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 THOSE GOOD NORMANS
 
 THOSE GOOD NORIVIANS 
 
 BY 
 
 GYP, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 "CHIFFON'S MARRIAGE," ETC. 
 
 Translated from the French 
 By Marie Jussen. 
 
 Chicago and New York 
 RAND. McNALLY & COMPANY, 
 
 MDCCCXCVI.
 
 2347 
 S3 
 
 Copyright, 1896, by Rand, McNally & Co.
 
 TO 
 
 MADAME v6REL, 
 
 WITH THE MOST AFFECTIONATE REGARD 
 OF HER OLD FRIEND, 
 
 GYP. 
 
 September, 1895.
 
 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 I. 
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 
 
 Boulevard Malesherbes. The second floor 
 of a handsome house. Spacious apart- 
 ments, not elegantly but cosily fur- 
 nished. A profusion of plush draperies, 
 embroidered chairs, and complicated 
 lamp-shades. A few palms; not a single 
 flowering plant. Several paintings — 
 copies of the Flemish school; works by 
 pupils of Bouguereau, one copy of a 
 Chaplin, an original Toulmouche. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Forty-five years of 
 age. Lean, but not slender; dry and angtdar. 
 Pinched nostrils; timi, white lips. Enor- 
 mous hands, fat and red, which seem to belong 
 to another body. Dress: Triple balloon sleeves; 
 twenty-four gore skirt; material expensive 
 
 (7)
 
 8 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 and loud. Character: Neither heart nor 
 intelligence. ( To her daughter Am^naide:) — 
 It is singular! Your father has not ar- 
 rived. He should be here. 
 
 Amenaide Dutrac. Sixteen years of age, 
 but lookiitg as though she might be eighteen. 
 Tall, strong, and well built. Blonde; eyes 
 mischievous, nose tip-tilted, cheeks round and 
 rosy as apples. Dress: A very simple woolen 
 beige ; apron, Greetiaway, of a flowered ma- 
 terial. Character: A kind heart, good sense, 
 aiid humor, zvhich those about her endeavor 
 in vain to destroy. — Why, no ! It is not time ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is past the time, 
 is it not, Adolphe ? 
 
 Adolphe Dutrac. Nineteen years of 
 age; looking as though he were fifteen. Small, 
 puny, crooked-legged. Resembling his mother 
 — the same pinched nostrils, the same thin, pale 
 lips. Huge ears, flat and discolored. Care- 
 fully and fashionably dressed. Necktie enor- 
 mous. Hair lotig and parted. Linen shining 
 like a mirror. In short, the appearance of a 
 very young counter-jumper who affects style. 
 Character: Fool, coward, full of vanity and 
 ignorance. — Yes, m'ma.
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 9 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Am^naide). You 
 see? 
 
 Amenaide. Papa says in his dispatch. 
 "Shall be at home at six o'clock." It is 
 not six o'clock yet. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Six o'clock is a 
 figure of speech ; one says that to name an 
 hour; but as he was obliged to take the 
 train which arrives in Paris at five 
 o'clock — 
 
 Amenaide. How do you know, since 
 papa does not say that ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. No; but I know that 
 the train from Caen arrives at five o'clock. 
 
 Amenaide. From Caen? Why from 
 Caen ? For we don't know at which place 
 he has rented. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The telegram came 
 from Caen. 
 
 Amenaide. Well, what does that prove ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why, that proves — 
 but I don't know where you got that pas- 
 sion for arguing. 
 
 Amenaide. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And for replying to 
 everything that is said to you, by such
 
 10 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 insolent silence .... {After a pause.) Has 
 your brother come home from the me 
 Madrid ? 
 
 Amenaide. 1 don't know. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Then go and see! 
 I am always afraid that he will be run 
 over on that road. 
 
 Ado'LVIIE {giggling). Run over? On the 
 sidewalk? He has no street to cross in 
 coming here. He follows the rue Madrid 
 in a straight line, and turns into the boule- 
 vard Malesherbes. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And the rue de 
 General Foy ? What do you call the rue 
 deG6n6ralFoy? 
 
 Adolphe. That doesn't count. A car- 
 riage passes there once in ten years. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. All the same. ... I 
 don't. . . . Gontran is too old now to be 
 fetched by a woman; and, on the other 
 hand, when one has only one good-for- 
 nothing man-servant it is very incon- 
 venient to — 
 
 Amenaide {reentering the room and tak- 
 ing up her work). He is here ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {who has already for-
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 11 
 
 gotten Go7itran\ Who is here? Your 
 father? 
 
 Amenaide. Why, no; Gontran. He has 
 been here this last quarter of an hour. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What is he doing? 
 
 Amenaide. He is eating. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. At this time of the 
 day? He won't be able to eat his dinner. 
 {After a pause.) What is he eating ? 
 
 Amenaide. I don't know exactly; 
 sweets, I think, or cheese, or perhaps 
 both. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But you are mad to 
 let him do it ! 
 
 AmenaI'de. Provided I had been able 
 to prevent him. Try a bit yourself, and 
 see. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Great heaven! That 
 is easy enough; it all depends upon the 
 way in which one goes to work at it. Yes, 
 with Gontran, the way of doing it is every- 
 thing. 
 
 AmenaIde. Very well; you take it in 
 hand. He is in the dining-room. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {not moving). I am 
 going ! {Gontran enters.)
 
 12 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). Don't trouble 
 yourself — he has finished. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Gontran with mi air 
 of severity). In spite of my having- ex- 
 pressly forbidden it, you still eat just 
 before the dinner hour. 
 
 Gontran Dutrac. Twelve years of age, 
 as small as his brother, but more solidly 
 and stjirdily built. — But supposing I am 
 hungry ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {sweetly and timidly). 
 What of that ? That is no reason why. 
 
 Gontran. No reason! Well, I think 
 that's the very best reason. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. 
 
 Gontran. That beats you — he! {A 
 silence?) It seems to me that papa doesn't 
 move very fast. Perhaps he hasn't found 
 a house. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {nervously). Oh ! 
 
 Gontran. Wouldn't that be sport for 
 me if he hadn't! 
 
 Amenaide {indignantly). What a bad 
 boy you are ! Only because you know 
 that we want to go to the seashore. Am 
 I right?
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 13 
 
 GONTRAN. For that reason and for 
 other reasons. Why didn't they make 
 up their minds before, instead of being 
 such slow coaches ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {fearfully). It was on 
 your account that it was not decided 
 earlier. It was uncertain whether you 
 would have to be taken to Salice de Beam. 
 
 GoNTRAN. And they dropped me. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What do you mean ? 
 Dropped you ! The doctors said you were 
 not in need of the waters. 
 
 GoNTRAN. Perhaps I'm not exactly in 
 need of them; but it would have fixed me 
 up all the same. {A pause — then with an 
 air of importance^ And where is this 
 house ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Which house ? 
 
 GoNTRAN. Well — the one papa has 
 gone to rent. 
 
 Am:£naIde. In Normandy. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {emphatically). At least 
 we hope so — for your father did not say 
 positively. 
 
 Amenaide. He said nothing at all. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But Normandy being
 
 14 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 the country of our birth, we wish, your 
 father and I, to see it again. 
 
 Amenaide {mockingly). And to see your 
 good Normans again ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What is that? 
 
 Amenaide. Oh ! nothing interesting ! 
 I repeated one of papa's phrases, and of 
 yours, which we have heard several times 
 within the last few days. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {sternly). Our good 
 Normans ! What is there about that that 
 is laughable ? If for years one has lived 
 amid the stir of business, against one's 
 wishes — in unwholesome air, and elbow 
 to elbow with these perverse Parisians — 
 it is natural enough to desire to refresh 
 one's self, if only for a season, in the 
 society of virtuous and good people. 
 
 Adolphe {vulgarly). Oh, la, la ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {menacingly to Adolphe). 
 I am sorry that your father is not here. 
 
 Adolphe {insolently). So am I, for it 
 is nearly seven o'clock, and I am begin- 
 ning to feel hungry. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Your father is un- 
 bearable. He never can be prompt. {To
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 15 
 
 Am^naide.) Why do you shrug your 
 shoulders ? 
 
 Amenaide. Because Adolphe is rude 
 to you, you are angry at papa; that is 
 rather funny ! 
 
 GONTRAN {looking out of the window and 
 flattening his nose against the glass). There 
 he is! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Who ? 
 
 GoNTRAN. Papa ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah ! that's not bad. 
 {A pause.) Isn't he coming ? 
 
 Adolphe {who has stepped to the window). 
 He is paying the hack driver. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It always takes 
 longer for him to do a thing than any- 
 body else. 
 
 Amenaide {sympathetically). Poor papa ! 
 {Aside.) I love him best after all. {She 
 goes toward the door.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Where are you 
 going? 
 
 Amenaide. To meet him. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. To detain him a 
 little longer, I suppose ! Can't you wait 
 for him here as we do ?
 
 16 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide {reseathig herself^. Oh, yes ! 
 Very well ! {M. Dutrac enters^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah, finally! I 
 thought you were not coming back. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Fifty years of age. Stout, 
 short, of florid complexion. No gray hairs. 
 Presents a youthful appearance from a dis- 
 tance. As he approaches, his cheeks, streaked 
 with fine red veins, give his face the appear- 
 ance of the reverse side of a begonia leaf. 
 Heavy lips, fine teeth. Extraordinary hands 
 and feet. Small, egg-shaped stomach. Has 
 made his fortune in oils. Character : A good 
 fellow when his own interests are not at stake. 
 — Well, my good friend, I couldn't come 
 faster than the train. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {briefly a?id interroga- 
 tingly). The house? 
 
 M. Dutrac. The house — well, what 
 of it? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Have you it ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. If I hadn't it, I don't see 
 what I should have done there. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {nervously). Now, 
 then, have you it, yes or no ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. I have it ! I have it !
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 17 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Pretty ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Charming. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. For what — 
 
 M. Dutrac {with an embarrassed but 
 delighted air). The price is very — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {wearily). I am not 
 talking to you of the price. I want to 
 know for what length of time you have 
 rented it. 
 
 M. Dutrac {with a mysterious air). 
 Immer! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {frowning atid en- 
 deavoring to understand). What did you say? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Nothing; a joke. I said 
 "always" in German. You see, in Ger- 
 man, " immer " means always. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {contemptuously). I can 
 not comprehend how you can have the 
 heart to speak German. {A pause?) Yes, 
 that is the truth ! If I were in your place 
 I should prefer to speak English. 
 
 M. Dutrac. But if I know the Ger- 
 man language — but, when I say " I know," 
 that is merely a figure of speech. I can 
 only talk German blunderingly {modestly), 
 that is all.
 
 18 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {beating the floor with 
 both feet). Oh! ... 
 
 M. Dutrac. What is the trouble, my 
 dear? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {contimmtg to stamp). 
 Nothing. {Rolling her eyes.) 
 
 M. Dutrac. If it is nothing, then why 
 do you stamp ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I am waiting until 
 it shall please you to explain. 
 
 M. Dutrac. The house? Exactly. Now, 
 then, imagine — no, you never could guess. 
 
 Amenaide. Where is it ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Not far from Caen and 
 Cabourg. Let us say near Cabourg. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {ivith a grimace). The 
 home of actresses ! Cabourg ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. But it is not in Cabourg; 
 it is at least a mile from there, in a 
 delicious bit of country. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What is it called ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Gribouville — by the sea. 
 
 Adolphe. That must be a beautiful 
 hole! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. With such a name 
 the rents certainly can't be high.
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 19 
 
 M. DuTRAC. Well, high enough; but 
 they are high everywhere. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {conteniptuously). How 
 much? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Ah, there ! There is the 
 surprise. 
 
 Amenaide. He is very good, but all 
 the same it is true — he is a little of a 
 bore, sometimes. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {^fidgeting). Yes or 
 no, will you tell me the price ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. The price? {Hesitatingly^^ 
 Yes. {Resolutely.) Sixty thousand. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {leaping into the air). 
 What is that you say ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. I say sixty thousand francs 
 {vaguely) exactly. {Triumphantly}^ We 
 have purchased ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Purchased ! {In a 
 stifled voice?) Purchased ! and not one of 
 us has seen the house ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. But I have seen it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {shrugging her shoul- 
 ders). You — does that count ? 
 
 ;^,I. Dutrac. 
 
 Mat^ame Dutrac {furiously). You 
 couldn't notify me?
 
 20 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. Impossible! It was an 
 auction sale. It was necessary to decide 
 instantly. A charming piece of property. 
 Between the sea and — 
 
 Amenaide. And the sky. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. No — gardens. One might 
 call it a little park. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. For sixty thousand 
 francs ! To say the least {a pause), you are 
 mad ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. How so mad? For the 
 past ten years you have repeated to me 
 every day your wish to have a house in 
 the country — a country house in Nor- 
 mandy — our country. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The only country 
 which is not corrupted. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I am willing to believe it, 
 though the notary has led me to think 
 nothing favorable of it; but he is a 
 pessimist. He says that the peasants are 
 demoralized. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Come now, all the 
 deputies from Calvados are conservatives ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. It appears that this does 
 not prevent —
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 21 
 
 Madame Dutrac {shrugs her shoulders 
 again ajid smiles pityingly). 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well, my dear, I tell you 
 what the notary has told me. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {following her own train 
 of thoughts). To buy a house without hav. 
 ing seen it — and the furniture — where 
 will we get the furniture ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {carelessly). It is furnished. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {calmed). Ah ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {the same careless air). Mag- 
 nificently furnished. It is a house of 
 repute in the neighborhood. It is, with- 
 out question, the most beautiful in that 
 district. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with animation). Is 
 there a chateau ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. No. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Then this might be 
 called the chateau. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Exactly ; and {to the chil- 
 dren^ do go and see whether dinner is 
 being served. I have had nothing since 
 eleven o'clock. 
 
 Am^naIde {laughing). That means, in 
 other words, something is to be talked
 
 22 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 over. {She rises, Adolphe and Gontran do 
 not stir.) 
 
 M. DUTRAC {to Adolphe and Gontran). 
 Well, did you hear ? 
 
 Adolphe. You told Naide to go and 
 see whether dinner is served. Well, she 
 is going. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. I said all of you. I don't 
 know why your sister should exert herself 
 if you don't. 
 
 Adolphe. That's what women are made 
 for. 
 
 Gontran {supporting him). A little. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {who is anxious to hear 
 what her husband has to say to her). Will 
 you be good and let your father and 
 myself talk alone ? 
 
 Adolphe {crawling toward the door at a 
 snail's pace). Better say it right out, 
 instead of being so sneaky. {He leaves the 
 room followed by Gontran}) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Now, then, what 
 have you to tell me ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. I found, from what I heard 
 here and there, that the present deputy 
 will not be a candidate again at the next
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 23 
 
 election. There will be a chance for 
 another man, and as Adolphe will never 
 amount to anything — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {who prefers Adolphe to 
 'her other children, and loves him as well as 
 she is capable of loving anyone'). What do 
 you know about it? 
 
 M. Dutrac. At the age of nineteen 
 he has not passed even a few of his pre- 
 liminary examinations. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. He will pass the 
 first examinations next week. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That is not what they have 
 always told me at Madrid. However, I 
 hope he will pass; that will not prevent 
 his becoming a deputy. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {in raptures). A 
 deputy ! Yes, but are they not required 
 to have reached a certain age ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Twenty-five years. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But then — 
 
 M. Dutrac. Then — while we wait for 
 him to reach that age {with embarrassment) 
 I will become a candidate. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {exclaiming). You? 
 
 M. Dutrac. And I will resign in favor
 
 24 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 of Adolphe as soon as he can fill the 
 office. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah! that is it! 
 {Reflecting.) But you will never be nomi- 
 nated. You have nothing to recommend 
 you for that office. 
 
