MAID. Madame has the same name as monsieur?

ANGÈLE. The same.

MAID. Will madame please be seated? [She takes some books off a chair and goes out].

ANGÈLE [with a gesture of despondency, to herself] Nothing is as it used to be. Nothing.

Courthezon comes in.

COURTHEZON. M. Dupont asks you to be good enough to wait five minutes, madame.

ANGÈLE. Certainly, monsieur. [Courthezon collects the books and papers, looking at Angèle the while out of the corner of his eye. He makes as if to go]. You are M. Courthezon, are you not?

COURTHEZON [much embarrassed] Yes, madame—Mlle. Angèle. You remember me? You have a good memory. Especially as I am not quite myself just now. I have many things to worry me. But that is a long story. [He stands facing her, the books and papers under his arm]. I recognized you at once. M. Dupont told me.

ANGÈLE. My father is well in health?

COURTHEZON [embarrassed] Quite well. They are all quite well. You, too, if I may judge by your looks?