LUCIE. How? BRIGNAC. Luck may come in several ways. I may stay in the Civil Service and get promoted quickly. I may go back to the Bar: I was a fairly successful barrister once. I may have some unexpected stroke of luck. Anyway, I’m certain we shall be rich. [_Smiling_] After all, it’s not much good you’re saying no, if I say yes. LUCIE [_hurt_] Evidently. My consent was asked for before I was given a husband, but my consent is not asked for before I am given a child. BRIGNAC. Are you going to make a scene? LUCIE. No. But all the same—this slavery— BRIGNAC. What? LUCIE. Yes, _slavery_. After all you are disposing of my health, my sufferings, my life—of a year of my existence, calmly, without consulting me. BRIGNAC. Do I do it out of selfishness? Do you suppose I am not a most unhappy husband all the time I have a future mother at my side instead of a loving wife? ’A father is a man all the same.’ LUCIE [_ironically_] Oh, you are _most_ unhappy, aren’t you? BRIGNAC. Yes. LUCIE. Rubbish! BRIGNAC. Rubbish? LUCIE. You evidently take me for a fool. BRIGNAC. I don’t understand. LUCIE. I know what you do at those times. _Now_ do you understand? BRIGNAC. No. LUCIE [_irritated_] Don’t deny it. You must see that I know all about it. The best thing you can do is to be silent, as I have pretended so far to know nothing. BRIGNAC [_coming off his high-horse_] I assure you— LUCIE. Do you want me to tell you the name of the person you go to see over at Villeneuve, while I am nursing, or a ‘future mother’ as you call it? BRIGNAC. If you’re going to believe all the gossip you hear— LUCIE. We had better say no more about it. BRIGNAC. I beg to observe that it was not I who started the subject. There, there—you’re in a bad temper. I shall go and do some work, and then I must join those gentlemen. Only, you know, you’re mistaken. LUCIE. Oh, yes, of course. _He goes out to the right, shrugging his shoulders. Lucie rings. Catherine comes in._ LUCIE. Are Nurse and Josephine out with the children? CATHERINE. Yes, madame. LUCIE [_beaming_] Were my little ones well and happy? CATHERINE. Oh, yes, madame. LUCIE [_sincerely_] Aren’t my little girls pretty? CATHERINE. Yes: pretty and clever. LUCIE. The other day Edmée was talking about playing horses, and Louise said ‘’orses’ quite distinctly. It’s wonderful at her age. CATHERINE. I’ve seen lots of children, but I never saw such nice ones before. LUCIE. I’m so glad. You’re a good creature, Catherine. _Annette comes in. She pulls off her hat, wild with joy._ ANNETTE. Lucie! Sister! News! Great news! Good news! LUCIE. What is it? ANNETTE [_giving her hat to Catherine_] Take this, Catherine, and go. [_She pushes her out gently_]. LUCIE [_laughing_] Well! ANNETTE. I must kiss you, _kiss_ you! I wanted to kiss the people in the street. [_She bursts into a laugh which ends in a sob_]. LUCIE. Little sister Annette, you’ve gone quite mad. ANNETTE. No—not mad—I’m so happy.