ANTONIN. Yes. LIGNOL. And she? ANTONIN. She’s just the same. LIGNOL. Happy man! ANTONIN. For the rest we can only wait and see how things turn out. She knows nothing of my tastes. I know nothing of hers. LIGNOL. And what did you talk about while you were engaged? ANTONIN. We were only engaged three weeks. Just long enough to get the money matters settled. LIGNOL. You took good care about them, I bet. ANTONIN. Rather. In fact it was a precious good stroke of business. [_He laughs_]. If you only knew how we did the Duponts, maman and I! [_He laughs again_]. LIGNOL. Hush. Here’s your wife. [_Julie comes in, and Lignol rises to go_]. I am afraid I must be going, madame. ANTONIN. But my letter for Courthezon. [_He looks at his watch_]. You’ve twenty minutes still. LIGNOL. You’re sure? ANTONIN. Certain. Wait a second. I’ll go and write it, and then I’ll see you to the station. It’s only a step. [_He goes out_]. JULIE. Thanks to you, M. Lignol, we have had a delightful evening. LIGNOL. You flatter me, dear madame. I know quite well I have been in the way. JULIE. On the contrary. I have not had such an evening’s conversation since I married. LIGNOL. Antonin isn’t a great talker. JULIE. You are old friends, aren’t you? LIGNOL. Yes. I’ve known him fifteen years. We are almost like brothers. JULIE. Tell me. Is he what you would call a religious man? LIGNOL. Antonin! [_Bursts out laughing_]. Why, he’s a materialist. Not much idealism about him. JULIE. Indeed! Not much idealism! But he’s fond of music? Good music I mean: Wagner? LIGNOL. He likes a brass band or a comic opera. [_Julie shows surprise_]. You are astonished? Oh, I forgot. He plays a little on the concertina. My dear madame, Antonin is a good chap but thoroughly matter of fact. Prosaic. JULIE [_laughing_] You are not very complimentary to your friends. LIGNOL. What annoys me is that he should possess a treasure like you and should seem quite unconscious of its value. Ah, when _I_ marry— JULIE. You are going to marry soon? LIGNOL. I don’t know. [_Musingly_] If I were to meet a woman like you, a woman with whom I could discuss everything in heaven and earth, everything that raises us, makes us higher, then— JULIE. Look for her. You’ll find her easily enough. LIGNOL. And beautiful, too. Beautiful as you are. For you _are_ beautiful, you know. JULIE [_still rallying him_] Are you making love to me by any chance, M. Lignol? LIGNOL. If making love to you means yielding to an overmastering attraction—to a fascination— JULIE [_laughing_] You certainly make the most of your time as friend of the family. But I shouldn’t hurry if I were you. You will only be wasting a lot of pretty speeches which you could employ to greater advantage elsewhere. I have old-fashioned views on the subject of marriage. LIGNOL. Whatever they are I am sure they will be lofty and noble.