DOCTOR. Many of the facts have been identical. I can give you the dates. GEORGE [_rising_] I have the law reports here. [_He takes a volume and hands it to the doctor_]. MME. DUPONT. It is needless. DOCTOR [_to George_] You can convince yourself. In one or two cases the parents have been ordered to pay a yearly pension to the nurse; in the others sums of money varying from three to eight thousand francs. MME. DUPONT. If we had to fight an action, we should retain the very best lawyer on our side. Thank heaven we are rich enough. No doubt he would make it appear doubtful whether the child had not caught this disease from the nurse, rather than the nurse from the child. DOCTOR. Allow me to point out that such conduct would be atrocious. MME. DUPONT. Oh, it is a lawyer’s business to do such things. I should not have to say anything. In any case you may be sure that he would win our suit. DOCTOR. And have you considered the scandal that would ensue. GEORGE [_turning to a page in the reports_] Here is the judgment you were speaking of—six thousand francs. DOCTOR. You can make Madame Dupont read it afterwards. Since you have the reports there, kindly give me the volume before this. [_George goes again to the bookcase. To Madame Dupont_] Have you thought of the scandal? GEORGE [_coming back_] But, doctor, allow me to point out: in reports of this kind the names are suppressed. DOCTOR. They are not suppressed in court. GEORGE. True. DOCTOR. Are you sure that no paper would publish a full account of the case? MME. DUPONT. Oh, how infamous! DOCTOR. You see what a horrible scandal it would be for you. [_George nods_] A catastrophe, absolutely. GEORGE. Particularly for a notary like me. [_He goes to get the other volume_]. MME. DUPONT. We will prevent her from bringing an action. We will give her what she wants. DOCTOR. Then you will expose yourself to be indefinitely blackmailed. I know one family which has paid hush-money of this kind for twelve years. GEORGE. We could make her sign a receipt. DOCTOR. In full settlement of all claims? GEORGE. Exactly so. Here is the volume. MME. DUPONT. She would be only too glad to go back to her people with enough money to buy a little house and a plot of land. To a woman of her position it would be wealth. _The nurse comes in._ NURSE. Baby’s waked up, sir. DOCTOR. I will come and see her. [_To Madame Dupont_] We will finish what we were saying presently. MME. DUPONT. Very well. Do you want the nurse? DOCTOR. No, thank you. _The doctor goes out._ MME. DUPONT. Nurse, just wait a minute. I want to speak to you. [_In an undertone to her son_] I know how we can manage. If we warn her and she agrees to stay, the doctor will have nothing more to say, will he? GEORGE. I suppose not. MME. DUPONT. I will promise her two thousand francs when she goes if she consents to stay on as wet-nurse. GEORGE. Is that enough, do you think?