GEORGE [_exasperated_] Don’t go on repeating that silly thing! What do you mean by it? [_Gently_] Come, come, tell me why you want to go away. [_Silence_] Eh? NURSE. I have told you. GEORGE. One might as well talk to a block of wood. MME. DUPONT [_coming forward_] But you have no right to leave us. NURSE. Yes, I want to go away. MME. DUPONT. I shall not allow you to go! GEORGE. Oh well, let her go; after all we can’t keep her by force. [_To the nurse_] Since you want to go, you shall go: but I can only say that you’re as stupid as a cow. NURSE. I don’t mind if I am. GEORGE. I shall not pay you for the month that has just begun, and you will pay for your own railway ticket. NURSE. We’ll see about that. GEORGE. Yes, you will see. You’ll see this moment, too! Be off with you, I don’t want you any longer. Now then! MME. DUPONT. Don’t fly into a rage, George. [_To the nurse_] You don’t mean it seriously, nurse, surely? NURSE. I would rather go back home at once and only have my five hundred francs. GEORGE. What’s that? MME. DUPONT. What are you talking about? GEORGE. Five hundred francs? MME. DUPONT. What five hundred francs? NURSE. The five hundred francs you promised me, to be sure! GEORGE. We never promised you anything of the sort! NURSE. Yes, you did. MME. DUPONT. Yes, when you had finished nursing the baby and if we were satisfied with you. NURSE. No, you said you would give me five hundred francs when I left. Now I’m going away, so I want them. MME. DUPONT. You will please not address me in that tone, you understand. NURSE. You’ve only got to give me my money and I shan’t say a word more. GEORGE. Oh, that’s it, is it? Very well, I discharge you on the spot. Now, then, be off with you. MME. DUPONT. I should think so, indeed. GEORGE. Off you go! NURSE. Give me my five hundred francs. GEORGE [_pointing furiously at the door_] Take your blasted carcase out of this. Do you hear? NURSE. Hullo, hullo! You speak to me a bit more politely, can’t you? GEORGE. Will you get out of this, or have I got to send for the police? NURSE. The police! What for, eh, what for? GEORGE. To chuck you out, you— NURSE. Well, and what am I? I’m only a country girl, I am. I may be a bit stupid— MME. DUPONT. Stupid! I should think you were. You have no more brains than a mule. NURSE. I may be stupid, but I’m not— MME. DUPONT [_interrupting_] You have no more heart than a stone. You are a wicked woman. GEORGE. You’re no better than a thief. NURSE. Oh, a thief am I? I should like to know why. GEORGE. Because you’re trying to get money that isn’t yours. MME. DUPONT. Because you are deserting our baby. You are a wicked woman. GEORGE. Do you want me to put you out? [_He takes her by the arm_]. NURSE. Oh, that’s it, is it? So you want me to tell you why I’m going? GEORGE. Now then, out with it. MME. DUPONT. Well, why is it? _Henriette enters at the back. In the noise of the quarrel no one perceives her._