Mme. Catherine.  Oh, get out of here, man, before you lose all your reason.

Maurice.  I want to go, but I cannot—­Do you believe in fate,
Madame Catherine?

Mme. Catherine.  No, I believe in a good God, who protects us against evil powers if we ask Him in the right way.

Maurice.  So there are evil powers after all!  I think I can hear them in the hallway now.

Mme. Catherine.  Yes, her clothes rustle as when the clerk tears off a piece of linen for you.  Get away now—­through the kitchen.

(Maurice rushes toward the kitchen door, where he bumps into Emile.)

Emile.  I beg your pardon. [He retires the way he came.]

Adolphe. [Comes in first; after him Henriette] Why, there’s Maurice.  How are you?  Let me introduce this lady here to my oldest and best friend.  Mademoiselle Henriette—­Monsieur Maurice.

Maurice. [Saluting stiffly] Pleased to meet you.

Henrietta.  We have seen each other before.

Adolphe.  Is that so?  When, if I may ask?

Maurice.  A moment ago.  Right here.

Adolphe.  O-oh!—­But now you must stay and have a chat with us.

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.)