Maurice. [After a glance at Mme. Catherine] If I only had time.

Adolphe.  Take the time.  And we won’t be sitting here very long.

Henriette.  I won’t interrupt, if you have to talk business.

Maurice.  The only business we have is so bad that we don’t want to talk of it.

Henriette.  Then we’ll talk of something else. [Takes the hat away from Maurice and hangs it up] Now be nice, and let me become acquainted with the great author.

Mme. Catherine signals to Maurice, who doesn’t notice her.

Adolphe.  That’s right, Henriette, you take charge of him. [They seat themselves at one of the tables.]

Henriette. [To Maurice] You certainly have a good friend in Adolphe, Monsieur Maurice.  He never talks of anything but you, and in such a way that I feel myself rather thrown in the background.

Adolphe.  You don’t say so!  Well, Henriette on her side never leaves me in peace about you, Maurice.  She has read your works, and she is always wanting to know where you got this and where that.  She has been questioning me about your looks, your age, your tastes.  I have, in a word, had you for breakfast, dinner, and supper.  It has almost seemed as if the three of us were living together.

Maurice. [To Henriette] Heavens, why didn’t you come over here and have a look at this wonder of wonders?  Then your curiosity could have been satisfied in a trice.

Henriette.  Adolphe didn’t want it.

(Adolphe looks embarrassed.)

Henriette.  Not that he was jealous—­

Maurice.  And why should he be, when he knows that my feelings are tied up elsewhere?

Henriette.  Perhaps he didn’t trust the stability of your feelings.

Maurice.  I can’t understand that, seeing that I am notorious for my constancy.

Adolphe.  Well, it wasn’t that—­

Henriette. [Interrupting him] Perhaps that is because you have not faced the fiery ordeal—­

Adolphe.  Oh, you don’t know—­

Henriette. [Interrupting]—­for the world has not yet beheld a faithful man.

Maurice.  Then it’s going to behold one.

Henriette.  Where?

Maurice.  Here.

(Henriette laughs.)

Adolphe.  Well, that’s going it—­

Henriette. [Interrupting him and directing herself continuously to Maurice] Do you think I ever trust my dear Adolphe more than a month at a time?

Maurice.  I have no right to question your lack of confidence, but
I can guarantee that Adolphe is faithful.

Henriette.  You don’t need to do so—­my tongue is just running away with me, and I have to take back a lot—­not only for fear of feeling less generous than you, but because it is the truth.  It is a bad habit I have of only seeing the ugly side of things, and I keep it up although I know better.  But if I had a chance to be with you two for some time, then your company would make me good once more.  Pardon me, Adolphe! [She puts her hand against his cheek.]