style="font-size:15px;"> Marcel. Oh, the happiness of others! Well, let's have no bitterness.
Madeleine. No, you might feel remorse!
Marcel. Oh, Madeleine, why am I not the guilty one this time? You are always so beautiful!
Madeleine. Your fault! You should have kept what you had!
Marcel. I thought you were tired of me.
Madeleine. You will never know what I suffered; I cried like an abandoned shopgirl!
Marcel. Not for long, though?
Madeleine. Three months. When I think I once loved you so much, and here I am before you so calm and indifferent! You look like anybody else now. How funny, how disgusting life is! You meet some one, do no end of foolish and wicked and mean things in order to belong to him, and the day comes when you don't know one another. Each takes his turn! I think it would have been better—[Gesture from Marcel.] Yes—I ought to try to forget everything.
Marcel. That's all buried in the past! Wasn't it worth the trouble, and the suffering we have to undergo now?
Madeleine. You, too! You have to recall—!
Marcel. I'm sorry, but I didn't begin this conversation.
Madeleine. Never mind! It's all over, let's say no more about it!
Marcel. No, please! Let's—curse me, Madeleine say anything you like about me: I deserve it all!
Madeleine. Stop! Behave yourself, married man! What if your wife heard you!
Marcel. She? Dear child! She is much too afraid of what I might say to listen.
Madeleine. Dear child! You cynic! I'll wager you have not been a model husband since your marriage!
Marcel. You are mistaken this time, my dear.
Madeleine. You are lying!
Marcel. Seriously; and I'm more surprised than you at the fact—but it's true.
Madeleine. Poor Marcel!
Marcel. I do suffer!
Madeleine. Then you are a faithful husband?
Marcel. I am frivolous and—compromising—that is all.
Madeleine. It's rather funny: you seem somehow to be ready to belong to some one!
Marcel. Madeleine, you are the first who has come near tempting me.
Madeleine. Is it possible?
Marcel. I feel myself weakening.
Madeleine. Thank you so much for thinking of me, dear; I appreciate it, but for the time being, I'll—consider.
Marcel. Have you made up your mind?
Madeleine. We shall see later; I'll think it over—perhaps! Yet, I rather doubt if—. You haven't been nice to me to-day, your open honest face hasn't pleased me at all. You're so carelessly dressed! I don't think you're interesting any more. No, I hardly think so!
Marcel. But, Madeleine—
Madeleine. Don't call me Madeleine.
Marcel. Madame Guérin! Madame Guérin! if I told you how much your note meant to me! How excited I was! I trembled when I read it!
Madeleine. I'll warrant you read it before your wife?
Marcel. It was so charming of you!
Madeleine. How depraved you are!
Marcel. How well you know me!
Madeleine. Fool!
Marcel. I adore you!
Madeleine. That's merely a notion of yours! You imagine, since you haven't seen me for so long—I've just come back from a long trip!
Marcel. Don't shake my faith in you!
Madeleine. Think of your duties, my dear; don't forget—
Marcel. My children? I have none.
Madeleine. Your wife.
Marcel [in desperation]. You always speak of her!
Madeleine. Love her, my friend, and if my husband doesn't kill you to-morrow, continue to love her in peace and quiet. You are made for a virtuous life now—any one can see that. I flatter you when I consider you a libertine. You've been spoiled by too much happiness, that's the trouble with you!
Marcel [trying to kiss her]. Madeleine, if you only—!
Madeleine [evading him]. Are you out of your wits?
Marcel. Forgive me: I haven't quite forgotten! Well, if I am killed it will be for a good reason.
Madeleine. Poor dear!
Marcel. It will! This duel is going to compromise you fearfully. Come now, every one will accuse you to-morrow; what difference does it make to you?
Madeleine. I'm not in the mood!
Marcel. Now you are lying!
Madeleine. I don't love you.
Marcel. Nonsense! You're sulking!
Madeleine. How childish! Don't touch me! You want me to be unfaithful to everybody! Never! [Changing.] Yet—! No; it would be too foolish! Good-by.
Marcel [kissing her as she tries to pass him]. Not before—
Madeleine. Oh, you've mussed my hat; how awkward of you! [Trying to escape from Marcel's embrace.] Let me go!
Marcel [jokingly]. Let you go? In a few days!
Madeleine. Good-by. My husband may come any moment.
Marcel. Are you afraid?
Madeleine. Yes, I'm afraid he might forgive me!
Marcel. One minute more!
Madeleine. No! I have just time. I'm going away this evening—
Marcel. Going away?
Madeleine. To London.
Marcel. With—him, the other?
Madeleine. I hope so.
Marcel. Who knows? He may be waiting for you this moment at Madame de Montglat's, your aunt's—
Madeleine. They are playing cards together.
Marcel.
