BERTHA. I would like it to happen very much, but I don't want to have anything to do with the doing of it. I want to be able to stand and swear that I am quite clean and innocent.
ABEL. You shall be able to do so. I'll attend to it.
BERTHA. What do you think he wanted the account-book for? He has never asked to see it before. Do you think he has some scheme in his head about it?
ABEL. Ye-es! Doubtless. He wants to see if you've accounted for the three hundred francs you got for your picture.
BERTHA. What picture?
ABEL. The one you sold to Madame Roubey.
BERTHA. How do you know about that?
ABEL. The whole crowd knows about it.
BERTHA. And Axel, too?
ABEL. Yes. I happened to mention it because I thought he knew. It was stupid of you not to tell him.