ABBÉ. [Enters] Good evening, madame. Good evening, Monsieur.
MME. CATHERINE. Can I be of any service?
ABBÉ. Has Monsieur Maurice, the author, been here to-day?
MME. CATHERINE. Not to-day. His play has just been put on, and that is probably keeping him busy.
ABBÉ. I have—sad news to bring him. Sad in several respects.
MME. CATHERINE. May I ask of what kind?
ABBÉ. Yes, it's no secret. The daughter he had with that girl,
Jeanne, is dead.
MME. CATHERINE. Dead!
ADOLPHE. Marion dead!
ABBÉ. Yes, she died suddenly this morning without any previous illness.