MADELEINE. M. de Forgeau’s constituents?
LUCIE. Yes, but some day they may be Julien’s constituents.
MADELEINE. How do you mean?
LUCIE. Listen. It’s a secret, but I can’t help telling you. M. de Forgeau has promised Julien to get him adopted by his committee at the election to the Chamber two months from now.
MADELEINE. Do you find the idea of being wife of a deputy fascinating?
LUCIE [laughing] He didn’t ask my opinion. [Seriously] It seems that if he were in the Chamber, Julien might look forward to going very far.
MADELEINE. It was he who said that?
LUCIE. He, and M. de Forgeau. You know we’re not rich. My husband’s professional income would hardly be enough to secure the future of our two little girls, even if one were not, alas, an invalid.
MADELEINE. Aren’t you afraid that Julien may be once again letting his imagination run away with him?
LUCIE [melancholy] What would be the good of my trying to dissuade him? I must make myself try to share his illusions—for instance, in the success of his meeting this afternoon.