FELIAT. Hullo! Was it to make her cry like that that you wanted to see her? Is that what you've learnt "in phosphates"? [_To Therese_] Don't, my dear. [_In a tone of kindly remonstrance_] You! Is it you I find crying like a little schoolgirl? [_Therese wipes her eyes_] Oh, I understand all about it. But his father will give in in the end. And you, Rene, be reasonable, don't hurry things. RENE. But I want-- FELIAT [_interrupting him_] No, no, for goodness' sake, not just now. We'll talk about it later on. Just now we have other fish to fry. We're in a fix, my young lover. We've got to face some very serious difficulties. Go along with you. _Monsieur Gueret comes in._ GUERET [_to Monsieur Feliat_] One of the delegates of the Central Committee is outside. FELIAT. And what does the brute want? GUERET [_makes a gesture of caution and points to the door_] He wishes to speak to the Chairman of the Women's Union. FELIAT. Oh, ask the gentleman in. [_To Rene_] My boy, you must be off. I'll see you presently. RENE. Yes, presently. THERESE [_aside to Rene_] Be at the station half an hour before the train goes. I'll be there to say good-bye. _Rene goes out. Monsieur Gueret brings in the delegate and goes out again himself._ FELIAT. Good-morning. What can I do for you? DELEGATE. I am a delegate from the Central Committee in Paris. FELIAT. I am Monsieur Feliat, the owner of these works. I'm at your service. DELEGATE. It's not to you I wish to speak. This is a question which doesn't concern you. FELIAT. Which doesn't concern _me_! DELEGATE. Not at present, at any rate. Will you kindly tell me where I can find the person I have come to see? FELIAT [_furious_] I--[_controlling himself_] She is here. [_He indicates Therese_] _Monsieur Feliat goes out to the right._ DELEGATE. Mademoiselle, I'm here as the representative of the Central Committee in Paris to request you to break up your Women's Union. THERESE. So that's it. DELEGATE. That's it. THERESE. What harm does it do you? DELEGATE. It strengthens you too much against us. THERESE. If I asked you to break up yours for the same reason, what would you say to me? DELEGATE. Our union is to fight the masters; yours is to fight us. THERESE. It does you no harm whatever. DELEGATE. Your union supports a movement we've decided to fight. THERESE. What movement? DELEGATE. The movement of the competition of women, the invasion of the labor market by female labor. THERESE. Not a very dangerous invasion.