Adolphe.  Oh, be sensible, Maurice, and think of your future.  Try to keep him quiet, Henriette.  I’ll be back in a moment. [Goes out.]

Henriette.  Well, Maurice, what do you think now of our guilt or guiltlessness?

Maurice.  I have killed nobody.  All I did was to talk a lot of nonsense while I was drunk.  But it is your crime that comes back, and that crime you have grafted on to me.

Henriette.  Oh, that’s the tone you talk in now!—­Was it not you who cursed your own child, and wished the life out of it, and wanted to go away without saying good-bye to anybody?  And was it not I who made you visit Marion and show yourself to Madame Catherine?

Maurice.  Yes, you are right.  Forgive me!  You proved yourself more human than I, and the guilt is wholly my own.  Forgive me!  But all the same I am without guilt.  Who has tied this net from which I can never free myself?  Guilty and guiltless; guiltless and yet guilty!  Oh, it is driving me mad—­Look, now they sit over there and listen to us—­And no waiter comes to take our order.  I’ll go out and order a cup of tea.  Do you want anything?

Henriette.  Nothing.

(Maurice goes out.)

First detective. [Goes up to Henriette] Let me look at your papers.

Henriette.  How dare you speak to me?

Detective.  Dare?  I’ll show you!

Henriette.  What do you mean?

Detective.  It’s my job to keep an eye on street-walkers.  Yesterday you came here with one man, and today with another.  That’s as good as walking the streets.  And unescorted ladies don’t get anything here.  So you’d better get out and come along with me.

Henriette.  My escort will be back in a moment.

Detective.  Yes, and a pretty kind of escort you’ve got—­the kind that doesn’t help a girl a bit!

Henriette.  O God!  My mother, my sisters!—­I am of good family, I tell you.

Detective.  Yes, first-rate family, I am sure.  But you are too well known through the papers.  Come along!

Henriette.  Where?  What do you mean?

Detective.  Oh, to the Bureau, of course.  There you’ll get a nice little card and a license that brings you free medical care.

Henriette.  O Lord Jesus, you don’t mean it!

Detective. [Grabbing Henriette by the arm] Don’t I mean it?

Henriette. [Falling on her knees] Save me, Maurice!  Help!

Detective.  Shut up, you fool!

(Maurice enters, followed by waiter.)

Waiter.  Gentlemen of that kind are not served here.  You just pay and get out!  And take the girl along!

Maurice. [Crushed, searches his pocket-book for money] Henriette, pay for me, and let us get away from this place.  I haven’t a sou left.