MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT [_reading_] "To enlarge the eyes," "get rid of wrinkles"--"and double chins"--"a clear complexion"--"to keep young"--ouf! That's all. No, here's one that wants white arms. They're all alike, poor women! MADEMOISELLE GREGOIRE. And all that to please men. MADAME CHANTEUIL. To please a man more than some other woman, and so to be fed, lodged, and kept by him. MADEMOISELLE GREGOIRE [_between her teeth_] _Kept_ is the right word. MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. Ah, here's Mademoiselle Baron. [_To Mademoiselle Baron_] Well? What luck? MADEMOISELLE BARON [_miserably_] There's no one in the office. I've got the signed contract for the advertisements of the Institut de Jouvence. Now I must go on to the printers. Here it is. Good-bye. [_A silence_] MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT [_in a suffocated voice_] Good-bye, my dear. _They watch her go sadly. A long silence._ THERESE [_speaking with great emotion_] Poor, _poor_ little thing! MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT [_also quite overcome, slowly_] Perhaps she has someone at home who's hungry. _They each respond by a sigh or an ouf! Mademoiselle Gregoire, Madame Chanteuil, and Mademoiselle de Meuriot rise, picking up their papers._ MADEMOISELLE GREGOIRE. I must go and see to the "Doctor's Page." MADAME CHANTEUIL. And I to the "Gleaner's Column." _They go out to the right. Therese rests her chin on her two hands and reflects profoundly. Monsieur Nerisse comes in at the back._ NERISSE [_speaking back to the people he has left in his office in an irritated voice_] Do as you like. I've told you my opinion. I wash my hands of it. When your draft is ready show it to me. [_He shuts the door. Therese, when she hears his voice, has gathered up her papers and is making for the door on the right. He calls her back_] Mademoiselle! THERESE. Monsieur! NERISSE. Listen. I have something to say to you. [_Therese returns_] Did Madame Nerisse give you the letter of introduction I wrote for you? THERESE. Yes, Monsieur. Please forgive me for not having thanked you before. NERISSE. It's nothing. THERESE. Indeed it's a great deal. NERISSE. Nothing. THERESE. Yes, I'm sure to be received quite differently with that letter from what I should be without it. NERISSE. I can give you any number of letters like that. May I? THERESE [_coldly_] No, thank you. NERISSE. You won't let me? THERESE. No. NERISSE. Why? THERESE. You know very well why.