MME. MAIRAUT. Thirty thousand, the house, and twentyfive thousand in six months. ANTONIN. Good. MME. MAIRAUT. Now you’ve only the girl to deal with. ANTONIN. Is she romantic or matter of fact? I don’t quite know. MME. MAIRAUT. Romantic. Raves about Wagner. ANTONIN. Good heavens! MME. MAIRAUT. So I said. But once she’s married and has children to look after— ANTONIN. Children! Don’t go too fast. Children come pretty expensive nowadays. Troublesome, too. MME. MAIRAUT. Never mind. Don’t cross her now. Later on, of course, you’ll be master. ANTONIN. I rather think so. MME. MAIRAUT [_returning to Madame Dupont_] My dear madame— MME. DUPONT. Yes? MME. MAIRAUT. He is afraid he may not please Mlle. Julie. DUPONT. Absurd! MME. MAIRAUT. The amount of the dot, too— DUPONT. It is my last word. [_To his wife_] But what is Julie about? [_He rings_]. MME. DUPONT [_rises_] I will go and find her. _A maid enters._ DUPONT. Wait! [_To the maid_] Ask Mlle. Julie to come here if she is ready. _The maid goes out._ ANTONIN. I must tell you, monsieur and madame, how flattered I am to find that the preliminaries have been settled between you and my parents on this important question. I do not know what will be the issue, but— MME. DUPONT. It is we, monsieur, who are flattered. But you’ll see Julie in a moment. Of course she knows nothing. MME. MAIRAUT. We might leave them to talk a little together, perhaps? MME. DUPONT. By all means. We are going to the ball at the Gontiers’. She asked to be allowed—Here she is. [_Julie comes in. Madame Mairaut advances to meet her_] There is a crease in your dress, dear. [_She takes her apart, saying to the Mairauts_] Will you excuse me? JULIE [_in a low tone_] Well? MME. DUPONT. It rests entirely with you. We are going to leave you to talk together. Remember, it may be your last chance. Don’t throw it away. JULIE. I have thought it over and I don’t intend to do as Caroline did. So if, after we have had a talk— MME. DUPONT. You’ll have to manage him a little. He has a great eye for business. If you could make him think you would be useful in the bank. JULIE. But I hate figures. MME. DUPONT. Once married you will do as you please. Tuck in that lace a bit. It’s a little soiled. [_She tucks in the lace of Julie’s corsage_]. And remember, between lovers there may be little things which he considers himself entitled to. JULIE. I understand. They can see you whispering. Go to them. [_Madame Dupont goes back to Madame Mairaut_]. MME. MAIRAUT. What did she say? MME. DUPONT. She has not the least suspicion at present. MME. MAIRAUT. Let us leave them together. [_Aloud_] My dear M. Dupont, I have long wished to go over a printing office. May we? DUPONT [_delighted_] If you will kindly come this way. MAIRAUT. Thank you. MME. MAIRAUT. But there really are too many of us. [_Carelessly_] The children might stay here, don’t you think, madame? MME. DUPONT. By all means. _They go out._