 M. Dutrac. My God ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {affirmatively). Noth- 
 ing, nothing — neither authority nor mag- 
 netism. You are as cowardly as the moon, 
 and soft as — 
 
 M. Dutrac {protesting). But — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You know nothing 
 about public matters. You are not even 
 capable of attending to your own. For 
 instance, think of the Panama story ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {coaxingly). Don't talk to 
 me about Panama — say anything you 
 please to me, only not that ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Then, we will be 
 obliged to have a horse. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Yes, one or two, and 
 possibly another man-servant. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. All that will cost a 
 great deal. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Oh! great heavens! not
 
 I SHALL SEE MY NORMANDY AGAIN. 25 
 
 as much as one would think. I am willing 
 to wager that we will not spend our eighty- 
 thousand francs income. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I say yes ! We will 
 soon have exhausted that {a patise), and 
 when I think that, but for Panama, we 
 would have had a hundred thousand ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. When will we install 
 ourselves out there ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. When you wish. In a 
 month. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. A month ! Why 
 wait a month? I am impatient to find 
 myself again in the midst of my good 
 Normans. 
 
 M. Dutrac {laughing). But you were 
 one year old when you left your good 
 Normans — who, by the way, are also 
 mine. On the other hand — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You — you do not 
 love your country — while I {sentimentally), 
 I — they could remove my body from my 
 dear Normandy — but my heart has always 
 remained there. I have only lived in 
 memories.
 
 26 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {stunned'). Memories! At 
 one year of age ! ( The children reenter 
 the room, and M. and Madame Dutrac are 
 silent^
 
 11. 
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. — AT GRIBOUVILLE- 
 BY-THE-SEA. 
 
 A fine, sandy beach. Modest houses. 
 Primitive casino. Mediocre hotels. 
 Inelegant bathers. 
 
 About one hundred yards from the beach, 
 in the midst of a garden, stands a large 
 building — half Italian villa, half Nor- 
 man dwelling-house. Vulgarly preten- 
 tious. Ornate and in very bad taste, but a 
 comfortable habitation. Unquestionably 
 the most imposing in the district. 
 
 In a large drawing-room, finished in pitch- 
 pine woodwork and furnished with 
 Turkish furniture. 
 
 M. DUTRAC, in a complete costume of zv kite 
 and blue striped fianncl, looking over the 
 papers and letters which the servant had laid 
 upon the table. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {enters, flushed and 
 
 (27)
 
 28 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 breathless; red dress, large straw hat). 
 There now! You don't know what you 
 are talking about. There is one ! 
 
 M. DuTRAC. One what? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {furiously). I have 
 just seen it. 
 
 M. Dutrac. What ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The chateau. 
 
 M. Dutrac {rising). There is a chateau ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I rather think so. 
 
 M. Dutrac {startled). Oh ! fancy ! but 
 the notary — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Leave me in peace 
 with your notary ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. You are sure that — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. If I tell you that I 
 have just come from there — 
 
 M. Dutrac. But how did you know? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. In a very simple 
 way. {She drops into a chair, which groans.) 
 This furniture is trash. {Resuming.) This 
 morning, as soon as I was ready, I wanted 
 to make the rounds in the shops, in order 
 to inform myself, and everything is expen- 
 sive ! — more expensive than at the Made- 
 leine Market. {Resuming^ At the meat
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 29 
 
 market I heard them say to the boy: 
 " Twelve chops for the chateau." Think- 
 ing that they meant us by the chateau, 
 I said: " No, only five." Then he an- 
 swered: " Five for you, and twelve for the 
 chateau." Naturally I questioned him, 
 and I learned that there is a chateau a mile 
 from here in the country. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. The chateau of Gribou- 
 ville-by-the-sea ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. No. The chateau 
 de Vy61 adage. 
 
 M. Dutrac {reassured). Then that is of 
 no importance. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {continuing). Situated 
 in the township of Gribouville. The 
 owner is the Mayor. 
 
 M. Dutrac {negligently). What is the 
 name of the owner ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The Duke de 
 Vy^ladage, only that; and not only are 
 they dukes, but the richest people in the 
 district. 
 
 M. Dutrac {a trifle nonplused). Ah ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That bothers you? 
 {Conteviptiiously .) And to think that you
 
 30 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 have passed two days here without having 
 learned one word about what I found out 
 in five minutes — I, who have been here 
 only since last evening ! 
 
 M. DuTRAC. Is it handsome ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The Duke? 
 
 M. Dutrac. No, the chateau. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Handsome? Not 
 exactly; but it is large — one might say 
 it looks like a barrack. There must be at 
 least fifty rooms in the building, and a 
 park, and stables, and kitchen gardens, and 
 guards, and servants, and carriages, and 
 dogs. Life enough to turn one's stomach ! 
 ( To the servant, who enters.) What is it ? 
 
 The Servant. A letter. 
 
 M. Dutrac {coming forward). For me? 
 
 The Servant. For monsieur and 
 madame. It comes from the Mayor's 
 office. 
 
 M. Dutrac {taking the letter and examin- 
 ing it). But it is not for us. Ah, yes! 
 {His lips part in a pleased smile ^ I did not 
 see. {To his wife, after the servant has left 
 the room^ I was in doubt, because they 
 have written our name in two words, and
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 31 
 
 that alters it so — to the eye. {He hands 
 the letter to Madame Dutrac.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {reading). Monsieur 
 and Madame du Trac. {Smiling I) It is true, 
 it does alter it. I never would have recog- 
 nized our name written in that way. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Let us see what the letter 
 says. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {giving up the letter 
 reluetantly, while her eyes rest on it zvith 
 tenderness). It is a pretty autograph. 
 
 M. Dutrac {reading the letter). It is from 
 the Mayor. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {solemnly). From the 
 Duke! 
 
 M. Dutrac. And from the aldermen, 
 who are collecting for the country festival. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Already? They 
 don't lose much time. {Anxiously^ Is it 
 necessary to give something ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Certainly. {A pause.) I 
 will send one louis. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Twenty francs ! — but 
 that is altogether too much. Ten will be 
 quite enough. 
 
 M. Dutrac. No; we are new arrivals
 
 32 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 in this country — we must make a good 
 showing for a beginning — establish a 
 position; after that, we will see. 
 
 GONTRAN {entering and crying, followed 
 by Adolphe, and throwing himself into the 
 lap of M. Diitrac). Papa, make him 
 
 stop. 
 
 M. DUTRAC. See here, Adolphe, at your 
 age ! Leave your brother in peace. What 
 do you want of him ? 
 
 GoNTRAN. He wants to take my crabs 
 from me. 
 
 Amen AIDE {who enters, taking off her hat). 
 Since this morning they have done noth- 
 ing but fight. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The sea air excites 
 them. {Noticing the crabs, which Gontran lays 
 upon the table, and which begirt to move about ^ 
 Ah ! good heavens ! what is that ? 
 
 Gontran. Those are beasts. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {recoiling precipitately). 
 Fie ! the horrors ! 
 
 Gontran. Why "Fie! the horrors?" 
 They aren't dirty. They splash about in 
 the water all the time. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Take that away at
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 33 
 
 once. (Gontran does not stir.) At once, do 
 you hear? 
 
 Gontran {grumbling). There, there ! {He 
 spreads out his handkerchief, places the crabs 
 upon it, carefully ties the corners together, and 
 goes tozvard the door.) 
 
 Adolphe {kicks the handkerchief and sends 
 it flying ten feet, where it falls to the floor). 
 Wait! Ill help you to pack. {Gontran 
 begins to cry, seated on the floor beside his 
 scattered crabs.) 
 
 Amenaide {to Adolphe). You have an 
 ugly disposition all the same. 
 
 Adolphe {going toward her zvith a threat). 
 Ah! you know, you. Don't bother me. 
 {He looks at her fiercely. ) 
 
 Amenaide {taking him by his tlmmbs and 
 twirling him around until he kneels). Now 
 then, what will you do if I bother you ? 
 Tell mc, now, what will you do, you strong 
 man ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {always exasperated 
 when she realizes the muscular inferiority of 
 her favorite). Will you let your brother 
 go ? Will you let him go ? 
 
 Amenaide {releasing Adolphe and making 
 3
 
 34 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Uifn twirl around once more, while she looks 
 at him with disgust). Oh ! indeed I will. 
 
 .M. DUTRAC {to Adolphe, who rises, loudly 
 abusing his sister). I'll settle this finally. 
 What is the trouble about now ? 
 
 Amenaide {pausing over the letter, which 
 still lies on the table). Is that for us ? Well, 
 that is very good — du Trac in two 
 words, with a small d and a capital T! 
 Zounds ! that makes a show ! {She laughs.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {vexed). That child 
 is stupid sometimes. 
 
 Amenaide {surprised). Do we write our 
 name in this way now ? {A pause.) Ah ! 
 I didn't know that. 
 
 M. Dutrac {embarrassed). Well, no ; 
 not that. This letter comes from the 
 Mayor's office. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with animation). From 
 the Mayor, who — 
 
 M. Dutrac. And from the aldermen. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {still following her 
 former idea). — who is the Duke de Vy61a- 
 dage. 
 
 Amenaide {confused). I don't under- 
 stand one word.
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 8n 
 
 M. DuTRAC. Still, it is very simple. A 
 letter has been addressed to me — an offi- 
 cial letter. 
 
 Amenaide {still more confused). To you ? 
 What for? 
 
 M. DUTRAC. I meant to .say a letter 
 which comes from the mayoralty ; and, as 
 they were ignorant of the orthography of 
 our name, in the uncertain — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {interrupting him 
 eagerly). — ty the Duke de Vyeladage 
 wrote it in two words. {A pause ^ Ah ! it 
 is inexpressible ! Those people know how 
 to do things. {To Amenaide.) Will you 
 have the kindness to tell me why you 
 giggle ? 
 
 Amenaide. I am not giggling. I am 
 laughing outright. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {pointedly). Because? 
 
 Amenaide. Because I hardly think 
 that it was the Duke who occupied him- 
 self with your letter. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {surprised). How can 
 you say that ? Do you know him ? 
 
 AmenaI'de. How do you suppose I am 
 to know him ? No, I say that, simply —
 
 36 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 AdoLPHE {who is rummaging among the 
 letters on the table). What! neither the 
 Gaulois nor the Figaro ? 
 
 M. DUTRAC. How do you expect to 
 have the papers which were published 
 in Paris this morning? The morning 
 papers arrive here in the evening, and the 
 evening papers in the morning. 
 
 Adolphe. That's a bore ! 
 
 Amenaide. Oh ! as for all you read — 
 the drowned dogs and the shipped horses 
 — that is very important. 
 
 Adolphe {still rmmnaging). Now then, 
 if the evening papers come in the morn- 
 ing, the Times must be here. 
 
 M. DUTRAC. It surely is there. {He 
 searches also.) No; that is singular. {A 
 pause.) But did anybody remember to 
 send our new address? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Who is anybody ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {intijnidatcd). Well — I don't 
 know — Amenaide, or you, or Adolphe, or 
 somebody. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. No ; I thought that 
 you would take care of that. ( To Amenaide.) 
 You will write to the Gaulois, to the Times,
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 37 
 
 to the Figaro, and to the Rcimc des Deux 
 Mondes, and say that we are here. 
 
 Amenaide. Very well. Gribouville- 
 by-the-sea — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And the name of 
 the residence ? 
 
 Amenaide. Ah ! and what is really the 
 name of the residence ? For it has been 
 altered so often. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I prefer Chalet des Dunes. 
 I have always said so. 
 
 Amenaide. Very well. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I very much prefer 
 Castle des Aigles. That sounds better, and 
 it is an appropriate name — suggested by 
 the eagles sculptured in one of the fa9ades. 
 
 AmenaIde {mockingly). Yes, that is a 
 perfectly simple name — well christened, 
 not far-fetched. 
 
 Gontran. I would call it the Chateau 
 de Gribouville, because that is what it is; 
 in short, the chateau — at least that sounds 
 well — Chateau de Gribouville. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Yes, but since there is 
 a chateau, the real chateau, which your 
 mother discovered this morning —
 
 38 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Adolphe. No, indeed ; we discovered 
 the chateau, we two, Gontran and I ; but 
 that is some distance from us, and it has 
 another name. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The child is right. 
 {Repeating^ Chateau de Gribouville. {She 
 squints, as thoiigJi she were looking at some- 
 thing critically }j Yes ; for the address, it 
 seems to me, that looks best. 
 
 M. Dutrac {hesitatingly). I don't want 
 to contradict you, my dear, but it will 
 make a noise. You will see, it will make 
 a noise. 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). It will make 
 what ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I don't see why. 
 Instead of calling it Chateau de Gribou- 
 ville, we might simply say Chateau Gri- 
 bouville. 
 
 Adolphe. People will think it is a 
 champagne label. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Because it is in Nor- 
 mandy ? 
 
 Adolphe. A wine label of some kind, 
 at any rate. {A pause.) Why not baptize 
 the house Fort Gribouville ?
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 39 
 
 Madame Dutrac {always in ecstasies over 
 the suggestions made by AdolpJic). Ah! 
 there is the true name; that is it exactly. 
 
 M. Dutrac {zvho has some confidence in 
 the judgment of his daughter). And you, 
 Naide ? What do you think of it ? 
 
 Amenaide. I ? I think that savors of 
 the operetta . 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is charming ! 
 Quite useless to look for another; nothing 
 better could ever be found, so — 
 
 M. Dutrac. Let it go, then, as Fort 
 Gribouville. 
 
 Amenaide. Why not Gribouville Castle 
 and done with it? {Madame Dutrac fid- 
 gets.) Oh, good heavens ! while we are at 
 it — {A silence.) I will write to the news- 
 papers and give them our address. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes. {Deliberating:) 
 No ; after all, I will write myself. 
 
 Amenaide {lauglnng). You are afraid 
 that I will do something absurd. You 
 know I will be serious. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {slightly embarrassed^^ 
 No, no; but I will write myself. 
 
 Ami-inaide {aside). Mamma, who does
 
 40 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 not like to exert herself ! She must have 
 some idea in her head. 
 
 The Servant {opening the door of the 
 dining-room). Madame, luncheon is 
 served. {Luncheon begins with a quarrel 
 between the iinited forces of the family and 
 Gontran, who insists upon laying Ids crabs on 
 the table beside his plate, in order not to 
 lose sight of them^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac {following with her 
 eyes the servant, who leaves the room after 
 serving the omelet). I think Pierre is be- 
 coming altogether too familiar. He 
 laughed just now in a decidedly improper 
 manner. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I didn't notice it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You never notice 
 anything. He laughed about that affair 
 with the crabs — that is certain. 
 
 Am:6naide {conciliatorily). He has been 
 in the house five years. Gontran was 
 seven years old when he came to us, and 
 because of that "he is a bit familiar with 
 him. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is not with him 
 alone that he is familiar. ( To M. Dutrac^
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 41 
 
 Don't you think it would be wiser for us 
 to employ Normans? 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). Good Normans ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {furiously). Yes, miss; 
 yes, good Normans — gentle, honest, polite. 
 
 Amenaide {still laugJiing). Workers ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why not workers? 
 What makes you laugh ? 
 
 Amenaide. Because, since we have 
 been here — it is true that is not a very 
 long time — I have not seen a single one of 
 them at work. No; they sleep or they eat. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to M. Dutrac). Well, 
 with all due deference to Miss Amenaide, 
 there are excellent servants in this coun- 
 try, and I am told that the intelligence 
 offices at Caen are very good. They sup- 
 ply none but the best people. I shall 
 write to-morrow; or, better still, I shall go 
 there. 
 
 M. Dutrac {timidly and anxiously^. Then 
 you have decided to discharge Pierre ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes, on principle; 
 it seems to me that natives would be 
 preferable. {To Am^tiaide.) What have the 
 people of this country done to you ?
 
