LUCIE. I loved him no longer. Had I not the right to refuse?
PRESIDENT. No.
LUCIE. Well, then, have the courage to say that woman in the marriage of today is a slave whom man can reduce to be the instrument of his pleasure! Just as he likes he can leave her sterile or give her children—imperil her happiness, her life, or her health, and pledge her whole future without having to render more account to her than a bull who is put to a cow! If that’s it, very well! But say so! At least, let innocent girls know the shameful bargain that men offer them, with love for a bait and the law for a trap!
PRESIDENT [coldly] You were the cause of your young sister’s death. You took her with you.
LUCIE [calmer] Yes. [She stops].
PRESIDENT. Well?
LUCIE. Our money was soon spent. Annette got some music lessons to give, but they sent her away when they found out her condition. I did sewing.
PRESIDENT. Then you earned some money.
LUCIE. I could not get work every day. When I did, I earned fifteen sous for twelve hours. It’s true I was not clever; there are women who earn one franc twenty-five-. We were seized by despair at the thought of the child that was coming.