NURSE. Very well, then. I’m going away because I don’t want to catch your beastly diseases here. MME. DUPONT. Be quiet, will you? GEORGE. Shut up, can’t you? NURSE. Oh, you needn’t be afraid; everyone knows about it. Justin listened at the door to what your doctor was saying and told me what was up. Oh, I may be stupid, but I’m not so stupid as that. I’m going to have my money and get out of this. GEORGE. Shut up! MME. DUPONT [_taking her by the arm_] Hold your tongue, I tell you. NURSE. Let me go! Let me go! I know your brat’s not going to live. I know it’s rotten through and through because its father’s got a beastly disease that he caught from some woman of the streets. _Henriette, with two hoarse cries, falls to the ground in a fit of nervous sobbing._ GEORGE [_rushing towards her_] My God! _Henriette eludes him and pulls herself up with disgust, hatred, and horror depicted all over her._ HENRIETTE [_shrieking like a mad woman_] Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! ACT III _The doctor’s room in the hospital where he is chief physician. The doctor enters with a medical student, both in their hospital clothes, and takes off his apron while talking._ DOCTOR. By the way, my dear fellow, is the gentleman we passed in the passage waiting for you? STUDENT. No, not for me. DOCTOR. Then it’s my deputy. Do you know this name? Where did I put his card? [_He looks on his desk_] Ah, here. ‘Loches, deputy for Sarthes’? STUDENT. That’s the famous Loches. DOCTOR. Ah, yes, deputy for Sarthes. A regular orator, isn’t he? STUDENT. Tremendous, I believe. DOCTOR. That’s the man we want then. He busies himself a great deal with social questions? STUDENT. Just so. DOCTOR. I suppose he wants to start an agitation in the Chamber in favor of the laws for which we have been clamoring so long. No doubt he means to post himself up first. This is what he writes: ‘Loches, deputy for Sarthes, presents his compliments’ etc. ... would be much obliged if I would see him to-morrow, Sunday: not for a consultation. STUDENT. It’s very likely he has some idea of the sort. DOCTOR. Now that I have a deputy I will post him up, I can assure you. That’s why I have had the case from St. Charles’ ward and number 28 brought here. STUDENT. Shall you want me? DOCTOR. Not at all, my dear fellow. Good-bye. STUDENT. Good-bye, sir. DOCTOR [_calling to the other as he goes out_] Would you mind telling them to show in M. Loches? Thanks very much. Good-bye. _The student goes out._ _Loches enters and bows. The doctor motions him to be seated._ LOCHES. I must thank you for being so kind as to receive me out of your regular hours. The business that brings me here is peculiarly distressing. I am the father-in-law of M. George Dupont. After the terrible revelation of yesterday, my daughter has returned to me with her child and I have come to ask you to be so good as to continue attending on the infant, but at my house. DOCTOR. Very good.