 42 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide. Nothing at all. I don't 
 like the cut of their jib, but there's no 
 cause for it. No; on the contrary, they 
 were charming this morning when I made 
 the rounds for you — perhaps too charm- 
 ing — but they seemed a bit primitive to 
 me, these unsophisticated country people, 
 even for servants in our house, where you 
 don't find the latest howling swelldom. 
 
 Madame Dutrac [vexed). I don't know 
 what you call the latest howling swelldom, 
 but it is evident that we can not take peo- 
 ple from Gribouville into our employ. 
 By " natives," I understand people from 
 Caen, or, at least, furnished at Caen. 
 Aside from the fact that the Parisians are 
 bored to death here, they will corrupt 
 these honest and confiding peasants. 
 
 Amenaide. " Confiding " is comical 
 when you apply it to these Normans. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is really incredi- 
 ble ! A chit of fifteen pretends to know 
 more than people of experience! What 
 have you to reproach the Normans with ? 
 Let us hear ! Speak up ! 
 
 Amenaide.
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 43 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You see ! You have 
 nothing to say. {To her husband.) We 
 must be thinking about making our 
 
 calls. 
 
 M. Dutrac. But, my dear, the bridge 
 is not on fire ! We have been here only 
 twenty-four hours, and — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What good will it 
 do to wait ? If we want to establish rela- 
 tions which will be useful, the sooner the 
 better. 
 
 M. Dutrac. We don't even know the 
 names of our neighbors, of the people 
 who are desirable — in short, of the best 
 families, whom we want to know. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But I do know them. 
 {She takes a paper from her pocket and unfolds 
 it.) I have a list of them. I called on the 
 Curate. 
 
 M. Dutrac {with interest). Ah ! The 
 
 Curate says — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Not he; he was out, 
 and his servant doesn't talk. No, it was 
 the tradesman who gave me the informa- 
 tion. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Which one ?
 
 44 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide. The grocer. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. How do you know? 
 
 Amenaide. Oh ! I don't know it, I 
 think it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac [to her husband, read- 
 ing the list). First, the Diike and Duchess 
 de Vyeladage, They go out rarely; receive 
 a great deal. One can count on finding 
 them in at any time. 
 
 Amenaide {confused). You are going to 
 call on the Duke and Duchess? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why, naturally. 
 
 Amenaide. Naturally! If anything 
 seems unnatural to me, it is certainly this. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {%jexed). Neverthe- 
 less, it seems to me that we must take the 
 first step, otherwise — 
 
 Amenaide. Otherwise it is not prob- 
 able that they will make a move. Ah ! no, 
 the truth is I don't see the Duke and 
 Duchess de Vyeladage {she twirls about) 
 noticing us. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {growing more and more 
 irritated). What is there about that that 
 is funny ? {To her husband.) Then — a 
 mile from here — the de Lavall6 — d'Auges
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 46 
 
 — large fortune, cotton-spinners, two 
 sons. 
 
 M. DUTRAC. Ah ! two sons ! {He squints 
 and points at Am^naide.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with a negative gesture). 
 Oh ! very ordinary nobility, even doubt- 
 ful. It is said that they were called Dela- 
 vall6 — in one word — and that they cut 
 their name in two first, then added d' Auge 
 afterward. I believe that is the name of 
 their estate. 
 
 AmenaI'de {correcting\ Of a province. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {follozving the list). 
 The de la Roche-Persees. 
 
 Adolphe {his mouth full). That name 
 is enough to kick them out. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {indignantly). Very 
 old nobility, the very oldest nobility there 
 is; very ancient chateau; almost historic. 
 
 Amena!de. Why " almost " ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes; in short, I 
 don't remember. The grocer's clerk told 
 me some particulars about that, which I 
 have forgotten. 
 
 Am^naKde {laughing). The clerk! It 
 wasn't even the grocer himself.
 
 46 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {continuing'). A re- 
 spectable fortune; at a distance of four 
 miles from Gribouville, following the coast; 
 then de Reches — a number of children, 
 modern house, fine fortune ; the Croutons 
 — rich, ordinary people, but well-meaning; 
 that is close by; and then the Montauciels, 
 the de Vignefleures, du Bleynoirs, d'Epar- 
 vyns, and Colin-Tampons; but as they don t 
 all buy their provisions at Gribouville, they 
 are only known by sight and name. {Fold- 
 ing the list.) There ! Those are all the 
 residents in this neighborhood. 
 
 Amenaide {mockiiigly). Is that all! 
 That makes eleven. Let me add four in- 
 habitants to them; that would make {she 
 calculates) how many ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {mechanically). Eleven times 
 four — forty-four. 
 
 Amenaide. Well, that makes forty- 
 four new people. That will be delicious ! 
 
 The Servant. Monsieur the Curate is 
 here. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {illtempered). Ah ! 
 what does he want ? 
 
 The Servant. Nothing; he thinks
 
 PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. 47 
 
 Madame wants something of him. He 
 says she came to him this morning. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah! yes; but since 
 {to her husband) I have heard that the 
 Curate is very independent. It seems he 
 is not a favorite in society. 
 
 M. Dutrac {rolling up his napkin). We 
 must receive him, nevertheless. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {hesitating). Must we ? 
 Well, yes. ( To M. Dutrac, who is leaving the 
 room) It is best to be cordial, for once; 
 that will not pledge us to anything.
 
 III. 
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 
 
 In the drawing-room. It is two o'clock. 
 
 Adolphe {lying full length across a 
 divan, on a pile of cushions, his head resting 
 on the edge of a chair, his feet in the air. 
 To Anidnaide, who enters the room). What 
 are you after? 
 
 Amenaide. Papa is not here ? 
 
 Adolphe. Papa is dressing. 
 
 Amenaide {surprised). He is dressing ? 
 
 Adolphe. Why, yes. To-day they 
 make calls. Pierre is harnessing the horse, 
 they are going. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {enters the doorway. 
 Dress: Satin merveilleux — cha^igeable green 
 and garnet; bell skirt; cascade sleeves of 
 garnet velvet; Gainsborough hat with red 
 and green plumes; umbrella Lo'ie Fuller). 
 Amenaide ! Ah ! you are here ! I have 
 just been looking for you everywhere. I 
 wanted to tell you that if, while we are 
 
 (4«)
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 49 
 
 out — your father and I — the new serv- 
 ants arrive from Caen, you will in no 
 case allow them to communicate with the 
 old ones. 
 
 Amenaide. But how do you want me 
 to prevent that ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Any way you like, 
 but they must not see each other. 
 
 Amenaide. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Do you understand ? 
 
 Amenaide. Yes, mamma. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. How do you like 
 my toilet? 
 
 Amenaide. Not very rural. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It was made by an 
 excellent dressmaker. 
 
 AmenaIde. All the better for it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {making extraordmary 
 efforts to force her fat hands into tight white 
 gloves without splitting them). That is 
 singular ! I should have received a letter 
 from the intelligence office — see whether 
 it was not left among those papers on the 
 table. 
 
 AM:6NAiDE {looking for the letter). No, I 
 don't see it anywhere. {Pausing as she 
 
 4
 
 50 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 catches sight of the Gauloist which is still in 
 the wrapper^ Ah ! {She laughs^) That is the 
 reason why you insisted upon writing to 
 the papers yourself ? You were perfectly 
 right, for I should not have hit upon such 
 a swell address as this is. {SJie laughs^ 
 " Monsieur du Trac " — with a capital T — 
 " Gribouville Castle, Gribouville-by-the- 
 sea (Calvados)." Ah ! it is inexpressible ! 
 That is impressive ! {She continues to laugh 
 heartily^) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {very much embarrassed). 
 I don't see what is laughable about that. 
 
 Amenaide. But I see it ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Instead of laughing 
 like a goose, you had better help us into 
 the carriage. I hear your father coming 
 down. 
 
 GONTRAN {entering like a bomb and shout- 
 ing). Here comes the wheelbarrow — 
 only, when he left the court, Pierre 
 struck the curbstone. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {agitated). The lan- 
 dau is broken ? 
 
 GONTRAN. No; but the curbstone is. 
 It can't have been very solid. It rolled
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 51 
 
 after the wheel like a tooth at the end of 
 a string. ( They all go out onto the doorstep. 
 The wheel has left a considerable amount of 
 paint on the curbstone^ where it shows like a 
 streak of blood. The stone lies across the 
 driveway. Pierre descends from his seat and 
 contemplates the disaster.^ 
 
 AdolpHE {looking at the horse, zvhich, 
 left to its ozvn devices, hnproves this oppor- 
 tunity to browse off the thick shrubs). What 
 wouldn't I give to have the train pass by ! 
 
 GONTRAN. Why ? 
 
 Adolphe. Because that would make 
 the horse run. Pierre is a fool — he is 
 really an idiot ! 
 
 Amenaide {to Adolphe). Your character 
 is inexpressibly beautiful ! 
 
 M. DUTRAC {anxiously examining the 
 ivheels). Is anything broken? 
 
 Pierre {nervously). Monsieur sees that 
 nothing is broken. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Such awkwardness ! 
 
 Pierre. But I never said that I was 
 adroit; nor that I was a coachman. When 
 we came to the country Madame said to 
 me: " It may be that you will have to turn
 
 52 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 your hand to everything." Well, I have 
 done it; but it can't be done without some 
 breakage. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {anxiously). But will you 
 be in a condition to drive to Vy61adage, to 
 la Roche-Persee, and to Glycines ? 
 Pierre. Certainly. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {proudly calling Ame- 
 naides attention to the landau). Am6naide, 
 what do you think of it? 
 
 Am^naide. I think it is villainous ! 
 Madame Dutrac {sharply). What fault 
 have you to find with it ? 
 
 Am]£naide. Well, I don't exactly know; 
 but certainly, to those who have an eye for 
 such things, the carriages of the Duke 
 de Vy^ladage are finer than that. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with irritation — to M. 
 Dutrac). Will you ever be ready ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. But I am ready, my dear 
 — I am waiting for you. {Pierre climbs to 
 his seat. Madame Dutrac hoists herself into 
 the landau tvith difficulty.) 
 
 Adolphe {ivatchifig them). It is funn)^ 
 — though mamma isn't stout. I don't know 
 why, but she can't stir around.
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 63 
 
 GONTRAN. Because she is squatty. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Gontran). What 
 do you say ? 
 
 Gontran. I ? Nothing, mamma ! {M. 
 Dutrac gets into the carriage also. The door 
 slams. They drive off) 
 
 Adolphe {mocking by shouts). Enjoy 
 yourselves well ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Adolphe, t timing 
 aro7ind and waving her Lo'ie Fuller umbrella). 
 Good-by, my dear ! 
 
 IN THE carriage. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Now, be very careful 
 while we are with the Duke and Duchess 
 of Vy61adage, and say nothing. 
 
 M. Dutrac (^«r/rw^^). What! Nothing 
 at all? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I don't ask what is 
 impossible — of course you must say a few 
 words. 
 
 M. Dutrac {laughing). If it is nothing 
 but good day — and good evening? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You seem to be jest^ 
 ing. You will do well to take note of that, 
 do you know ?
 
 64 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {docile). I ask nothing bet- 
 ter, my dear. {A pause ^ But don't you 
 think it will be a bit chilly ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. On the contrary, I 
 think that this reserved manner is much 
 more dignified. Would you like to appear 
 to be throwing yourself at their heads ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. You did not understand 
 my thought, I intended to say that such 
 silence might cast a chill. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Which silence? 
 There will be no silence. The others 
 will talk. 
 
 M. Dutrac. If they haven't the same 
 views on this subject as you have. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. There is no reason 
 why they should have them — they have 
 no blunder to fear. They have no pre- 
 cautions to take in receiving us. 
 
 M. Dutrac. The more so because they 
 don't know that we are coming. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. They might sur- 
 mise that — Gribouville is so near Vyela- 
 dage. 
 
 M. Dutrac. But they probably don't 
 know that we have bought Gribouville.
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 55 
 
 Madame Dutrac O, go on! Every- 
 thing is known in the provinces; in any 
 case, I will explain that at once, in a few 
 words. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Ah! then you — you in- 
 tend to talk ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I intend to do what 
 is required. ( TJiey stop before a superb old 
 gate.) Now, get out. You must ring that 
 bell there. 
 
 M. Dutrac {alights, rings, talks with a 
 woman who comes out of the lodge, and returns 
 to the landau). The Duke and the Duch- 
 ess are in the chateau. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Very well, get in. 
 {Looking at the old gate, which is opened^ 
 They might put up a new gate. That 
 wouldn't ruin them. {They arrive at the 
 chdteau, a large Louis XV structure; 
 chapel; large lawn; park and gardens most 
 beautifully kept. A servant in blue livery 
 opens the door, atid, after surveyi?ig M. and 
 Madame Dutrac, replies, after hesitating im- 
 perceptibly, that Madame la Duchesse is re- 
 ceiving.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {in a whisper to her
 
 S6 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 husband, as they pass through the vestibule^. 
 Above all, don't forget to say " Monsieur 
 le Due" and "Madame la Duchesse." 
 When you talk to them {to the servant') 
 announce "Monsieur and Madame du 
 Trac." 
 
 {A dozen people are conversing in the 
 drawing-rooin, into ivhich the servant ushers 
 M. and Madame Dutrac, without announcing 
 them. The Duke de Vydadage rises and 
 advances toward them, with an air of astonish- 
 ment. Everybody looks at them, zvith polite 
 surprise. M. Dutrac bozvs repeatedly and 
 very profoundly, but does not utter a 
 zvord.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with self-possession). 
 Monsieur le Due, as we were not an- 
 nounced, I introduce myself. {Vaguely 
 waving her hand in the direction of her hus- 
 batid.) Monsieur and Madame du Trac — 
 your neighbors — the new proprietors of 
 Gribouville {the Duke bows), who did not 
 wish to delay in establishing intercourse. 
 
 The Duke. Fifty years of age, tall, 
 stout, a bit too florid, hair almost white, mus- 
 tache almost blond. Leading M. atid Ma-
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 67 
 
 dame Dutrac to his zvife and presentmg them. 
 — Monsieur and Madame Dutrac. {M. Du- 
 trac bows silently; Madame Dutrac recom- 
 mences her little speech}^ 
 
 The Duchess. Forty-five years of age, 
 tall, lithe, still beautiful; a very lofty man- 
 ner; extremely simple, batiste dress. Risiyig 
 and requesting them to be seated. — Madame. 
 [Silejice for a moment^ 
 
 M. Dutrac {aside). Here is the chill I 
 feared. This is the beginning. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Madame la Duchesse, 
 we are very happy to find that, in buying 
 the chateau of Gribouville, we have 
 chanced into a country having such a 
 good class of inhabitants. 
 
 The Duchess {blinking her eyes, as though 
 looking for something). Gribouville? Where 
 may Gribouville be ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why, four miles 
 from here, at the most. 
 
 The Duchess. Oh! the village, I 
 know; but it is your property which — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is the little cha- 
 teau to the right, surrounded by a park. 
 
 The Duke {who understands, explaining
 
 68 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 to his wife). You know, the large chalet, 
 after that of the Chavilles. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {animatedly). Ah ! the 
 owners of the adjoining chalet are — 
 
 The Duchess. The Chavilles — friends 
 of ours. 
 
 M. Dutrac {aside, anxiously). That is a 
 house of almost as much prominence as 
 Gribouville Castle. {Aloud, talking in spite 
 of the objections of his wife.) Are they the 
 owners of that house, Monsieur le Due ? 
 
 The Duke. No; they have rented it 
 these past few years. 
 
 The Duchess {very politely endeavoring 
 to find something to say to her visitors). Do 
 you know the coast already, Madame ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. No, Madame la 
 Duchesse, not the least bit in the world; 
 but as we wished to have a home in Nor- 
 mandy — 
 
 The Duchess. You love Normandy? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with uptur7ied eyes). 
 Madly. I am a Norman, M. Dutrac also, 
 and you, also, I conclude, Madame la Du- 
 chesse ? 
 
