DUPONT. Show them in. [The maid goes out. To his wife] Don’t go.
M. and Madame Mairaut come in.
MME. MAIRAUT [turning to the door and speaking to her husband, who hangs back] Are you coming in or are you not?
MAIRAUT. I’m coming. [He closes the door].
Formal greetings are exchanged.
MME. MAIRAUT [sitting down] After what passed between us yesterday—
DUPONT [with dangerous sweetness] About Uncle Maréchal’s money?
MME. MAIRAUT [appearing not to have heard] After what passed between us yesterday, I intended never to set foot in this house again.
DUPONT [bowing] It rested entirely with you, madame.
MME. MAIRAUT. Since then, however, grave differences have arisen between our children.