JULIE. You are too good. But you are mistaken. My view is commonplace enough. All I ask of life is that I may love my children and love my husband. LIGNOL. Your children? JULIE [_quite simply, with a touch of emotion_] Above everything my children. What I am going to say will sound absurd to you, but the day my first child is born will be the happiest day of my life. So you see, M. Lignol— LIGNOL [_insinuatingly_] Dear madame, we shall meet again. JULIE [_smiling_] As soon as you please. _Antonin comes in._ ANTONIN. Here’s the letter. You’ll slip it into the post-box, won’t you? And now we’ve only just time. LIGNOL. I’m ready [_rising briskly_]. But don’t let me drag you to the station. You’ll be leaving madame alone. ANTONIN. That’s all right. Come along. I can see if M. and Madame Dupont have arrived at the same time. LIGNOL [_to Julie_] Au revoir, madame. [_To Antonin_] I am sorry not to say good-bye to mademoiselle. [_Antonin is puzzled_]. To the lady who dined with us. ANTONIN. Oh, Caro. I’ll say it for you. No, here she is. [_Caroline comes in; and, as Lignol is saying good-bye to her, M. and Madame Dupont appear. Antonin hurriedly introduces_] My friend Lignol. He has to catch this train. LIGNOL. So sorry. [_He goes out with Antonin_]. DUPONT. Ah, Caroline. There you are. I have good news for you. Your aunt is dead. Your aunt in India. She has left all her money to you and Angèle. Not much. Sixty thousand francs between you. I get nothing, of course. She never could endure me. My dear girl, what’s the matter? Come, come, you’re not going to cry because your aunt is dead! You’ve not seen her for five and twenty years. It’s the greatest stroke of luck for you. And I shall have all the trouble, as usual! [_A gesture of dissent from Caroline_]. Oh, yes, I shall. Your sister will have to come down from Paris. MME. DUPONT. I thought you said she was in India. DUPONT. In India! What are you talking about? She is in Paris. She has never been anywhere except in Paris. What should take her to India? [_To Caroline_] Your sister Angèle will have to come down from Paris because part of the money is in land. It will be sold, of course, but still I shall have to see Angèle. And that will set people talking. Lots of people don’t even know that I have three daughters. [_To Julie_] It’s lucky for you this didn’t happen before your marriage, Julie. CAROLINE. _Must_ she come, father? DUPONT. Certainly she must. You must both be present at the lawyer’s together to sign the documents. CAROLINE. I will not go the lawyer’s. DUPONT. If you refuse to go Angèle will not be able to get her legacy, and she needs it. CAROLINE. Well, perhaps I will go. I will think it over and consult someone. I will give you my answer tomorrow. DUPONT. As you please. And not a word about this, remember, either of you. JULIE. Very well, father.