 The Duchess {with some vivacity). No,
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. ^9 
 
 no, indeed not! My husband is a Nor- 
 man. 
 
 The Duke {laughing). My wife does 
 not appreciate the Normans in general. 
 
 Madame DUTRAC. Oh! Is it possible ? 
 I — I have never been more happy than 
 since I am in the midst of these good peo- 
 ple. For instance, this morning I strolled 
 about and amused myself by listening to 
 their talk. Their accent seemed delicious 
 music to me. 
 
 The Duke {laughing'). One can dis- 
 pense with that delight. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Oh ! I am very sure 
 that I never will dispense with it. And 
 they comprehend quickly, these good Nor- 
 mans. One of them said to me: " You are 
 the lady that has bought the house in the 
 country. We are pleased to see you." 
 He said this with a face which breathed 
 such honesty ! I was quite satisfied. {Look- 
 ing for a comparison) One could not have 
 caused me greater pleasure by giving me 
 a hundred sous. {Embarrassed silence. 
 The guests look at each other, and a stifled 
 laugh comes from one corner of the drawing-
 
 60 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 room. The Duke turns with a severe look, 
 but at sight of the heads of his childreti and 
 friends he can not repress his mirth. The 
 Duchess remains impassively serious and 
 polite.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You have children, 
 Madame la Duchesse ? 
 
 The Duchess. Yes, Madame. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. So have I, natur- 
 ally. I have three — two sons and one 
 daughter. The daughter is between the 
 two boys. {Aside, glancing at the people con- 
 versing in groups^ They introduce us to 
 nobody ! All those people must have had 
 luncheon here, they have no hats on, {A 
 pause. Aloud.) Madame la Duchesse {she 
 points to the guests), are those also neighbors 
 who — 
 
 The Duchess. No; they are friends 
 who pay us a visit at Vyeladage every 
 year. {Rather a prolo7iged silence. The same 
 silence between M. Dutrac and the Duke, who 
 vainly tries to make his guest talk.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {aside, making desperate ges- 
 tures to his wife). She will not go ! We 
 have been here twenty minutes !
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 61 
 
 Madame Dutrac {finally deciding to 
 rise). Madame la Duchesse, I am very 
 happy to have found you at home. I 
 intend having a day, as in Paris — Mon- 
 day. Next Monday, I shall not receive 
 yet, I am not sufficiently settled; but the 
 following week. {The Duchess makes no 
 reply. Bows . A tall young man emerges 
 from the recesses of the salon,^ and advances 
 to usher out the Dutracs.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {snaking a farewell 
 bow). Madame la Duchesse, Monsieur le 
 Due, until we have the pleasure ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {aside, cxanmiing the young 
 man, who orders the carriage to be driven up, 
 and escorts them to the doorstep). This 
 young man must be the young Duke. 
 {J^ast bow. Departure^) 
 
 IN THE CARRIAGE. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well ? 
 Madame Dutrac. Well, what? 
 M. Dutrac. What do you think of 
 them? 
 Madame Dutrac. I think they are
 
 62 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 like everybody else. The Duke looks like 
 a tobacco-pot. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. A tobacco-pot! A large 
 tobacco-pot, then ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Large or small, that 
 cuts no figure. A tobacco-pot, that is all ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. Ah! you see, my dear, 
 I had quite a different idea of what one 
 understands by a tobacco-pot. I imagined 
 a fat little man, while the Duke, on the 
 contrary, is — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {^ignoring his remarJi). 
 She — she laces horribly, and she must be 
 rouged. 
 
 M. Dutrac. What makes you think 
 she is rouged ? She seemed to me to have 
 a very beautiful skin, and nothing over it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Go on! And the 
 young man who ushered us out ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Yes; well? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That young man is 
 certainly the young Duke. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I should think so, too, but 
 I don't see — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {shrugging her shoul- 
 ders^. You don't see that, without rouge,
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 63 
 
 a woman who has a son of that age, and 
 perhaps other children, can not be as fresh 
 looking as that ! That is impossible; that 
 has never been known. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. Yes, in Paris. {Madame 
 Dutrac fidgets^ Not in our world, my dear, 
 not in our world, but in others, that is very 
 frequent. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. How do you know 
 that? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Why, because I have some- 
 times admired the women of the Faubourg 
 Saint-Germain, or of the theaters, or even 
 the wives of merchants. {Gesture of Madame 
 Dutrac^ I have admired them from a dis- 
 tance, my dear, from a great distance; but 
 I have seen that they were not rouged. I 
 was told that they were at least forty years 
 old, and I — 
 
 Madame Dutrac . You believe every- 
 thing you are told ! I have never seen 
 such a simpleton as you are ! I will make 
 you see the rouge of the Duchess when 
 she returns our call, a week from Mon- 
 day, probably. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Do you believe she will 
 come to your day ?
 
 64 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. To say the least, it 
 would be impertinent if she did not come. 
 You take care to escort her to her car- 
 riage, but don't open the door yourself; 
 in short, you will do exactly what the son 
 did for us. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well, very well; we have 
 time enough to think about that. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Not much ! It is 
 always better to arrange all while an im- 
 pression is fresh, and directly after one 
 has noticed things. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Ah ! by the way, I wanted 
 to tell you I noticed that not one single 
 one of the people who were there just now, 
 called the Duke " Monsieur le Due." 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah ! And what did 
 they call him ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Almost every one who 
 spoke to him called him Vyeladage, and 
 one who seemed to be a little less familiar, 
 called him " Monsieur," quite simply, just 
 as the ladies did; they all called him Mon- 
 sieur, or they called him nothing at all. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {witk importance). 
 Well, that is violating the custom. One
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 65 
 
 should say Monsieur le Due, or Madame la 
 Duchesse, or at least Due and Duehesse. 
 That is always proper. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. How do you know? For, 
 after all, you have not associated often 
 with titled people — to my knowledge. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. No; and judging by 
 those we have just seen, I hardly regret 
 it; but I have informed myself. I have 
 read. In the beautiful books of George 
 Ohnet, for instance, I have seen that 
 they always use the title in addressing 
 each other, as well as in speaking of one 
 another. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Ah! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And that at all times 
 — even when they are most intimate, even 
 in the family. For instance, in the " Iron- 
 master "the Marquise and Claire always 
 call the Duke de Bligny, who is his 
 cousin-german, " Duke," and the Baroness 
 Prefont always speaks of her husband as 
 "the Baron." 
 
 M. Dutrac {convinced). You can tell me 
 all about that. {A paused And yet, all 
 the same, it seems to me that it would 
 
 6
 
 66 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 annoy me to have you call me " Baron." 
 {Contemptuous grimace from Madame Du- 
 trac) Ah! here we are at the Lavalle- 
 d'Auges.' Their house is large. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {correctifig him). Their 
 chateau. {Looking at the driveway.) Great 
 God ! there are the traces of wheels in the 
 road ! Perhaps they have gone out ! ( The 
 carriage stops before a huge brick building 
 ornamented with stone carvings. No archi- 
 tectural style. Resembles a pyramid almond 
 cake. M. Dutrac asks the lackey who opens 
 the door whether Madame de Lavallc-d'A uge 
 is receiving. He answers yes, and ushers 
 them into an elegant drawing-room, which is 
 unoccupied^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac {talking as though 
 she were in a church). It is beautiful here 
 — much more beautiful than at the Duke's. 
 
 M. Dutrac. It is more crowded — more 
 bric-a-brac— but there they had portraits 
 which were worth money, do you see ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {contemptuously). You 
 know all about art now, do you ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {one of whose cousins is an 
 appraiser). Not much, my dear; but I
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 67 
 
 know abou-t panels. Phylo-ux showed me 
 some antique frames much less beautiful 
 than those in the drawing-room at Vy^- 
 ladage, and they were frames that sold 
 easily at six thousand francs. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I don't know about 
 the value of the frames, but their paint- 
 ings were not worth six sous — faded col- 
 ors, people who couldn't stand up {she 
 examines several modern paintings hanging 
 on the walls and resting on easels) — while 
 here — here are real paintings. That is 
 more like it. Talk of those, if you will ! 
 {Pointing to the portrait of a lady in a Louis 
 XV robe, with a court mantle, and holding a 
 basket of frziit.) I should like to have my 
 portrait painted so. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That is extremely expen- 
 sive painting, my dear. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {admiringly). The 
 fact is, this is very good painting. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That isn't the reason. It 
 is because it is painted by Chartran. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {impetuously). The 
 same one who painted the Pope ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Exactly.
 
 68 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I shall ask Madame 
 de Lavalle-d'Auge how much she paid 
 for it. 
 
 M. Dutrac {timidly). It might be better 
 not to ask her to-day. Wait until you 
 make another call. ( The rustling of silks 
 is heard, and Madame de LavalU-d Auge 
 enters in a zvhirl, holding in her haftd the 
 card which M. Dutrac has given to the lackey. 
 M. Dutrac makes a profound bow. Madame 
 Dutrac scrutinizes the toilet of Madatne de 
 LavalU-d' Auge respectfully^ 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. Forty- 
 seven years of age; traces of great beauty; 
 dark, with regular features; a superb figure, 
 which, like her chin, begins to expand. Dress 
 of myrtle green damask, brocaded in gay col- 
 ored sword-lilies; balloon sleeves of green 
 satin, covered with heliotrope mousseline de 
 sole; lie ad-band black, drooping over the ears. 
 Undulating m.ovem,ents; head poised high — de- 
 cidedly the self-confidence gained by the con- 
 sciousness of possessing money. She measures 
 M. and Madame Dutrac from head to foot, 
 bowing with haughty graciousncss. — Ma- 
 dame, Monsieur.
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 69 
 
 Madame Dutrac {cutting short the speech 
 of her husband, in the middle of a phrase^. 
 We are your new neighbors. {Madame 
 de LavalU-d' Auge bows again.) We have 
 purchased the Chateau Gribouville, and — 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {in a pat- 
 ronizing voice). Pray, be seated, Madame. 
 You, also, Monsieur. 
 
 M. Dutrac. We have established our- 
 selves at Gribouville, and we did not wish 
 to delay — 
 
 Madame de IjAv al.iA-d' A\]GY.{refecting). 
 Gribouville ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Do you not know it ? 
 
 Madame de Lavalli^-d'Auge. O, 
 yes, perfectly. We take our baths at 
 Gribouville almost every day. I know the 
 village very well, but — 
 
 M. Dutrac. We have purchased one 
 of the small chateaux. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. A large chalet. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Called Gribouville Castle. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And situated very 
 close to the beach, in the midst of a park. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. That is 
 singular ! I don't seem to know at all.
 
 70 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is very much 
 hidden among the trees. {Aside, continuing 
 to scrutinize the toilet of Madame de Lavall^- 
 d'Auge.) That dress must come from 
 Poupon; it cost at least eight hundred 
 francs. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {conde- 
 scendingly). I trust that our country- 
 pleases you. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is our country as 
 well, Madame. I am a native of Nor- 
 mandy, and Monsieur Dutrac also. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I also. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. Have 
 you been some time at Gribouville ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Four days. We 
 arrived on Monday. 
 
 M. Dutrac. At fifty minutes past three. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But we purchased 
 nearly two months ago. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. Ah, 
 really ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. Are we not to have the 
 honor of meeting Monsieur de Lavalle- 
 d'Auge ? 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {ringing).
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 71 
 
 Certainly; I believe he is in his study. {To 
 the lackey zvho enters.) Inform Monsieur. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {zvho alternately squints 
 at the dress of Madame de LavalU-d' Auge 
 ■ and at the portrait by Chartran). Is that 
 your portrait, Madame ? 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. Yes. It 
 resembles me, does it not ? 
 
 Madame T)\]T'KhC {looking at the portrait , 
 which appears to be that of a tvoman twenty- 
 five years of age). It was painted some 
 time ago, was it not ? 
 
 Madame de Lavall^-d'Auge. No; last 
 year. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah ! {A pause.) It 
 is prettily arranged — that costume of early 
 times, those draperies. Did you have 
 that gown made for some ball ? 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. No; it 
 was the idea of Chartran. He paints the 
 same style of portraits as Nattier. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. As what? 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. As the 
 painter Nattier. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Perhaps he is his 
 pupil.
 
 72 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame de LAVALLfi-D'AuGE. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The background is 
 also very beautiful. I like that pillar in 
 the rear, with the curtain in front; that is 
 very elegant. 
 
 M. de Lavalle-d'Auge. Forty-five 
 years of age; tall, thin, bony; artificial ele- 
 gance; full-blooded Norman; inexpressibly 
 snobbish, insignificant, vain. Inherited a 
 huge fortune and numerous cottonfac- 
 tories. Political aspirations. He bows to 
 M. and Madame Dutrac. — Madame, Mon- 
 sieur. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. Mon- 
 sieur and Madame Dutrac, the new inhab- 
 itants of Gribouville. 
 
 M. DE Lavalle-d'Auge {patronizingly'). 
 I understand that you have been fasci- 
 nated by our beautiful Normandy. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. This is our native 
 country. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I am a Norman, Madame 
 Dutrac also. 
 
 M. DE Lavalle-d'Auge. Ah! my 
 compliments. To be a Norman is the 
 greatest mark of distinction, you see. {A
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 78 
 
 pause) And how long have you been so- 
 journing on our coast? 
 
 M. DUTRAC. Four days. 
 
 Madame Dlttrac. We arrived on Mon- 
 day by the 3.50 train. 
 
 M. Dutrac. But we came into posses- 
 sion two months ago. 
 
 M. DE LavallE-D'AuGE {indifferently). 
 Where are you located, exactly? 
 
 M. Dutrac. At Gribouville Castle, 
 a small chateau in the midst of a park, by 
 the side of — 
 
 M. DE Lavall^-D'Auge {inattentively). 
 Exactly; I did not know of that house. 
 
 M. Dutrac {aside). It is astonishing to 
 see how little notice has been taken of 
 our arrival. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Madame de LavalU- 
 d'Auge). Have you any children, Ma- 
 dame? 
 
 Madame de LaValle-d'Auge. Yes; 
 two sons. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. So have I — two sons 
 and one daughter. The daughter is 
 between the two; and you, Madame, how 
 old are your children ?
 
 74 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. Twenty 
 and twenty-two. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {startled). Oh ! {Aside, 
 regarding Madame de LavalU-d' Auge with 
 envy.) I should not have given her more 
 than thirty-five years. What can it be 
 that they all put onto their faces that 
 makes them look as they do ! {^She rises.) 
 Madame, charmed to have seen you. I 
 receive on Mondays. Yes; I have decided 
 to have a day, as I did at Paris; otherwise 
 we often miss seeing our friends, and that 
 is annoying. I shall not receive next 
 Monday, but at the beginning of the fol- 
 lowing week. {Bows.) 
 
 M. DE Lavalle-d'Auge {ringing). Wait 
 one moment, I will order your carriage. 
 {As the lackey leaves t lie room two young men 
 enter, and regard the strangers with an air of 
 surprise and annoyance^ 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {introduc- 
 ing them). My sons. 
 
 M. Gabriel de Lavalle-d'Auge. 
 Twenty-two years of age; average height, 
 dark, unattractive. Clothes flashy; very much 
 of a dandy. Huge necktie, monstrous collar.
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 75 
 
 Forelock after the fashion of i8jo. Manner 
 sly and impertinent. Bows without uttering 
 a word. 
 
 M. Camille de Lavalle-d'Auge. 
 
 Twenty years of age. Dress of i8go. Aside 
 
 from this, exactly like his brotJier, but more 
 
 stupid and kindly of manner. He copies the 
 
 gestures of his brother. 
 
 Madame Dx^tkiKC {bowing). Gentlemen. 
 
 ( To Madame de Lavalld-d' A uge.) Madame. 
 
 {M. de Lavalld'd' Aiige escorts them only to the 
 
 door of the drawing-room. The young men 
 
 do not stir.) 
 
