Thérèse. My dear! What then?

Lucienne. Why, then I told him that I was married and separated from my husband.

Thérèse. There's such a thing as divorce.

Lucienne. Naughty girl! That's exactly what he said. I told him that my first experience of marriage was not calculated to make me run the chances of a second. And then he asked me to be his mistress.

Thérèse. Indignation of Lucienne!

Lucienne. No! I really couldn't be angry. He offered so naïvely to settle part of his fortune upon me that I was disarmed. I simply told him I was able to earn my own living, so I was not obliged to sell myself.

Thérèse. And he went off?

Lucienne. And he went off.

Thérèse [starting suddenly] Was that three o'clock that struck.

Lucienne. Yes, but there's nothing very extraordinary in that.