POUCHELET. Women in the Ministry!
DUPONT. In the Chamber they would want to keep their hats on.
POUCHELET. Yes [to Julie]. Eh, Madame Mairaut? They’d insist on keeping on their hats as they do at the theatres.
MME. POUCHELET. And at election times they’d go from house to house asking for votes. The modern women would enjoy that.
POUCHELET. And this parliament elected by women, what would it be like? [More laughter]. A Chamber of Deputies chosen by women!
JULIE [a little annoyed] Really, gentlemen, judging by the results you’ve achieved so far by keeping the government to yourselves I don’t think you need fear that women will do much worse. [The laughter dies down uneasily].
POUCHELET [with pompous solemnity] I know it is the fashion nowadays to decry all our elective assemblies. But, as I am myself, in my humble way, one of the people’s representatives, I cannot allow such views to pass without protest. [An awful silence].
JULIE [apologizing] I had no intention of saying anything that could wound you, M. Pouchelet.
MME. POUCHELET. We are sure of that, dear madame.
POUCHELET [to his wife] And now, my dear, it is time for us to be going.