 IN THE CARRIAGE. 
 
 M. DUTRAC. I prefer the Dukes to 
 these people. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I don't. None of 
 them are agreeable; but there is some 
 style about these. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That is true. They have 
 style. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {permitting herself to 
 relax during these confidential moments). 
 Did you see her dress ? What a dress, eh ? 
 For the country — for she didn't know that 
 we would call !
 
 76 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {more calm). No; certainly 
 she didn't know, but she kept us waiting 
 long enough to give her time to put on 
 her best clothes. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But did you notice 
 M. de Lavalle-d'Auge's coat? It reached 
 clear below his knees ! And the creases 
 in his trousers, did you vSee them ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. No; I didn't notice. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You never notice 
 anything ! And those young men ! I 
 wonder where they ever found those 
 cravats ? The ones Adolphe has are only 
 half the size. If he sees these, he will be 
 disconsolate. However, it would be a very 
 good thing for him to come into contact 
 with young men who are so elegant. It 
 will teach him how to dress. 
 
 M. Dutrac {zvitJioiit enthusiasm). If that 
 is all he can learn ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And she ! What can 
 she paste onto her face to make it look 
 like that, tell me ? 
 
 IvI. Dutrac. I have no idea, my dear; 
 but I believe that you have a tendency to 
 see some things inaccurately.
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 77 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It isn't rice powder; 
 it must be some cosmetic that adheres. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Very probable. {A /fause.) 
 But it is also probable that she uses noth- 
 ing. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {exasperated). What ! 
 Nothing? So you really believe that 
 her fresh complexion is natural — with 
 sons twenty years of age ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well, my dear, when 
 Josephine fascinated Napoleon she had — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Leave me in peace 
 with your stories ! You don't see things 
 when they are ever so conspicuous. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Or, rather, you often see 
 things that probably don't exist.
 
 IV. 
 
 FALSE JOYS. 
 
 M. and Madame Dutrac and their chil- 
 dren at luncheon. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {in a red flannel dress- 
 ing-gown with revers of white moire silk — 
 style i8jo, ig francs g^ centimes in the large 
 shops. To M. Dutrac, pointing to the servant, 
 who is leaving the room). He will never 
 finish waiting on us. 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). The truth is, it 
 is slow work. We have^ been nearly an 
 hour at table. 
 
 Adolphe {peevishly). If we only had 
 something to chew ! But that animal 
 carries everything away. He has even 
 taken the crabs ! 
 
 GONTRAN {noticing the crabs on the side- 
 board). There they are ! {He rises.) 
 
 Adolpiie. Bring the butter while you 
 
 are about it. 
 
 (rs)
 
 FALSE JOYS. 79 
 
 Madame Dutrac. By the way, it is 
 horrible ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {who is about to cut a pat of 
 butter, pauses zuith his knife in the air). 
 What is the matter with it ? Is it dirty? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. No; but the price is 
 outrageous — as high as in Paris, {looking 
 ruefully at the crabs, which Gontran, Adolphe, 
 and Amenaide are about finishing) 2M^ the 
 crabs, too. I have bought some in Paris 
 which were shipped from Havre, and 
 they are not more expensive and much 
 larger. 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). And taste better. 
 It shouldn't be mentioned, but those crabs 
 you buy for us in Paris have a strong 
 odor. {The servant returns, and places a huge 
 cauliflower, which stands erect in the middle 
 of a platter, upo?i the table.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {looking at the vegetable). 
 That is a fine cauliflower. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes; but Hermancia 
 should have poured the sauce over it. It 
 looks dry. ( To the servant.) Pierre ! {He 
 does not stir.) Pierre ! {Recollecting) For- 
 tune ! Say that we must have the sauce
 
 80 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 at once. Don't wait in that way and 
 oblige me to ask for things. 
 
 Fortune. Twenty-three years of age; 
 tall, slender, thin as a thread; nose longy 
 chin retreating, glance likewise; long, knotty 
 arms; resembles a stupid, lazy-looking mon- 
 key. A strong Norman accent. — What 
 things ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. A moment ago it 
 was the potatoes that you should have 
 served with the chops, and now it is the 
 sauce that should come with the cauli- 
 flower. 
 
 Fortune. What sauce ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why, the sauce for 
 the cauliflower. 
 
 Fortune. They didn't give me any. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Then did Hermancia 
 forget ? 
 
 Fortune. She didn't make any. I 
 didn't see any. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But that is impossi- 
 ble. One doesn't serve a cauliflower in 
 this way — without sauce. 
 
 AmenaIde. Perhaps it is prepared with 
 butter ?
 
 FALSE JOYS. 81 
 
 Fortune. Ah, as for that, I don't think 
 it is cooked with butter. 
 
 Madame Dutrac(/£' M. Dutrac, who tastes 
 the cauliflower). Well ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {cutting a face). Well, it is 
 prepared with water, without the least 
 seasoning. 
 
 Fortune. I was sure it was. It never 
 is cooked with butter. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why didn't she 
 make a sauce ? 
 
 Fortune. She didn't tell me anything. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. She said nothing ? 
 
 Fortune. Yes; she said something. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {irritated). What? 
 What? 
 
 Fortune. She said, when she put the 
 cauliflower onto the platter: " Well, I guess 
 she won't complain this time that we 
 throw the butter out, for I have put on 
 salt water." That is the reason why I 
 said I would be surprised if it were cooked 
 with butter. {The children laugh. Fortune 
 looks at them, and laughs foolishly.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {exasperated). Tell her 
 I want to speak to her. {Fortune leaves 
 
 Q
 
 82 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 the room.) That fellow acts like an idiot ! 
 He is a typical peasant, not a bit polished. 
 And at the intelligence office they told 
 me he had served in Caen. I even saw 
 the references. 
 
 Amenaide. If Pierre had at least 
 instructed him ! But you wouldn't hear 
 of it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. A week with Pierre 
 would have been enough to ruin him. He 
 is stupid. He can't serve, but he is at 
 least honest. 
 
 Amenaide. It doesn't look so always. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You talk nonsense ! 
 Why do you say such things ? 
 
 Amenaide. Because I think he has a 
 villainous appearance. 
 
 Madame Dutrac [to the cook, who enters). 
 Will you explain to me what this means? 
 
 Hermancia. Thirty- five years of age; 
 strong, loose-jointed, greasy; hair red; the 
 shadow of a mustache. Would not be homely 
 but for her teeth, which are a horrible sight. 
 Deceitful and indignant manner. — Madame 
 wishes ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why do you send us
 
 FALSE JOYS. 83 
 
 this perfectly dry cauliflower, without a 
 sauce or seasoning of any kind? It is 
 unheard of. 
 
 Hermancia. That is Madame's fault. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. My fault ? 
 
 Hermancia. Surely! When Madame 
 ordered, and I said: "And the cauliflower, 
 how shall it be prepared?" Madame 
 answered: " Any way you like." 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I couldn't imagine 
 that you would prepare it like this. 
 
 Hermancia. I had no idea how you 
 like it prepared. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {severely). In any case, 
 you should know that any vegetable, no 
 matter what kind, is served with butter. 
 Besides, I have questioned Fortune, who 
 told me that you had intentionally omitted 
 the butter. 
 
 Hermancia. Madame has been making 
 such a fuss all this time about the butter. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I have made remarks 
 to you, because you used such an incredi- 
 ble quantity, and because the price is so 
 high, and in Paris one would never use so 
 much.
 
 84 THOSE GOOP NORMANS. 
 
 Hermancia. I am not from Paris. I 
 don't know how they do there. I am from 
 Caen. (A pause^ Is that all there is to 
 be said ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes, and see that 
 such things do not occur again. {Hermancia 
 leaves the room, followed by Fortune.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {sniffing the air). That girl 
 has a disagreeable odor. 
 
 Mada?>ie Dutrac. That is because she 
 is a red-head. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I don't think it is that. I 
 have an idea that she can't be cleanly. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You always have 
 outrageous ideas — all red-heads smell 
 foxy. 
 
 M. Dutrac. In the first place I don't 
 think she smells foxy; and besides, society 
 women who are red-headed don't smell 
 foxy, whatever that may be. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {suspicious and threaten- 
 ing). How do you know ? {A do Ip he laughs.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {irritated). But what the 
 devil is there — 
 
 Mad A M E D u trac {austerely) . I think we 
 had better not discuss this matter further
 
 FALSE JOYS. 86 
 
 {a pause), save to say that the odor only 
 exists in your own nose, and you need not 
 trace it to the cook. I wish to keep her 
 for several reasons. To begin with, we 
 pay her thirty-five francs per month, in- 
 stead of fifty. 
 
 M. DUTRAC. During the four days she 
 has been at our house, she has broken 
 more than twenty francs' worth, and that 
 fellow is just as bad. He is paid only 
 fifty francs, instead of the sixty, which 
 Pierre had; but he has knocked up my 
 bed, and demolished a harness, which was 
 perfectly new, so completely that I was 
 obliged to take it to Caen myself to have 
 it repaired. And here we are, unable to 
 make our calls. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {disconsolately^. And 
 we had only made two ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {consolingly). We might con- 
 tinue our round to-morrow. The harness 
 is to be sent home this evening. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {reflecting). To-mor- 
 row? No, not to-morrow. I have calcu- 
 lated that the Duke and Duchess will 
 call to-morrow.
 
 86 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC \surprised). Oh! How do 
 you make that out ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {condescendingly). Good 
 heavens ! that is simple enough. The 
 Duke and Duchess are well-bred people, 
 are they not ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {not having the faintest sus- 
 picion of her meaning'). Yes, probably. 
 There is every indication; however, we 
 know nothing about it. When all's said, 
 we did not raise them. What do you 
 mean by that ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I mean that well- 
 bred people return a call within a week; 
 therefore, as it will be a week the day 
 after to-morrow since we called upon 
 them, they must return our visit to-mor- 
 row, on the seventh day, in accordance 
 with the rules of etiquette. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I never would be able to 
 make that close calculation alone. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. They may possibly 
 come to-day. I am going to arrange the 
 drawing-room. 
 
 M. Dutrac. What are you going to do 
 to the drawing-room ?
 
 FALSE JOYS. 87 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I shall — or, rather, 
 Am^naide will fill the flower jars. {To 
 Amdnaide, zvJio is about to speak.) Have 
 you any flowers ? 
 
 Amenaide. Not one ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {terrified). What! 
 After I told you that we must have some 
 at any price ? 
 
 Amenaide. Oh, at any price ! You 
 gave me three francs. Besides, that was 
 not the question. -I could have had 
 them charged, if there had been any 
 flowers. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. There are none ? 
 
 Ami^naide. Not as much as the stem of 
 one. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But the gardens are 
 full of them. The surprising profusion 
 of flowers is what one notices above all 
 things at Gribouville-by-the-sea. 
 
 Amenaide. In the flower beds; you can 
 have all the cut flowers you want, but not a 
 slip in pots. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. How does that hap- 
 pen? 
 
 AmenaIde. I can't tell you.
 
 88 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And there will be 
 none ? Never ? 
 
 Amenaide. Yes; a few pots for the 1 5th 
 of August, because of a festival at which 
 they want some. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That is discouraging. 
 
 Amenaide. I don't understand why 5^ou 
 are so anxious to have flowers. In Paris 
 you never had them in the drawing-room. 
 You always say that they gather dust, and 
 that it looks sporty. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes; but at Vyela- 
 dage the drawing-room was full of flowers 
 and large plants, and at the de Lavall6- 
 d'Auges' also. 
 
 Amenaide. Ah, you want to imitate? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {vexed). There is no 
 imitating about it. Only we must have 
 things as others have them, that is all. 
 
 Amena!de. How funny that is! It 
 seems to me one must be like one's self. 
 {Fortune appears at the door which connects 
 the drawing-room with the dining-room?) 
 
 M. Dutrac {between his teeth). I don't 
 like that fellow's face. {To Amenaide.) Do 
 you?
 
 FALSE JOYS. 89 
 
 Am6na!de {also scrutinizing For time). 
 He has the face of a Norman. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. How can you talk 
 about the Normans? Do you know 
 them ? 
 
 AmenaIde. I have seen only Normans 
 in the past eight days. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Fortune, who remains 
 standing in the doorway with a card in his 
 hand). What have you in your hand? 
 
 Fortune. It is a card. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {extending her hand). 
 Whose card ? 
 
 Fortune. I don't know. {Reading with 
 di;fficulty the name on the card, instead oj 
 giving it to Madame Dutrac, who still extends 
 her hand) Monsieur the Mayor. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {bounding up). The 
 Duke ! Is he here ? 
 
 Fortune. He must be. 
 
 M. Dutrac {to the children, who laugh). 
 That servant is impossible. 
 
 Am^naIde {imitating Fortune's accent). I 
 believe you. 
 
 Fortune {not giving up the card, and still 
 reading it). And the members of the
 
 90 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 board of aldermen. {Explaining.) That is 
 the reason there are three. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {who has finally ob- 
 tained possession of the card). Ah ! there 
 are three - the Duke and two aldermen, 
 to be sure ! ( To Fortune.) Go into the 
 drawing-room, and tell the gentlemen 
 that — 
 
 Fortune. They aren't in the drawing- 
 room; they are at the door. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You must be mad ! 
 Invite them in, and say that Monsieur and 
 I are coming. 
 
 Fortune. There are no ladies, Ma- 
 dame. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {authoritatively). Say 
 what I tell you to say. 
 
 Fortune {moving toward the door). I 
 will — only they asked to see Monsieur, 
 that's all. 
 
 M^ Dutrac {glancing at his somewhat 
 greasy vest). And what did you answer? 
 
 Fortune. That I thought Monsieur 
 had gone out, because this is the time you 
 are always at luncheon. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to her husband, rising
 
 FALSE JOYS. 91 
 
 hurriedly). Well, what are you doing 
 there ? Why don't you make haste ? 
 
 M. DUTRAC {calmly folding his napkin). 
 My dear friend, I am not very presenta- 
 ble; and, as you seem anxious to receive, 
 it seems to me that I can dispense with — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {impetuously). Are you 
 dreaming? Go and change your clothes. 
 I will go too. {She goes toward the door 
 opposite the drazving-room.) 
 
 Fortune {opening the drawi^ig-room door 
 zvide and entering tJie dining-room, leaving the 
 door wide open). There they are, all of 
 them. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Close that door, 
 will you ! {She rushes out, trying to avoid 
 being seen.) 
 
 Amenaide {laughing, while she goes to 
 close the door, ivhich Forttin^ insists upon 
 leaving ope7i). Oh ! if the Duke had seen 
 mamma in her red wrapper — 
 
 Adolphe {vexed). So you think that is 
 funny ! She never can be properly dressed. 
 
 Am:£naide. It seems to me that, when 
 we are alone, she can take her luncheon 
 in her dressing-gown, if that pleases her.
 
 92 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Adolphe. If she had dressing-gowns 
 that were presentable, but that dirty red 
 wrapper — 
 
 Am^naide. But — 
 
 Adolphe. There are pretty dressing- 
 gowns, silk or velvet, which open over 
 lace affairs — something that has style, 
 such as all other women wear at home, at 
 luncheon, or when they receive. 
 
 Amenaide. How do you know all that ? 
 {Gontran laughs.) 
 
 Adolphe {mysteriously and with an air of 
 importance). I know it — because I know it. 
 
 Amenaide. Ah ! {She laughs^ 
 
 Adolphe {vexed). What are you laugh- 
 ing at? 
 
 Amenaide {mocking him). I laugh — be- 
 cause I laugh. 
 
 Adolphe {in a rage). You will tell me 
 why you laughed ! Will you tell me ? {He 
 seizes her arm. rozighly.) 
 
 Am^naIde. You hurt me ! Will you 
 let me go ? You are pinching me ! {She 
 shakes him off, catches his thumbs, and twirlii/ 
 him about until he whimpers, and sinks upon 
 his knees.)
 
