LUCIENNE. No! I really couldn't be angry. He offered so naively to settle part of his fortune upon me that I was disarmed. I simply told him I was able to earn my own living, so I was not obliged to sell myself. THERESE. And he went off? LUCIENNE. And he went off. THERESE [_starting suddenly_] Was that three o'clock that struck. LUCIENNE. Yes, but there's nothing very extraordinary in that. THERESE. Not for you, perhaps. But I made up my mind not to think about a certain thing until it was three o'clock. I stuck to it--almost--not very easily. Well, my dear, three o'clock to-day is a most solemn hour in my life. LUCIENNE. You don't say so! THERESE. _I do._ Lucienne, I am so happy. I don't know how I can have deserved to be as happy as I am. LUCIENNE. Good gracious, what's happened in the last five minutes? THERESE. I'll tell you. One hour ago Rene arrived at Evreux. He's come back from Tunis. Come back a success and a somebody. And now-- _Vincent, a workman, comes in._ VINCENT. Good-morning, Mademoiselle Therese. I want a word with you, because it's you who engages-- THERESE. Not the workmen. VINCENT. I know. But it's about a woman, about my wife. THERESE [_sharply_] Your wife? But I don't want your wife. VINCENT. I heard as how you were taking on hands. THERESE. Yes, but I choose them carefully. First of all I take the ones who need work or are not wanted at home. VINCENT. You're quite right--but I ain't asking you to pay my old woman very much--not as much as a man. THERESE. Why not, if she does the same work? VINCENT [_with male superiority_] Well, in the first place, she's only a woman; and, besides, if you didn't make a bit out of it, you wouldn't take her in the place of a man. THERESE. But you get excellent wages here yourself. You can live without forcing your wife to work. VINCENT. Well, anyhow, her few halfpence would be enough to pay for my tobacco. LUCIENNE [_laughing_] Come, you don't smoke as much as all that. VINCENT. Besides, it'll put a bit more butter on the bread. THERESE. But your wife will take the place of another woman who hasn't even dry bread perhaps. VINCENT. Oh, if one was bothering all the time about other people's troubles, you'd have enough to do! THERESE. Now will you forgive me if I meddle a little in what isn't exactly my business? VINCENT. Oh, go on, you won't upset me. THERESE. What d'you do when you leave the works? You go to the saloon?