FÉCHAIN. You’re very kind, but I shouldn’t like a lady like you to come to our sort of place. My landlord’ll wait so long as he knows that M. Brignac is going to help me. Thank you all the same.
HOURTIN [to Brignac] Let me say a word to this fellow. I feel sure I’ve seen him somewhere. [Brignac nods. To Féchain] Pardon me—
FÉCHAIN [starting] Oh! Good day, doctor.
HOURTIN. Ah, I thought so. I was sure I knew you. You were working at the hospital once?
FÉCHAIN. Yes, sir.
HOURTIN. Quite so. No; you do not live at Chartres.
FÉCHAIN [after a silence] No, sir. I live at Paris. Only when I see there’s to be a meeting like this not far away, I go to it. I’m a poor man, and then—
HOURTIN. Then you get a loan from the chairman?
FÉCHAIN. If I can. Sometimes I’m asked to a dinner.
HOURTIN. Is it true you have twelve children?