DURAND. Mother said that, too. I can't fight the dead, but I can fight the living.
[Lifts his walking-stick and goes toward Antonio. Thérèse and Annette throw themselves between the men.]
ANNETTE. Think what you are doing!
THÉRÈSE. This will end on the scaffold!
ANTONIO [Backing away]. Good-bye, Monsieur Durand. Keep my contempt—and my ten francs.
DURAND [Takes a gold piece from his vest pocket and throws it toward Antonio]. My curses follow your gold, scamp!
[Thérèse and Annette following Antonio.]
THÉRÈSE and ANNETTE. Don't go, don't leave us! Father will kill us!
DURAND [Breaks his stick in two]. He who cannot kill must die.
ANTONIO. Good-bye, and I hope you'll miss the last rat from your sinking ship. [He goes.]