 FALSE JOYS. 93 
 
 Adolphe. I'll call mamma, if you don't 
 stop! 
 
 GONTRAN {delighted). You may as well 
 be her top; mamma won't bother with you 
 now. She is dressing for the Duke. 
 
 Amenaide (^c*^ releasing Adolphe). That 
 is what is the matter ! He wanted to hurt 
 his little sister, and hadn't the grit. She 
 is the stronger — the little sister. 
 
 Adolphe {exasperated). Let me go ! 
 
 Amenaide {releasing Jmn). Only because 
 it bores me to hold onto you, otherwise — 
 {seeing Adolphe coming toward her again) 
 and don't begin again, I say; for if you do 
 I will shake you well. 
 
 Fortune {who is cleaning the table, looks 
 at Adolphe and smiles). Nobody is a bigger 
 fighter than Monsieur Adolphe. If he 
 isn't as big a fighter as — 
 
 Adolphe {furiously). I haven't asked 
 you for your opinion. 
 
 FoRTUNfi. I know that Monsieur Adolphe 
 hasn't asked me; I gave it to you of my 
 own accord. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {in a frock coat and gray 
 trousers, passing through the dining-rootn on
 
 94 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 a run. To the children.) Am I well enough 
 dressed ? 
 
 Fortune {casting an amiable glance at M. 
 Dutrac). Yes, indeed ! At least Monsieur 
 is dressed — I don't see too mucli any- 
 where. 
 
 M. Dutrac {annoyed). Will you try to 
 rid yourself of that habit of talking when 
 you have not been asked to ! {He disappears 
 into the drawing-room^ 
 
 Adolphe {watching him as he leaves the 
 room). It is extraordinary. Papa is always 
 badly dressed. His clothes are either too 
 large or too small. They look like some 
 other man's cast-off clothing. One would 
 think that he buys his suits at the morgue. 
 {Madame Dutrac comes rtmning into the 
 room — pansy-colored silk dress, trimmed with 
 yellozv bows; yellow velvet sleeves}^ 
 
 Adolphe {scmti^iizing her). Little 
 mother, no one would ever say that you 
 had changed your toilet. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {disturbed). Is this 
 dress not suitable ? 
 
 Amenaide {ironically). It is charming 
 and most simple; to be truthful, one sees
 
 FALSE JOYS. 95 
 
 at once that it was not made for the occa- 
 sion. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {doubtful, pausing in 
 the middle of the dining-room). One never 
 knows whether you are in earnest or not. 
 
 Amenaide. I only said that to send 
 you off. You know the members of the 
 council have been here half an hour. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And the Duke ! Ah ! 
 great heavens ! that is true. 
 
 Amenaide. If there was a duke among- 
 those good men whom I saw, spare me. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {patronizingly). My 
 poor Naide ! Do you think there is any- 
 thing more remarkable about the appear- 
 ance of a duke than of any other man ? 
 
 Amenaide. Well, considering the ef- 
 fect produced by their presence, it seems 
 so, to be sure. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with interest). Have 
 you seen him ? 
 
 Amenaide. There are three who look 
 about the same. I don't know which 
 one it is. I would be surprised if it were 
 one of the three. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {rushing into the draw-
 
 96 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 ing-room). And, above all, don't be noisy. 
 
 Adolphe {discontentedly). One would 
 think that we were about to blow the 
 bugle for a hunt. {A pause.) I would like 
 to see the Duke. 
 
 Amenaide {surprised). You ? How can 
 he interest you ? 
 
 Adolphe. I would like to see how he 
 wears his topknot. Come along. 
 
 Amenaide. No ; that's a bore. Go 
 alone. 
 
 Adolphe. I don't dare. Come with 
 me. 
 
 Amenaide. We will be caught, you 
 shall see ! 
 
 Adolphe. That's probable. Let us 
 go all the same. {A pause.) You go first. 
 {They enter the drawing-room, followed by 
 Contrail, and confront three not very clean 
 peasants, who are conversing with M. and 
 Madame Dutrac, resplendent in their neiv 
 finery^ 
 
 Adolphe {in a whisper to his sister). 
 Look at the way mamma carries her head ! 
 Please do look ! I have an idea that 
 wouldn't do for the Duke.
 
 FALSE JOYS. 97 
 
 Am^naide. The Duke ! As though he 
 were here I 
 
 Madame Dutrac {indicating the children, 
 who enter the drawing-room noiselessly). My 
 children. {A silence^ 
 
 M. Dutrac {to the peasants, repeating and 
 finishing the phrase begun by his wife). My 
 children — my son Adolphe, my daughter 
 Amenai'de — 
 
 GONTRAN {piqued). Well, and I — are 
 you forgetting me ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {introducing). M. Lerat, 
 deputy — Messieurs {he hesitates) — Mes- 
 sieurs — {aside) hang it ! The devil take it ! 
 I can't remember their names. 
 
 One of the Peasants {interrupting him). 
 Tuvache, member of the municipal coun- 
 cil. {Poifiting to his compa)tioii.) Monsieur 
 Loupar, member of the council also. 
 {Adolphe bows and giggles. Amdnaide courte- 
 sies politely. Gontran does not stir.) 
 
 Lerat {to Amdnaide). And as we have 
 come, Miss, to collect for the national 
 festival — 
 
 M. Dutrac {zvithout alacrity). I will 
 bring you our donation. 
 
 7
 
 98 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 TUVACHE {after conferring a moment with 
 Lerat and Loupar^. We put it in that way 
 — that collections would be made on the 
 day of the festival. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What, again? 
 
 LouPAR. The young men march, each 
 leading a young lady whom he chooses, and 
 she carries a plate for the coppers or silver 
 coin, whichever you wish to give. {Silence^ 
 And seeing that this young lady is very 
 handsome, we thought that perhaps she 
 would like to collect. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with animation). She 
 is too young — much too young — she is 
 only sixteen years old. 
 
 Lerat {looking at Ame'naide admiringly). 
 Sixteen years! Thunder! She is hand- 
 some and strong enough to be asked to 
 help to collect. 
 
 Madame Dutrac (/^i-zVzW/v). No, no! 
 We do not want her to make an exhibition 
 of herself in that \YQ.y,{poiTiting to Adolphe) 
 but if you want my son — 
 
 Lerat {after scrutinizing A dolpJie). We 
 have enough boys. {Aside, nnder his 
 breath^ Let us see, there is Monsieur
 
 FALSE JOYS. 99 
 
 Montauciel, then one of the sons of Lavalle- 
 d'Auge. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {a bit softened). Ah ! 
 
 Lerat icontimimg). Then Monsieur 
 Jacques. {To Ttivache.) He will collect, 
 won't he ? Did you go to the chateau to 
 get his promise ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {pricking up her ears 
 at the mention of the chateau). M. Jacques? 
 
 Lerat, Yes; Monsieur Jacques d'Vyela- 
 dage. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Do you mean the 
 Duke ? 
 
 Lerat. I mean Monsieur Jacques. The 
 Duke wouldn't trot around on the beach 
 with some young chit with a platter on 
 her arm. Not at his age, surely ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {deeply interested). 
 Then it is the young Duke ? 
 
 TuvACHE. It is Monsieur Jacques. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The son of the Duke ? 
 
 LOUPAR. Yes; Monsieur Jacques. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {cornered). To me he 
 is the young Duke. 
 
 Lerat. Well, to us he is Monsieur 
 Jacques, and he always will be.
 
 100 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {reentering). Here is our 
 modest donation, which — {His wife talks 
 to him under her breath for some time^ 
 
 Lerat {taking the gold piece which M. 
 Diitrac offers him, and opening a little greasy 
 memorandum book). I will enter your name. 
 {He rises.) We offer you our thanks, 
 Madame and Monsieur. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {a bit embarrassed). Madame 
 Dutrac tells me that you had thought of in- 
 viting our daughter. For my part, I don't 
 see any objection to her collecting with the 
 other young people of the neighborhood. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Only M. Dutrac and 
 I desire to know that she will not collect 
 in the company of some young man with 
 whom we are not acquainted. It seems to 
 us, on the other hand, that, owing to our 
 friendly relations with the Duke, his son 
 would be the suitable companion in every 
 respect. 
 
 TuvACHE. I am quite sure that Mon- 
 sieur Jacques has been chosen already for 
 everything. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {engagingly). Try to 
 arrange it, I beg of you.
 
 t'ALSE JOYS. 101 
 
 TuvACHE. It's none of my business. 
 It's Monsieur Jacques' business. {He rises.) 
 Monsieur, Madame. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Adolphc, calling his 
 attention to M. Dutrac, who escorts the coun- 
 cilors). You should have done that. 
 
 Adolphe. Ah, no, that's too tough! 
 I have my fill of those members of the 
 council, and of the Duke, and of all the 
 rest. {To M. Dutrac, zvho reenters the room.) 
 You can take off your fine clothes. {To 
 Madame Dutrac.) Get back into your red 
 nightshirt. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {a7igrily). Take care 
 of your own affairs ! 
 
 Adolphe {scornfully). You are vexed, 
 because the Duke didn't take your bait. 
 
 Amenaide. The Duke doesn't call 
 very promptly, that's a fact. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. He will certainly 
 come to-morrow. 
 
 Amenaide {ironically). Let us hope so, 
 O, my God ! {Fortune^ enters, and lays the 
 mail upon the table.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Are there any let- 
 ters?
 
 102 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide. One, good mamma — 
 cards — 
 
 M. DUTRAC {who is balaiicing in an arm- 
 chair, carelessly). Cards — from whom ? 
 
 Amenaide {opening tJie envelope). Duke 
 de Vyeladage — Duke and Duchess de 
 Vy61adage ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What ? What does 
 that mean ? 
 
 Amenaide. That means that they re- 
 turn your call at their own convenience, 
 and that they expect the matter to rest 
 here. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {suffocated). Oh ! {Re- 
 fiecting.) That is a flagrant insult ! It 
 would be impossible to do anything more 
 rude. 
 
 Amenaide. Yes; they might have 
 sent nothing at all. {M. and Madame Du- 
 trac look at 07je another in consternation}) 
 
 Amenaide {to Adolphe, pointing at M. and 
 Madame Dutrac). Did you ever see the 
 like ! That's an awful blow for them.
 
 V. 
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS — {Continued^. 
 
 The landau is waiting at the door of Gri- 
 bouville Castle. 
 
 Fortun6 has donned the livery of his pre- 
 decessor, which is altogether too large 
 for him. But, to make up for this, the 
 pantaloons reach only to the calf of his 
 leg, and the coat-sleeve to his elbow. In 
 order to keep the hat, which is much too 
 large, on his head, he has perched it on 
 the nape of his neck in such a manner 
 that it leaves his forehead entirely ex- 
 posed, while it droops down to his shoul- 
 ders, upon which it seems to rest, com- 
 pletely hiding his neck. 
 
 Amenaide is convulsed. 
 
 Adolphe, standing on the doorstep, con- 
 templates the vehicle with some con- 
 sternation. 
 
 Fortun6 joins in the laughter. 
 
 (103)
 
 l04 THOSE GOOD NORMAN.^. 
 
 Go-^TRA-N {to Atn^nai'de). You wait ! If 
 mamma were to see you laughing — 
 
 Adolphe {enraged at his sister). It is 
 stupid ! You can't think that funny. 
 
 Amenaide. O, yes, I do think it 
 funny. 
 
 Adolphe. I don't see what pleasure 
 you can find in seeing that we are gro- 
 tesque, for that carriage and that coach- 
 man are grotesque. 
 
 Amenaide {stil/ laughing). O, yes; but 
 it is not because of the coachman alone. 
 It's that unhappy horse harnessed to that 
 great thing. A landau with one horse is 
 absurd, not to speak of the fact that the 
 poor devil must soon have enough of the 
 honor of dragging his patrons around to 
 call upon all the gentry the country round. 
 
 GONTRAN {pointing to his father and 
 mother, %vho stand in the vestibule, drawing 
 on their gloves). There they are ! 
 
 Adolphe. I shall tell them that they 
 can't go, looking like that. 
 
 Amenaide. O, tell them nothing ! It 
 will only worry them, and they can't alter 
 things, so what good would it do ?
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 106 
 
 Adolphe. People will make sport of 
 them. 
 
 Amenaide '^laughing). Probably. 
 
 Adolphe. So you don't mind that ? 
 
 Amenaide. Not in the least. Yon 
 mind it enough for two. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {toilet: Dahlia silk, 
 old rose-colored silk sleeves, fluted rice-straw 
 hat {Fleuve da Tage) covered with dahlias. 
 The inevitable Lo'ic Fuller iivibrella. She 
 crosses the doorsteps, followed by M. Dutrac, 
 and examines the carriage with visible satis- 
 faction). Ah, good! {To Fortune.) Is your 
 livery not a trifle too large ? 
 
 Fortune. I don't know; but the gloves 
 are too tight. I can't get into them. {He 
 drops the reins, and zuaves his extraordinary 
 hands in the air.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You are going to 
 drive without gloves ? 
 
 Fortune. Well, unless I don't drive 
 at all. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {vexed). That will 
 look like I don't know what! {Fnteringthe 
 carriage.) We are going to the Chateau de 
 la Roche-Pers6e. Do vou know where it is ?
 
 106 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Fortune. I know that it is on the road 
 to Caen, but I can inquire. {He whips up 
 the horse ^ Get up, mistress! {Am^natde 
 laughs. Adolphe watches the departure with 
 an air of dejection^ 
 
 IN THE CARRIAGE. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Do you know who 
 these de la Roche-Persees are, to whom 
 we are going ? 
 
 M . Dutrac. I have not the faintest idea, 
 my dear. I know absolutely nothing about 
 them, except what you have told me your- 
 self. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The other day; but 
 I have informed myself since. 
 
 M. Dutrac {laughing). Ah ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes, and do you 
 know what la Roche-Persee (pierced 
 rock) means, and how they came by the 
 name? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well, I presume it is a 
 rock with a hole in it, like all other pierced 
 rocks. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with supreme contempt). 
 Well, it is just the contrar3^
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 107 
 
 M. DuTRAC. Just the contrary ? Then it 
 has a hump ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I mean to say that 
 it has no connection with it. The name 
 comes from a pass of arms executed by 
 one of their grandfathers. It is something 
 of very ancient date — something before 
 the Crusades. 
 
 M. Dutrac. The devil! It is fine 
 enough to be able to say it dates back to 
 the Crusades. {A pai/sc.) And what was 
 the name of the grandfather ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Pers6e, of course. 
 He liberated somebody who had been 
 bound to a rock by the enemy, and for this 
 reason la Roche was added to the name, 
 in commemoration of that exploit. 
 
 M. Dutrac. My dear, there must be 
 some mistake here. What you are telling 
 me is an episode in mythology, and, damn 
 it, mythology is too ancient for us to con- 
 nect any actual event with it, and nothing 
 more ancient has ever existed. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {impetuously). It is 
 like Greek history, Roman history, ancient 
 history ! Ancient history is ancient also.
 
 108 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC. Without doubt, but it is 
 histor}^ while mythology is fable. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {dryly). Whether you 
 will or no, the de la Roche-Persees de- 
 scend from these. Don't forget that ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. If I am not mistaken, 
 we are approaching the chateau. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {taking a survey). The 
 chateau ? Where ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Why, there, at the end of 
 this avenue. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That an avenue? 
 An abandoned road, you meant to say. 
 
 Fortune {pointijig to the chdtemi with 
 the handle of his whip). Here we are. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Very well, very 
 well ! It is unnecessary to remark upon it. 
 
 M. Dutrac. You see, it is the chateau. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {regarding the chdteau 
 — a veritable lac czu or k of mossy granite; much 
 dilapidated, but a gem). Oh, how gray it is ! 
 I don't think that is pretty; it doesn't look 
 clean. {As the landau approaches the chd- 
 teau several curtains are stirred, and doors 
 are heard slamming in the house.) 
 
