JULIE [_coming forward with Lignol and Antonin_] Oh, yes, we’re comfortable enough here, as you see. MME. MAIRAUT. Comfortable enough! [_To Mairaut_] Come with me. This way. I am certain the wall has fallen. If it has we must have a little talk with the Duponts; and I, for one, shan’t mince matters. [_Turning to the others_] My husband finds the heat a little too much for him. We are going for another turn in the garden. Oh, it’s nothing, nothing at all. MAIRAUT [_mumbling_] Nothing. Giddy, that’s all. ANTONIN. Quite right. Get all the fresh air you can while you are in the country. Don’t be long. We’re expecting visitors, you know. MME. MAIRAUT. We’ll be back in time. [_Madame Mairaut and Mairaut go out into the garden_]. ANTONIN. Here, you see, is the staircase which leads to the upstairs rooms and down to the garden. [_He goes to the door on his left_]. Here is our bedroom. JULIE [_in a low voice, so as not to be noticed by Lignol_] Antonin! ANTONIN [_aloud_] Nonsense, dear. Why not? [_He opens the door. To Lignol_] Look. LIGNOL. Charming. ANTONIN. A real nest, eh? A nest for love-birds. That’s what I call it. [_To his wife_] Kiss me, dear. JULIE. But— ANTONIN. Kiss me. Come. JULIE [_gently_] But we’re not alone. ANTONIN. Lignol won’t mind. Eh, Lignol? LIGNOL [_laughs_] Don’t mention it. You weren’t so shy at dinner. ANTONIN [_to Julie, smiling_] Come. Wives must obey, you know. [_She kisses him_]. And now go and see about that beer. JULIE. Mayn’t I send the servant? ANTONIN. She doesn’t know where it is. It’s not unpacked yet. [_To Lignol_] It’s a wedding present. We are going to broach it tonight. LIGNOL. Not for me. I must go in a moment. ANTONIN. I wasn’t thinking of you, my dear fellow. You’re a friend. These formal entertainments are reserved for acquaintances. For the Pouchelets, in fact. M. Pouchelet has just been elected a Departmental Councillor. He and his wife are paying their first visit here tonight. LIGNOL. So late? ANTONIN. On their way back from the Préfet’s. They are dining there, and we are near neighbors. They are very well off, very influential. Useful people altogether. What was I saying? [_To Julie_] Oh yes, the beer: that girl will never be able to find it. Besides, I’d rather you went. She would only break the bottles. [_Julie pouts_]. Wives must obey, you know. JULIE. Very well. I shall be back before you go, M. Lignol. [_She goes out_]. CAROLINE [_to Antonin_] You won’t forget the letter for M. Courthezon, will you, M. Antonin. ANTONIN. Of course not. CAROLINE. If you write I feel sure he will succeed. ANTONIN. Yes, yes, I know. CAROLINE. I will go to Julie. ANTONIN. You’d much better go and put on another dress or something. Just to smarten yourself up. The Pouchelets are coming. We must all look our best. CAROLINE [_rather aghast, looking at her clothes_] But—[_A pause_]. Very well. [_She goes out_]. LIGNOL. Who is that lady? She never spoke a word all through dinner.