Maurice.  And if his conscience should begin to trouble him—­such things do happen—­and if he should feel inclined to confess:  then you would be lost.

Henriette.  I know it, and it is this constant dread which has made me rush from one dissipation to another—­so that I should never have time to wake up to full consciousness.

Maurice.  And now you want me to take my marriage portion out of your dread.  That’s asking a little too much.

Henriette.  But when I shared the shame of Maurice the murderer—–­

Maurice.  Oh, let’s come to an end with it!

Henriette.  No, the end is not yet, and I’ll not let go my hold until I have put you where you belong.  For you can’t go around thinking yourself better than I am.

Maurice.  So you want to fight me then?  All right, as you please!

Henriette.  A fight on life and death!

(The rolling of drums is heard in the distance.)

Maurice.  The garden is to be closed.  “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee.”

Henriette.  “And the Lord God said unto the woman—–­”

A Guard. [In uniform, speaking very politely] Sorry, but the garden has to be closed.

(Curtain.)

SECOND SCENE

(The Cremerie.  Mme. Catherine is sitting at the counter making entries into an account book.  Adolphe and Henriette are seated at a table.)

Adolphe. [Calmly and kindly] But if I give you my final assurance that I didn’t run away, but that, on the contrary, I thought you had played me false, this ought to convince you.

Henriette.  But why did you fool us by saying that those fellows were not policemen?

Adolphe.  I didn’t think myself that they were, and then I wanted to reassure you.

Henriette.  When you say it, I believe you.  But then you must also believe me, if I reveal my innermost thoughts to you.

Adolphe.  Go on.

Henriette.  But you mustn’t come back with your usual talk of fancies and delusions.

Adolphe.  You seem to have reason to fear that I may.

Henriette.  I fear nothing, but I know you and your scepticism—­
Well, and then you mustn’t tell this to anybody—­promise me!

Adolphe.  I promise.

Henriette.  Now think of it, although I must say it’s something terrible:  I have partial evidence that Maurice is guilty, or at least, I have reasonable suspicions—–­

Adolphe.  You don’t mean it!

Henriette.  Listen, and judge for yourself.  When Maurice left me in the Bois, he said he was going to see Marion alone, as the mother was out.  And now I have discovered afterward that he did meet the mother.  So that he has been lying to me.