Madame Nérisse. Indeed! May I ask what your reason is?
Monsieur Mafflu. I am just on the point of letting the second floor. My future tenant has young daughters.
Madame Nérisse. I'm afraid I don't see what that has got to do with it.
Monsieur Mafflu. Well—he'll live only in a house in which all the tenants are private families.
Madame Nérisse. But we make no noise. We are not in any way objectionable.
Monsieur Mafflu. Oh, no, no; not at all.
Madame Nérisse. Well, then?
Monsieur Mafflu. How shall I explain? I'm certain you're perfectly all right, and all the ladies who are with you here too, but I've had to give in that house property is depreciated by people that work; all the more if the people are ladies, and most of all if they're ladies who write books or bring out a newspaper with such a name as Woman Free. People who know nothing about it think from such a name—oh, bless you, I understand all that's rubbish, but—well—the letting value of the house, you see. [He laughs]
Madame Nérisse. The sight of women who work for their living offends these people, does it?
Monsieur Mafflu. Yes, that's the idea. A woman who works is always a little—hum—well—you know what I mean. Of course I mean nothing to annoy you.