DUPONT. She earns her own living, perhaps; but she remains on my hands all the same. By the way, we had better not say anything to the Mairauts about Caroline’s working for money.
MME. DUPONT. They are sure to know.
DUPONT. Not they. What was I saying? Oh, yes. She remains on my hands all the same. And one old maid is quite enough in the family. Two would be intolerable. Remember, my child, you have no dot—at least, none worth mentioning. And as things go nowadays, when one has no dot, one mustn’t be too particular.
JULIE. To marry nowadays, then, a girl has to buy her husband?
DUPONT [shrugs] Well—
JULIE. And there’s nothing but misery for girls who have no money.
DUPONT. It’s not quite as bad as that. But obviously there is a better choice for those who have a good fortune.
JULIE [bitterly] And the others must be content with damaged goods, much reduced in price!
DUPONT. There are exceptions, of course. But, as a rule, husbands are like anything else. If you want a good article, you must be prepared to pay for it.