Roger. Immediately!
Mme. de Céran. Did you leave cards for the Speaker of the House?
Roger. Yes, this morning, and for General de Briais and Mme. de Vielfond.
Mme. de Céran. Good! It must be known that you have returned. I’ll have a paragraph sent to the papers.—And one thing more: those articles you sent back from the East were very good. But I noticed with astonishment a tendency toward—what shall I say?—imagination, “fine” writing; descriptions, irrelevancies—even poetry—(Reproachfully) Alfred de Musset, my son!
Duchess. Yes, the article was most interesting: you must be more careful.
Mme. de Céran. The Duchess is joking, my dear. But be careful about poetry; never do it again! You are concerned with serious subjects; you must be serious yourself.
Roger. But I had no idea, Mother!—How can you tell when an article is serious?
Duchess. (Holding up a pamphlet) When the pages aren’t cut!
Mme. de Céran. Your Aunt exaggerates, but take my advice: no more poetry!—And now, dinner at six. You have an hour to work on your report. I shan’t keep you any longer. Go to work, my dear.
Duchess. Just a moment! Now that this tender and affecting scene is over let us talk business, if you please. What about Suzanne?