Man. Will you go or not? [She is dejectedly going, when Manuel calls.] Louise, I understand, and I thank you, but I am not well to-day. I have no desire to eat.
[He turns away. Madame Vauberger quietly comes back and gently places the dinner on the table.
Mad. V. Ah, my Lord, if you knew how you wound my heart. Come now, you shall pay me for the dinner—there—you shall put the money into my hand the moment you have it. But indeed, indeed, if you were to give me a hundred thousand francs, it would not cause me half the pleasure that I should feel in seeing you eat my poor little dinner. Oh, surely, surely, you can comprehend that.
Man. I do, Louise, I do—and as I can't give you the hundred thousand francs, why, I'll eat your dinner.
Mad. V. No; will you?
Man. Louise, your hand. Don't be alarmed, I'm not going to put money into it.
[She timidly gives her hand.
Mad. V. Oh! thank you, thank you, my lord, a thousand times. Now, I'll leave you to your dinner. Ah! how good of you to accept my poor gift. You have a noble heart.
[Exit C.
Man. And a monstrous appetite. My kind, faithful Louise. Well, well, let us to dinner, since dinner there is. Come, come, here's life for another day or so, at least, and that's something.