BRIGNAC. I daresay. Go and tell that to the Châteauneuf people! Besides, if she was so innocent, why didn’t you look after her better?
LUCIE. But it was you who were always urging her to go to the Bernins.
BRIGNAC. In another minute it’s going to be all my fault! I was glad she should go to their house because I thought old Bernin might be useful to us. How should I know that the girl couldn’t behave herself?
LUCIE [indignantly] Oh, hush! I tell you Annette is the victim of this wretch. If you are going to do nothing but insult her, we had better stop discussing the matter.
BRIGNAC. I’m in a nice fix now! There’s nothing left for us but to pack our trunks and be off. I’m done for, ruined! smashed!
LUCIE. You exaggerate.
BRIGNAC. I exaggerate! I tell you if she was caught red-handed stealing, the wreck wouldn’t be more complete. I even think that would have been better. I should be less definitely compromized, and less disqualified.
LUCIE. You can abuse her by and by: the business now is to save her. The Bernins have gone away this evening; find them to-morrow; and, if you speak to them as you ought, they’ll understand that their son must marry Annette.
BRIGNAC. But Jacques Bernin is engaged.