 M. Dutrac. I see no bell and no
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 109 
 
 means of informing anyone of our ar- 
 rival. 
 
 Fortune {still pointing with his whip to 
 a window at ivhich the curtain is seen stir- 
 ring). The family know it; the lady has 
 seen us. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Do you know her? 
 {Recollecting herself .) Do you know Madame 
 de la Roche-Persee ? 
 
 Fortune. I saw her at the fair at Caen 
 and at the market. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {surprised). At the 
 market ? 
 
 Fortune. Yes, on Fridays. Every- 
 body goes to market on Fridays — {seeing 
 the contemptuous air of Madame Dutrac) 
 even people who are more aristocratic 
 than Monsieur and Madame. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I have requested 
 you already to abstain from remarks. {M. 
 Dutrac conti)iucs to ivalk about near the 
 door, which is bolted. Suddenly a servant 
 opens the door precipitately, while he finishes 
 buttoning his blue and yellow striped vest) 
 
 M. Dutrac. Is Madame de la Roche- 
 Persee visible ?
 
 110 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 The Servant. Madame la Marquise is 
 in. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to her husband, who is 
 assisting her to alight^. They have the 
 title Marquis; we didn't know that. 
 Remember ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. What for? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. To give them their 
 title. Nothing ruffles these people like 
 neglecting — 
 
 M. Dutrac. I shall certainly forget. I 
 lack practice. ( They follow the servant, who 
 ushers them into an iininense drawing-room, 
 of which the exquisite parquet is defective 
 and almost destroyed in numerous places. 
 The superb mirrors are covered with spots of 
 mildew. The wainscotiitg and the ceiling are 
 cracked, and the tapestries, zuith their groups 
 of small human figures, hang in rags. Louis 
 XIV and Empire furjiiture. Portraits also 
 Louis XIV and Empire. Upon a large panel, 
 opposite the windows, an abominable copy of 
 Rubens' '''Perseus and Andromeda^' the orig- 
 inal of which is in the Museum of Madrid.) 
 
 The Servant. Whom have I the honor 
 to announce ?
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. Ill 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Monsieur and 
 Madame Dutrac. {To her husband.) Give 
 him a card. ( Under her breath, as soon as 
 the lackey has left the rootn.) They can't be 
 rich {a pause), nor neat. {She drazus a full 
 breath.) It smells of mushrooms here; the 
 air is tainted. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I smell nothing. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Well, your nose 
 must be stopped up then. {She fills her 
 nostrils.) This air is poisoned ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. My dear, if you think it 
 poisonous, you should not sniff it like that. 
 In that case it is wiser to contract the 
 nostrils, instead of dilating them to catch 
 the odors. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {examining a beautiful 
 Empire clock with rose-colored marble columns 
 and an eagle in green bronze). Do look at 
 this horror ! It is incomprehensible how- 
 people can keep such a thing! Great 
 heavens! A bronze from Barbedienne 
 doesn't cost a fortune. It seems to me 
 one might afford that, even if one is not 
 a millionaire. 
 
 M. Dutrac. You don't like these
 
 112 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Empire clocks, but many people think 
 them charming. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {ironically). Many peo- 
 ple ? I would be curious to know who. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Those who buy them. 
 Phyloux told me lately that the Empires 
 sell like bread, at a mad price. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah ! {Silence.) I am 
 sure that after we have become acquainted 
 with the inhabitants of this place, if we 
 wish, they will gladly exchange this horror 
 for the bronze woman in our room in Paris. 
 
 M. Dutrac. How is that bronze 
 woman ? I don't remember exactly. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What! You don't 
 even know the style of our clock ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. I know indistinctly, only 
 I have forgotten. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. A reclining figure 
 of a woman, who is drawing circles and 
 triangles on a machine which resembles a 
 flat mile-stone, or such an affair as they 
 make Moses hold to represent the tablet of 
 the laws. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Circles, triangles — that 
 must be geometry.
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 113 
 
 Madame Dutrac {shrugging her shoul- 
 ders). You mean to say astronomy. 
 
 M. D\JTYi.AC{conciliatorily). That amounts 
 to the same thing. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. No; astronomy is, 
 at least, poetic. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Ah, it is poetic! {A 
 pause.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What if we were to 
 leave ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {surprised). Leave ! Why ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. To teach these 
 people manners. We have been kept 
 waiting a quarter of an hour. 
 
 M. Dutrac. They are dressing, doubt- 
 less ; they are dressing to do us honor. 
 We can not blame them for that; we 
 have made people wait sometimes on sim- 
 ilar occasions. ( The door opens, ajid the Mar- 
 quis de la Roche-Pers^e appears. Bows, etc.) 
 
 The Marquis. Sixty years of age; tall, 
 
 thin, dry; nose long, forehead enormous, chin 
 
 retreating, eyes malicious, lips tJiin; shrewd 
 
 manner — a vague mixture of the distitiguished 
 
 gentleman, the peasant, and the dispenser of 
 
 holy water; clothed i?i a long, shabby coat 
 8
 
 114 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 resembling a Levite's gozvn; linen unstarched 
 and barely visible. He rolls two of the chairs, 
 which stand close to the wall, the lengtli 
 of the drawing-room. — Be seated, I beg of 
 you. Madame de la Roche-Persee is in the 
 park. I have sent for her. {As he says 
 *^ Madame de la Roche-Persde,'' M. Diitrac 
 looks significantly at his wife, in order to call 
 her attention to the fact that he did not say 
 " the Marquise.'' Madame Diitrac, who does 
 not covipreJiend, rolls her eyes in a rage?) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You have a very 
 beautiful chateau, Monsieur le Marquis — 
 one of the most beautiful in the country. 
 
 The Marquis. It certainly is the most 
 beautiful, Madame. Unfortunately, it is 
 falling into decay from day to day, and we 
 have not the power to arrest the increasing 
 devastation. We have no workmen com- 
 petent to do the delicate work. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes, this sculpture 
 is very complicated. 
 
 The Marquis. If la Roche-Pers6e had 
 been classed among the historical monu- 
 ments, as it should have been, it would 
 have been preserved.
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 115 
 
 M. DuTRAC. At the expense of the 
 state. 
 
 The Marquis {haughtily). That is not 
 the point. 
 
 M. Dutrac {embarrassed). It seems to 
 me that {aside) he is liberal. {Madame 
 Dutrac casts a furious glance at him?) 
 
 The Marquis {continuing). The cha- 
 teau, tinder the hands of special architects 
 and workmen, would have remained intact 
 a long time. But we were not classed 
 among the historical monuments. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And for what reason 
 were you not classed among the historical 
 monuments, Monsieur le Marquis ? 
 
 The Marquis. Because that is a ques- 
 tion of protection, like everything else 
 in these days, and because the Vigne- 
 fleurs were more fortunate or more clever 
 than we. Vignefleur procured that which 
 was due to la Roche-Pers^e. {He sees 
 somebody passing the zvindow.) Ah, here is 
 my wife! {At the words "my wife" M. 
 Dutrac glances at Madame Dutrac, who does 
 not conipreJiend in the least, and rolls her eyes 
 more and more furiously.)
 
 116 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 The Marchioness. Fifty years of age; 
 manner gentle atid modest, but eyes hard, ajid 
 Jaw terribly authoritative. Very si^nply 
 dressed, but with exaggerated quaintness. 
 Profound bows. — It is very kind in you, 
 Madame. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is I, Madame la 
 Marquise, who am very happy. 
 
 The Marquis {explaining). M. and 
 Madame Dutrac have lately established 
 themselves at Gribouville. 
 
 M. Dutrac {aside). There, this man 
 knows it without obliging us to tell him. 
 
 The Marchioness. Ah ! It is you, 
 Madame, who have purchased the Chalet 
 Bouju? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {puzzled). The Chalet 
 — Bouju ? — but — I don't believe — I — 
 
 The Marchioness. It is not the chalet 
 in the midst of a garden — at the extrem- 
 ity of the village — in the direction of la 
 Roche-Pers6e — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes, but it is not 
 called — 
 
 The Marchioness. The Chalet Bouju ? 
 To be sure, that is to say, now, I do not
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. , 117 
 
 know; but it has always been called so. It 
 is the name of a guard of this district 
 who built the house. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {promptly). It was 
 sold to us under the name Gribouville 
 Castle. 
 
 The Marquis. That is very much more 
 in keeping. 
 
 M. Dutrac {puzzled). But do you know, 
 Madame, that — 
 
 The Marchioness. Very well, because 
 the cabin in which we undress before tak- 
 ing our baths, is next to yours. Day 
 before yesterday, while I was waiting for 
 my son who was taking his bath, your 
 daughter was also bathing. I was inquisi- 
 tive enough to ask the bathing attendant 
 whether he knew that beautiful person 
 who swims so well, and he told me that it 
 was Mademoiselle Dutrac. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {aside). That is not 
 bad ! These are people whom I can under- 
 stand — people who take an interest in 
 things — who know what is going on in 
 their neighborhood. {Aloud.) You have 
 several children, Madame la Marquise ?
 
 118 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 The Marchioness. I have only one 
 son. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I have three chil- 
 dren — two sons and one daughter. The 
 daughter is between the boys. How old 
 is your son ? 
 
 The Marchioness. Twenty-eight, but 
 
 — I should like to introduce him to you. 
 ( To her husband?) Do you know whether 
 Adalbert is here ? 
 
 The Marquis. I shall go and see. 
 {He leaves the room.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {to the Marchioness, pointing 
 to the painting). This portrait of your 
 ancestor is a beautiful painting, Madame 
 la Marquise. 
 
 The Marchioness {smiling). This is 
 not our ancestor. Ancient as our family 
 is, we do not date back to mythology. 
 {M. Dutrac casts a triumphant glance at his 
 wife, who reddens^ However, this error 
 was committed before you by King 
 Charles X, and it is only since that epoch 
 and to commemorate that error — over 
 which his majesty was the first to laugh 
 
 — that, in accordance with the royal
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 119 
 
 command, our name was modified in this 
 way. 
 
 The Marquis {reentering, followed by his 
 son, zvhom lie introduces^. My son. 
 
 Count Adalbert de la Roche-Pers^e. 
 Thirty years of age; confesses to twenty- 
 eight. Small, pock-marked; narrow shoul- 
 ders, head too large, decidedly degenerate. 
 Dress uncommon and odd — an exaggeration 
 of the prevailing style, perpetrated by an 
 incompetent tailor of a small town. Respect- 
 ful bow to Madame Dutrac; handshake on a 
 level with the shoulder to M. Dutrac. — Mon- 
 sieur, charmed. 
 
 The Marchioness {to her husband). I 
 have explained to Monsieur and Madame 
 Dutrac how, by a misunderstanding on the 
 part of King Charles X, our name was 
 thus metamorphosed. 
 
 The Marquis. By order of his majesty, 
 under date of July 20, 1828, we are also 
 indebted to the kindness of his majesty 
 for this painting. {He points to " Perseus 
 and Andromeda.'') He had it copied for us 
 in the Museum of Madrid, by a pupil of 
 David. {Smiling.) The good King, who
 
 120 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 was more of a hunter than a scholar, had 
 confounded Perseus, lord of Antiochus, 
 and the Perseus of the fable, with the 
 Marquis de la Roche, comrade of Saint 
 Louis, from whom we are descended. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {laughing feebly). Ah, 
 really ! 
 
 The Marquis. Instead of blushing 
 over his blunder, the King had the wit 
 to laugh, and to wish to perpetuate its 
 memory. It was for this reason that 
 he wrote our name in two words, it 
 having been written in only one since the 
 Crusades. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {aside, exammmg Adal- 
 bert). He is beautifully stylish, this young 
 Marquis, and well dressed — more fashion- 
 ably than the de Lavall6-d'Auges, save 
 the hairdress; they have the forelock of 
 1830, he has a brush. 
 
 The Marchioness {to' Madame Dutrac). 
 Do you receive on some special day or at 
 an especial time ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I have a day, as in 
 Paris. Next Monday I shall receive. 
 {Bows, etc. The Marquis and his son escort
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 121 
 
 M. and Madame Dutrac, and assist them to 
 their carriage^ 
 
 IN THE LANDAU. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. They are charming, 
 absolutely charming — and distinguished. 
 By the way, one would think that you do 
 it intentionally. You did not say once 
 "M. le Marquis," nor "Madame la Mar- 
 quise," and then what did you mean by 
 those signs you made to me ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. That was expressly, my 
 dear, to call your attention to the fact that 
 the Marquis, in speaking of the Marchion- 
 ess, said "my wife," or "Madame de la 
 Roche-Persee," but no more of a title than 
 I have to show, do you see ? You don't 
 know what tune you were giving me with 
 your George Ohnet people. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. These people are 
 provincials, and crusty ; they don't know. 
 One can not hesitate between their man- 
 ner of doing things and that of George 
 Ohnet, who is from Paris. {A pansc.) But 
 tell me, would the young Marquis be a 
 good match for Am^naide ?
 
 122 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. He is very unprepossess- 
 ing. And then, they don't appear to be 
 rich. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why, yes ! All this 
 country gentility hides its wealth, and the 
 Normans bury theirs. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I am willing to believe it. 
 Though — after all — but with regard to 
 health — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Well, we haven't 
 come to that. All the same, it is lovely to 
 descend from Perseus and Andromache 
 {gesture from M. Dutrac), even if one only 
 descends from them since the time of 
 Charles X. 
 
 IN THE LA ROCHE-PERSEE FAMILY. 
 
 The Marquis. They have the manner 
 of fruit-peddlers. 
 
 The Marchioness. Possibly, but their 
 daughter is ravishing. 
 
 Adalbert. And very wealthy ! 
 
 The Marquis. Very wealthy, very 
 wealthy ! That remains to be seen. There 
 are three children. 
 
 The Marchioness. That doesn't mat-
 
 OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS. 123 
 
 ter. The fortune is considerable, and they 
 appear to be very parsimonious. 
 
 Adalbert. The devil! That's agree- 
 able. 
 
 The Marchioness. Whatever you may 
 think, that is the way in which prosperous 
 houses are established.
 
 VI. 
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 
 
 At Gribouville-by-the-sea. On the beacli. 
 A large cabin painted in blue and gray 
 stripes. In the cabin a bamboo table, 
 several chairs. On the table a platter 
 upon which coffee is served. Seated 
 around the table M. and Madame Dutrac, 
 Adolphe, Gontran, and Amenaide. It 
 is one o'clock. Blazing sun. 
 
 M. Dutrac. How comfortable it is 
 here, in sight of the ocean, in the pre — 
 
 Gontran {interrupting). That isn't — 
 
 M. Dutrac. Isn't who? 
 
 Gontran. The ocean. {Gesture from 
 M. Dutrac^ No, it is only the bay. 
 
 M. Dutrac {conciliatorily). That is the 
 same thing. {Resuming^ In the presence 
 of this calm, one feels better. ( To Madame 
 Dutrac^ By the way, you had better 
 postpone your trip to Caen until to- 
 
 (124)
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 125 
 
 morrow, and remain with us to enjoy 
 your coffee. {^He drinks a mouthful of coffee, 
 and cuts a face.) When I say enjoy, I only 
 make use of a figure of speech. This 
 coffee is atrocious. I don't know what is 
 the matter with it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {tasting the coffee). Fie, 
 it is horrible ! [To Amdnaide.) What has 
 happened to this coffee ? 
 
 Amenaide. Why, nothing. I believe 
 it is the new coffee — that which was 
 bought yesterday. Until now we have 
 used that which was brought from Paris, 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And where does this 
 come from ? Was it bought in Caen, as I 
 gave the order? {Gontran coughs.) There, 
 now, you will not take a bath to-day. You 
 have too severe a cold in your head. 
 
 Gontran. I have not the least bit of a 
 cold. {He sneezes.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. There is the proof. 
 
