THERESE. He doesn't know yet. Or perhaps they're telling him now. LUCIENNE. Telling him what? THERESE. I've lost all my money, my dear. LUCIENNE. Lost all your money! THERESE. Yes. The lawyer who had my securities has gone off with them. LUCIENNE. When? THERESE. I heard about it the day before yesterday. Godpapa and godmamma were so awfully good they never said anything to me about it, though they're losing a lot of money too. They thought I hadn't heard, and I expect they wanted me to have this last evening's fun. I said nothing, and so nobody knows anything except you, now, and probably Rene. LUCIENNE. What will you do? THERESE. What can I do? It's impossible for him to marry me without a penny. Of course I shall release him from his promise. LUCIENNE. You think he'll give you up? THERESE. His people will make him. If they cut off his allowance, he'll be at their mercy. He earns about twenty dollars a month in that lawyer's office. So, you see-- LUCIENNE. Oh! poor Therese! And you could play Barberine with a secret like that! THERESE [_sadly_] I've had a real bad time since I heard. It's awful at night! LUCIENNE. My dearest! And you love him so! THERESE [_much moved_] Yes--oh! don't make me cry. LUCIENNE. It might do you good! THERESE. You know--[_She breaks down a little_] LUCIENNE [_tenderly_] Yes--I know that you're good and brave. THERESE. I shall have to be. LUCIENNE. Then you'll break off the engagement? THERESE. Yes. I shall never see him again. LUCIENNE. Never see him again! THERESE. I shall write to him. If I saw him I should probably break down. If I write I shall be more likely to be able to make him feel that we must resign ourselves to the inevitable. LUCIENNE. He'll be horribly unhappy. THERESE. So shall I. [_Low and urgently_] Oh, if he only understood me! If he was able to believe that I can earn my own living and that he could earn his. If he would dare to do without his people's consent! LUCIENNE. Persuade him to! THERESE. It's quite impossible. His people are rich. Only just think what they'd suspect me of. No; I shall tell him all the things his father will tell him. But oh! Lucienne, if he had an answer for them! If he had an answer! [_She cries a little_] But, my poor Rene, he won't make any stand. LUCIENNE. How you love him! THERESE. Oh, yes; I love him. He's rather weak, but he's so loyal and good and [_in a very low voice_] loving. LUCIENNE. Oh, my dear, I do pity you so. THERESE. I am to be pitied, really. [_Pulling herself together_] There's one thing. I shall take advantage of this business to separate from godpapa and godmamma. LUCIENNE. But you have no money-- THERESE. I've not been any too happy here. You know they're--[_She sees Madame Gueret and whispers to Lucienne_] Go now. I'll tell you all about it to-morrow. [_Louder and gayly_] Well, good-night, my dear. See you to-morrow at the Palais de Glace or at the Sorbonne! Good-night. LUCIENNE. Good-night, Therese.