Duchess. (Aside) She’s prosaic enough about it!

Mme. de Loudan. (Indignantly) Why, you’re stripping love of all its romance!

Lucy. Hunter and Darwin——

Mme. de Loudan. No one better than I knows the weaknesses of the flesh. Matter dominates and masters us! I know it, I feel it! But leave us at least the psychic refuge of pure ecstasy!

Bellac. But, Marquise——

Mme. de Loudan. Be quiet, you’re a villain! I will not deny my god; that would be sacrilege. I’m very angry with you!

Duchess. (Aside) Little fool!

Bellac. I hope we shall be reconciled, after you read my book.

Mme. de Loudan. But when will that be? The entire world is waiting for that book! And you don’t say a word about it! You won’t even tell us the title!

Ladies. Tell us the title! At least the title!