MADELEINE. The doctor is a long time with him. I absolutely must go to this party. LUCIE. Yes, go. But you’ll come back? MADELEINE. As soon as I can. Don’t despair. Poor little Annette! LUCIE. Do you think—? MADELEINE. Good bye for the moment. Don’t move. _Madeleine goes out, and the servant is seen giving her her cloak. Lucie, alone, walks restlessly to and fro. As she comes to the door of Brignac’s study, she stops to listen._ LUCIE [_aloud, to herself_] How loud the doctor’s speaking. One would think they had quarrelled. _Fresh pause. The study door opens. Enter Hourtin and Brignac._ BRIGNAC. I can assure you, Dr. Hourtin, that I have reached years of discretion. HOURTIN. It was my duty, sir, to speak to you as I have done. BRIGNAC [_shewing him to the door, drily_] I am obliged to you. HOURTIN. I have something else to say to Madame Brignac. BRIGNAC. About me? HOURTIN. About herself and the children; but if you object— BRIGNAC. I hardly imagine it is indispensable. LUCIE. What is it? Dr. Hourtin, I beg you will tell me what you think I ought to know. BRIGNAC. I haven’t time to waste over this subject. I repeat I am exceedingly busy, and I have to make a speech this evening. You must excuse my leaving you. Good bye. _Hourtin bows. Brignac goes out, slamming the door of his study._ LUCIE. I trust you will forgive my husband if he has annoyed you. HOURTIN. A doctor cannot be annoyed at the symptoms of a disease. I would no more be indignant at M. Brignac’s temper than bear malice against him for having fever in an attack of pneumonia. LUCIE. You wanted to speak to him. Is there something about the children? HOURTIN. If you see that the children are treated as your own doctor and I have prescribed in our consultation, I am confident that their condition will improve. But I have something more to say to you yourself. Not long ago I was called in to a married couple, one of whom was a victim to morphia and refused to give up the use of the poison. The children of the marriage were degenerate, and there was every reason to think that should others be born they would be even less healthy than the first. I had to inform the other parent concerned of the facts, in order, if possible, to discover some means of cure. Towards you I have the same duty. With the difference that here the poison is alcohol instead of morphia, the cases are identical. Like my other patient, M. Brignac refused to listen to me; and although his obstinacy is due to his poisoned condition, I confess I was unable, in spite of a physician’s philosophy, to see without irritation the way in which he is rushing to ruin, intellectual and physical. Now your nerves are strong. I was unwilling to go away without speaking to you. LUCIE. My children? HOURTIN. Your children are suffering from a nervous complaint which was born with them.