MADAME NERISSE [_who sees Therese's emotion_] How sorry I am for you! If you only knew how I feel for you! Don't look so unhappy. [_Therese makes a gesture of despair_] You're not an ordinary girl, Therese, and it shall never be said that I didn't do all I could for you. Listen. I told you just now that I had some big projects in my mind. You shall know what they are. My husband and I are going to start an important weekly feminist paper on absolutely new lines. It's going to leave everything that's been done up to now miles behind. My husband shall explain his ideas to you himself. It'll be advanced and superior and all that, and at the same time most practical. Even to think of it has been a touch of genius. When you meet my husband you'll find that he's altogether out of the common. He's so clever, and he'd be in the very first rank in journalism if it wasn't for the envy and jealousy of other men who've intrigued against him and kept him down. I don't believe he has his equal in Paris as a journalist, I'll read you some of his verses, and you'll see that he's a great poet too. But I shall run on forever. Only yesterday he got the last of the capital that's needed for founding the paper; it's been definitely promised. We're ready to set about collecting our staff. We shall have leading articles, of course, and literary articles. Do you want me to talk to him about you? THERESE. Of course I do. But-- MADAME NERISSE. We want to start a really smart, respectable woman's paper; of course without sacrificing our principles. Our title by itself proves that. It's to be called _Woman Free_. THERESE. I'll give you my answer to-morrow--or this evening, if you like. MADAME NERISSE [_hesitatingly_] Before I go--as we're to be thrown a good deal together--I must tell you something about myself--a secret. I hope you won't care for me less when you know it. I call myself Madame Nerisse. But I have no legal right to the name. That's why I've always found some reason for not introducing Monsieur Nerisse to you and your people. He's married--married to a woman who's not worthy of him. She lives in an out-of-the-way place in the country and will not consent to a divorce. My dear Therese, it makes me very unhappy. I live only for him. I don't think a woman can be fonder of a man than I am of him. He's so superior to other men. But unfortunately I met him too late. I felt I ought to tell you this. THERESE. Your telling me has added to my friendship for you. I can guess how unhappy you are. Probably I'll go this very evening to your house and see your husband and hear from him if he thinks I can be of use. Anyway, thank you very much. MADAME NERISSE. And thank _you_ for the way you take this. Good-bye for the present. _She goes out. Therese stands thinking for a moment, then Rene comes in. He is very much upset._ THERESE. Rene! RENE. Therese, it can't be true! It's not possible! It's not all over--our love? THERESE. We must be brave.