if— MME. MAIRAUT. Even in that case. [_Movement of Mairaut_]. What is it, my dear? MAIRAUT. Nothing. DUPONT. The truth is you would rather risk your son’s honor than give back the thirty thousand francs. MME. MAIRAUT [_still very sweetly_] After all, thirty thousand francs is a considerable sum. [_Mairaut fidgets uneasily_]. DUPONT. Yesterday, when he went away, your son uttered certain threats. MME. MAIRAUT [_still sweetly_] He has decided not to put them into execution. MME. DUPONT. You know, of course, that Julie will never agree— MME. MAIRAUT. I can’t help that. MME. DUPONT. All their lives they will be chained to one another. Young as they are, they must give up the idea of having a home. MME. MAIRAUT. Your daughter has only to return to her duty. Antonin will receive her. MAIRAUT [_breaking out_] No. I won’t have it. I have a word to say on this. MME. MAIRAUT. What’s the matter now? Pray speak if you have anything to say. MAIRAUT [_loudly_] What we are doing is an infamy. MME. MAIRAUT. Hold your tongue. MAIRAUT. I won’t. MME. MAIRAUT. Hold your tongue, I tell you. MAIRAUT. No. And don’t you try to shout me down. Do you hear? MME. MAIRAUT. What’s taken the man? I’ve never seen him like this before.