MAIRAUT [giving in, after a moment of painful indecision] Now that we are here, what would the Duponts think of us?
MME. MAIRAUT. And then we must remember that the eldest Dupont girl got into trouble and is now living a disreputable life in Paris. That will make them less difficult.
MAIRAUT. Hush!
Madame Dupont and Dupont enter the room. General greetings. ‘How do you do, dear madame? How are you? How good of you to call! Sit down,’ etc. All sit. Silence.
MME. MAIRAUT. My dear Madame Dupont, I will come straight to the point. The object of our visit is this. M. Mairaut and I think we have observed that mademoiselle, your daughter, has made an impression—how shall I put it? A certain impression on our son.
MAIRAUT. A certain impression. Yes.
MME. MAIRAUT. Antonin will join us here immediately, but of course we have said nothing to him about this.
DUPONT. Julie, of course, has not the least idea—
MME. DUPONT. She is dressing. We are going to the ball at the Gontiers’ to-night, and the dear child asked if she might dress before dinner.
DUPONT. Not that she is vain.