MME. MAIRAUT. And then we must remember that the eldest Dupont girl got into trouble and is now living a disreputable life in Paris. That will make them less difficult. MAIRAUT. Hush! _Madame Dupont and Dupont enter the room. General greetings. ‘How do you do, dear madame? How are you? How good of you to call! Sit down,’ etc. All sit. Silence._ MME. MAIRAUT. My dear Madame Dupont, I will come straight to the point. The object of our visit is this. M. Mairaut and I think we have observed that mademoiselle, your daughter, has made an impression—how shall I put it? A certain impression on our son. MAIRAUT. A certain impression. Yes. MME. MAIRAUT. Antonin will join us here immediately, but of course we have said nothing to him about this. DUPONT. Julie, of course, has not the least idea— MME. DUPONT. She is dressing. We are going to the ball at the Gontiers’ to-night, and the dear child asked if she might dress before dinner. DUPONT. Not that she is vain. MME. DUPONT. Not the least in the world. DUPONT [_to his wife, in an off-hand tone_] She makes her own dresses, doesn’t she? MME. DUPONT. Of course. In this house we don’t know what it is to have a bill from the dressmaker. DUPONT. Yet with all her other occupations she’s an excellent musician. MME. DUPONT. Quite excellent. She has a passion for really good music. She knows Wagner thoroughly. MME. MAIRAUT. Wagner! Good heavens! MME. DUPONT. To talk about, I mean. MME. MAIRAUT. I know your daughter is charming. MME. DUPONT. And good, too. You would never believe how responsive that poor child is to affection! DUPONT [_to Mairaut, offering the box_] Have a cigar? MAIRAUT. No, thanks. I never smoke before dinner. DUPONT. Take one, all the same. You can smoke it afterwards. They are my usual brand, but pretty fair. MAIRAUT [_taking one_] Thank you. MME. MAIRAUT. If Antonin is not married already it is because his father and I wished him to find a wife who is worthy of him. The question of money, with us, is of secondary importance. MME. DUPONT. And with us. I’m so glad we agree about that. MME. MAIRAUT. Antonin might have made quite a number of good matches. DUPONT. It is just the same with Julie. In spite of that unfortunate affair in the family. MAIRAUT. Yes, we know. MME. MAIRAUT. Unfortunate affair? We have heard nothing of any unfortunate affair. What are you saying, my dear? MAIRAUT [_mumbling confusedly_] I was saying—nothing—I was saying—No, I wasn’t saying anything. MME. MAIRAUT [_to Madame Dupont_] Then there has been some unfortunate affair in your family? DUPONT. Yes. By my first marriage I had two daughters. One, that great fool of a Caroline whom you know. MME. MAIRAUT. Quite well. She remains unmarried, does she not?