change.
Poupin
We may not see it, but They will see it.
Paul
What do you mean, shake the globe?
Poupin
I mean that force will make the bourgeoisie go down to their cellars and hide—behind their barrels of wine and their heaps of gold.
(Hyacinth quietly reenters; he is expected and the discussion continues without interruption. Someone says “You’re late.”)
Madame
And, in this country, I hope in their coal bins. La, la, we shall find them even there.
Poupin
Eighty-nine was an irresistible force.
Paul
Yes, I know, I know you fought them. But everything is yet to be tried.
Poupin
Oh, the trial will be on a grand scale. Soyez tranquille.
Madame (indicating Hyacinth and Paul)
You ought to present these gentlemen.
Poupin
Monsieur Hyacinth is a gifted child—a child in whom I take a tender interest—a child who has an account to settle. Oh, a thumping big one! Isn’t that so, mon petit?
Hyacinth
Oh, I only want them to leave me alone.
Poupin
He’s very young.
Madame
He’s the person we have seen in this country that we like the best.
Paul
Perhaps he’s French.
Hyacinth
Oh, I’m nothing.
Madame
Do you mean to say you’re not as good as anyone else in this world? I should like to see—!
Paul
We all have an account to settle, don’t you know?
Madame
It is a shame not to take Monsieur Hyacinth in.
Poupin
All in good time, all in good time. Monsieur Hyacinth knows that I count on him, whether I make him an intern today or tomorrow.
Hyacinth
What do you mean “intern”?
Poupin
Do not trifle with state secrets. You are too young.
Madame
One is never too young to do one’s bit.
Paul
Can you keep a secret?
Hyacinth
Is it a plot? A conspiracy?
Poupin
He asks as if he were asking for plum pudding. It’s terribly serious, my child.
Paul
It’s a group of workers to which he (indicating Poupin) and I, and a good many others belong. (Poupin scowls) There’s no harm in telling him that.
Madame
I advise you not to tell it to Miz Pinnie; she’s quite in the old ideas.
Vetch
I quite agree. Pinnie thinks we are merely having a social gathering.
Hyacinth
If you’ve got some plan, something to which one can give one’s self— I think you might tell me.
Poupin
It’s an accident you haven’t met Paul here before.
Madame
How could they have met, when Mr. Paul never comes? He doesn’t spoil us!
Paul (seriously)
Well, you see, I have my little sister at home to take care of. This afternoon, luckily, a lady came to sit with her.
Madame
A lady—a real lady?
Paul
Oh yes, every inch a lady.
Madame
Why do you permit them to thrust themselves in on you, simply because you have the misfortune to be poor? It seems to be the custom in this country—but it wouldn’t suit me, or any other person from France at all. I should like to see one of ces dames, one of the real ones, coming to sit with me.
Paul
Oh, you’re not a cripple. You’ve got the use of your legs, whereas Rosy—
Madame
Yes, and my tongue!
Paul
This lady looks after several others in our tenement—and reads to my sister.
Madame
It would enrage me! You are too patient, you English.
Paul
We need patience. We shall never do anything without that.
Poupin
You’re perfectly right about that. You cannot say it too often. It will be a tremendous job. Only the strong will prevail.
Paul (to Hyacinth)
Madame says we ought to know each other—
Hyacinth
Will you tell me all about your plot?
Paul (warily)
It’s not a plot. I don’t care much for plots. It’s just taking a stand on two or three points.
Poupin
A stand, that’s what we must