 Gontran. It is only in my head. ( To 
 M. Dutrac.) Papa, may I not take my 
 bath? 
 
 M. Dutrac. I think so. {Madame Dutrac 
 fidgets.) That is to say, I — I don't —
 
 126 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 perhaps it would be better to ask the 
 doctor. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {protesting). You want 
 to send for the doctor for that ! One 
 would really think that money rains down 
 onto you from the skies ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. Good God, my dear, I — it 
 seems to me that, without disturbing the 
 doctor, one might perhaps — Adolphe, will 
 you go to the doctor. You know where 
 he lives? 
 
 Adolphe {gmmblmg). No. 
 
 M. Dutrac. The house is next to the 
 grocery. Ours — 
 
 Adolphe. Which is ours ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Raton, the house at the 
 angle of the square. Tell the doctor that 
 your little brother has a cold. 
 
 Adolphe {cutting faces at Gontran). My 
 nice little brother ! {Gontran runs ont his 
 tongue^ 
 
 M. Dutrac. Have you both done with 
 it now? {Resuming.) And you ask whether 
 he may take his bath all the same. 
 
 Gontran. In my head — a cold in my 
 head.
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 127 
 
 Adolphe {finishing his cup of coffee). 
 Heavens, yes ! This coffee is bad. {He 
 rises with an ill-tempered air.) 
 
 A Woman {approaching the cabin). Don't 
 you want any nice shrimps ? {She rubs a 
 checked handkerchief, of which the four cor- 
 ners are tied togetJier, under the nose of M. 
 Dutrac, and a strong salt-water odor becomes 
 perceptible.) 
 
 M. Dutrac. No, thank you. 
 
 The Woman {leaning against the cabin). 
 On the whole coast you won't find such 
 fine ones. {She begins to untie her handker- 
 chief.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. If you are told no — 
 
 M. Dutrac {continuing). It means no. 
 
 The Woman [planting the open Jiandker- 
 chief upon the knee of M. Dutrac). See for 
 yourself if they are not beautiful; see if 
 I lie. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Take that away! take it 
 away ! {He tries to rise; the woman takes 
 her shrimps; Am^na'ide laughs?) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is really quite un- 
 bearable to be always disturbed ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. These shell-fish exhale
 
 128 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 a frightful odor ! {Suspiciously, looking at 
 the woman.) That woman, too ! ( Under his 
 breath^ I shouldn't be surprised if she 
 had been drinking. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {tvith disgust). Oh! 
 {She looks at the woman timidly.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {to the woman). Go ! Leave 
 us ! 
 
 The Woman {making up her bundle). The 
 beach doesn't belong to you, that's cer- 
 tain. Poor folks can't make a living now- 
 adays. 
 
 M. Dutrac. If you don't quit {impres- 
 sively) you will hear from me. 
 
 The Woman {szvaying her body, and en- 
 deavoring to regain her presence of mind). 
 From whom ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. You will see; I will com- 
 plain to the Mayor. 
 
 The Woman. To the Duke ? There's 
 a good man for you — Monsieur le Due. 
 Every time we offer our fish for sale, he 
 buys. To be sure, if he finds me going 
 'round tipsy, he has me taken up by the 
 guards; but next day he's forgotten it, 
 and I never have offered him a bundle of
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 129 
 
 shrimps that he hasn't taken. {She continues 
 to mumble imintclligible words!) 
 
 M. DUTRAC {exasperated). Will you 
 finally clear out ! ( The woman leaves the 
 tent.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. This is odious ! One- 
 can not have peace five minutes. {A pause.) 
 I don't know whether I shall have the 
 horse harnessed or whether I shall take 
 the trolley. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Take the trolley; it will be 
 cooler for you in this heat, and for the 
 horse also. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes; but when one 
 has horses, it is unnecessary to spend 
 money for transportation. 
 
 Amenaide. You mean to say when one 
 has a horse ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Horses or a horse, 
 it is all the same. 
 
 Amenaide. Not to it ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. The trolley from here to 
 Caen does not cost much. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It costs what it costs. 
 It is always just so much. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Yes; but if you go in the 
 
 8
 
 130 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 carriage the horse must be fed at the 
 hotel. There is always that expense also. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That is true. I 
 hadn't thought of that. It is frightful 
 how everything costs. {She moves as though 
 about to rise.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {compassionately). My poor 
 dear ! It is hardly tempting to go to Caen 
 in this heat, when one is so comfortable 
 here. Ah, there is Fortun6 looking for 
 us. 
 
 Madame Dutrac, Perhaps there is a 
 visitor. 
 
 Amenaide {mockingly). Let us hope so. 
 
 Fortune. {He wears a pair of shabby 
 gray trousers and the vest belonging to his 
 livery^ I have come to ask whether any- 
 body is going to Caen. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {scrutinizing hint). But 
 what on earth does this costume mean? 
 I have already forbidden your wearing, 
 separately, pieces which are made to be 
 worn together. You must not mix up 
 your livery with your own clothing, nor 
 put on a stiff white necktie when you are 
 not in livery. {Examining his cravat^
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 131 
 
 You haven't your pin. You haven't 
 lost it? 
 
 Fortune. Yes, surely! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. How did you lose it ? 
 
 Fortune. I have no idea. I lost it 
 losing it — the way one loses — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {furious). But that 
 was a silver pin ! 
 
 Fortune {passively^. It would have 
 been all the same, if it had been a gold 
 one. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Amdnaide, who 
 laughs). Will you do me the kindness to 
 laugh elsewhere! {Amdna'ide leaves the 
 cabin, and stretches herself out upon the sand. 
 A pause.) Well, you may harness the 
 horse ; we will leave in half an hour. 
 
 Fortune. But the horse needs to be 
 shod. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why do you tell me 
 that just as we are on the point of going ? 
 
 Fortune. If I had waited until then, 
 I needn't have taken the trouble to tell 
 you at all, because he will lose his shoes, 
 at least on three feet, as soon as he starts. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {wearily). Very well ;
 
 132 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 return to the house {calling him back), and 
 dress. You look like a filthy harlequin ; if 
 anybody were to call — 
 
 FORTUNfi {between his teeth). That will 
 never happen ! {He walks away slowly and 
 with a shambling gait.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac That servant is not 
 to be civilized. I begin to regret Pierre. 
 
 M. DUTRAC. I have always regretted 
 him. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {hesitatingly). I am 
 not more satisfied with Hermancia and 
 Florine. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Hermancia poisons us ; 
 more than that, I am willing to wager 
 that she is not cleanly 
 
 Amenaide {stretched out on the sand, 
 looking at the sea, not turning around). O, 
 I know she isn't. 
 
 M. DUTRA«^ {alarmed). You have seen 
 something ? 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). I have seen some- 
 thing. 
 
 Gontran. Tell us. {Amdna'ide does not 
 answer^ Tell, I say ; that will be amus- 
 ing.
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 133 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Florine doesn't take 
 proper care of the linen ; she is not 
 exact in serving, and then she is mad to 
 go out ; she goes out three or four times 
 a day, and it is not possible to know where 
 she goes to. 
 
 M. Dutrac {interested). She goes out ? 
 
 GoNTRAN. I know where she goes to. 
 
 M. Dutrac. You know ! How do you 
 know? 
 
 GONTRAN, Why, because I have seen 
 her. 
 
 Madame Dutrac . And where does she 
 go? 
 
 GoNTRAN. I want something for tell- 
 ing. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What! You want 
 something ! What does that mean ? 
 
 GONTRAN {resolutely^. That means that 
 unless I get five francs for fireworks as all 
 the other boys have, except myself, I 
 shall tell nothing. There ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. Five francs ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {indignantly). To burn 
 them up ! To spend them and have noth- 
 ing left ! You are mad, Gontran.
 
 134 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide. Poor urchin! All the 
 youngsters on the beach have invited their 
 playmates to see their little fireworks. 
 Only he hasn't been allowed that much. 
 
 GONTRAN (vexed). That's true, so it is ! 
 And Henry Bouchon told me — 
 
 Madame Dutrac (zait/i animatioti). The 
 son of the banker who has the pretty 
 chalet near the casino ? 
 
 Gontran. Exactly. A big boy, at least 
 sixteen years old. But he's very nice all 
 the same. Well, he told me: " Your par- 
 ents won't give up even a hundred sous so 
 you can have a lark for once ? They are 
 worthy of being Normans." " But they 
 are Normans," I said. Then he did like 
 this, and laughed: "Ah ! that explains 
 everything." 
 
 Madame Dutrac {vexed). You need 
 not tell everybody that we are Normans. 
 
 GONTRAN. Why? Since you are so 
 proud of it, there is no harm. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Yes, doubtless; we would 
 never think of denying our origin. But 
 — {a pause) in any case you shall have your 
 fireworks.
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 135 
 
 Madame Dutrac ^^practically). But you 
 will tell where Florine goes when she goes 
 out. 
 
 GONTRAN {also practical, extends his hand 
 ' to his father). Give me the hundred sous 
 first. {M. Dutrac gives him the hundred sous 
 in twenty-sou pieces, which Gontran counts^} 
 Well, she goes to the canyon down in 
 the country, back of the garden. Yes, 
 that's where she goes. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {surprised). What 
 does she do there ? 
 
 Gontran {simply). Embrace the grocer. 
 
 M. Dutrac {jumping up). Embrace the 
 grocer ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {more calm, but sur- 
 prised). Oh! Are you sure? 
 
 Gontran. Sure! I see them all the 
 time. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to her husband, who 
 seems overwhelmed). That filthy old 
 Father Lamblin ! 
 
 Gontran {protesting). But it isn't he ! 
 When I talk of the grocer, I mean the 
 clerk who drives the little wagon — the one 
 who brings the provisions to the house —
 
 136 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 a little fellow. He looks like a jolly 
 dog. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {to his wife). That Florine, 
 whose manner you liked so much — whom 
 you selected, because — {He lowers his voice, 
 and whispers into his wife's ear.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes, and I still say 
 that I like her manners, and there is not a 
 breath of — {To A m^naide.) Go and lie 
 down a little farther off. {Amdnaide obe- 
 diently moves off a few yards ^ There, you 
 are all right, and I can talk with your father 
 about matters which don't concern you. ( To 
 Gontran, who listejis with curiosity.) Go to 
 your sister. {Gontran goes a short distance, 
 but remains near enough to be able to hear.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {preoccupied). We must re- 
 press these — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That is your busi- 
 ness. A woman can not occupy herself 
 with such matters. 
 
 M. Dutrac {a trifle embarrassed). My 
 dear, I have told you, with Parisian serv- 
 ants, we would, at least, have had no 
 troubles of this nature. They would have 
 nothing to do with the natives.
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 137 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Naturally. Then 
 they would have their little affairs among 
 themselves. {Aggressively.) . And do you 
 think that any better ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. I think it less annoying. 
 {Austerely >j It is evident that, if our serv- 
 ants, in this honest little retreat, lead a dis- 
 reputable life, it will, in my opinion, injure 
 us. And, from a political point of view — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Don't let that dis- 
 tress you. I shall speak to them in a 
 manner which will prevent their doing 
 such a thing again. I am not often angry. 
 {A mild attempt at protestation from M. 
 Dutrac.) But when I am angry it is worth 
 while. 
 
 M. Dutrac {nervously). And you will 
 be angry {a pause) at Florine ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with conviction). Ah, 
 you shall see! {To Adolphe,'who rettirns.) 
 Well, have you seen the doctor? 
 
 Adolphe. No; he had been called to a 
 patient, a serious case of — {Madame Du- 
 trac motions him to be silent, pointing to Gon- 
 tran and Am^ndide) but his chambermaid 
 said Gontran might take his bath.
 
 138 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {astounded). The cliamber- 
 maid ! 
 
 Adolphe. Yes, because she asked me 
 whether it would be necessary to send the 
 doctor when he came home in the even- 
 ing. I said no, that would be too late; that 
 it was only to ask whether my brother, 
 who had a cold in his head, might take 
 his bath at four o'clock all the same. 
 " Why, yes," she said, "certainly; tell him 
 he can." 
 
 Madame Dutrac {exasperated). And 
 so you think that I will allow this child to 
 bathe because the chambermaid of the 
 doctor says he may ? 
 
 Adolphe. I think nothing at all; you 
 can do just as you please. It's all rot to 
 me whether he bathes or not. I was sent 
 down there, and I went, and now I have 
 enough of this — that's the end of it. {He 
 starts off on a run, and lies down in the sand 
 beside his brother and sister.) 
 
 A Man {who carries bouquets of zvild 
 flowers, faded and covered zvith dust, staggers 
 toward the cabin). Don't you want any 
 flowers, very fine flowers, my dear lady ?
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 139 
 
 {^Madame Dutrac turns her head away, and 
 docs not answer.) Very fine flowers, my 
 dear gentleman. I went more than four 
 miles to pick them. {He flourishes one of the 
 bouquets under the nose of M. Dutrac, shaking 
 out a child of dust.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {sneezifig). Leave ns in 
 peace, I say ! We want nothing. 
 
 The Man {on the threshold of the cabin). 
 Very fine flowers; came farther than from 
 Trouville. I went more than five miles 
 this morning to get them. {He barely 
 escapes falling, and clutches the tray full of 
 cups, which shake. Madame Dutrac rises in 
 alarm, and screams. M. Dutrac catches the 
 tray as it is about to fall. The children 
 laugh ^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac. This is horrible! 
 The man is dead drunk ! 
 
 The Man {grinning, clings to the wall of 
 the cabin). O, my dear little lady, how 
 can anyone say that, when I really haven't 
 had even a cup of coffee since — {he gesticu- 
 lates) since — since — 
 
 M. Dutrac {rising). Now then, get out ! 
 
 The Man {still clutching the wall and
 
 140 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 grinning). J'st now, if you'd bought a 
 b'quet of me — {Lettijtg go his hold with 
 one hand and btgimiing again to wave his 
 bouquets in the face of his victims.) When 
 I've made more th'n five miles th's morn- 
 ing to get th'm. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {threatening). Ah, now then ! 
 If yon won't get out — 
 
 The Man {with dignity). I am going; 
 but don't touch me. I tell you that I am 
 going ! {He lets go his hold, stumbles, des- 
 perately clutches the wall of the cabin, while 
 he looks at Madame and M. Dutrac with 
 tenderness^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac {leaving the cabin). 
 This is not bearable ! Such a thing is 
 unheard of ! Where are the eyes of the 
 authorities ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {also leaving the cabiri). The 
 police of the beach are certainly not 
 irreproachable. 
 
 Amenaide {pointing to the man, who seems 
 petrified). You leave him there. {Laughing^ 
 He seems perfectly at home. 
 
 The Man {seeing nobody, succeeds in turn- 
 ing toward the beach, and resumes his babble).
 
 HOURS or CALM. 141 
 
 They are very fine flowers. I went mo' 
 th'n five miles f'r th'm th's morning. 
 
 Adolphe {sneeringly to his father). Won't 
 you put that drunkard out? {M. Dutrac 
 makes a desperate gesture^ 
 
 The Man {with a threat, lets go his hold on 
 the cabin, and marches toward Adolphe as 
 directly as he is able). Drunkard? Drunkard? 
 Well, and what's worse ? And if I have 
 been drinking, whose fault is it? You 
 haven't paid for it, have you ? {A dolphe rises, 
 and makes his escape.) You wait, and then 
 you shall see. {To Adolphe, who laughs.) 
 And don't laugh, or you'll suffer for it. 
 {A dolphe laughs more violently^ You needn't 
 laugh at a man because he has a drop too 
 much. {Gently szvaying backward and for- 
 ivard without succeeding in gaining his equi- 
 librium^ It's because Champ's and Noe 
 were drunk that I w's tied up too. {He 
 takes a few steps, and rolls into the sand, 
 where he lies on his stomach, surrounded by 
 his Jlozvers) 
 
 M. Dutrac {tvith a sigh of satisfaction). 
 Ah ! We are nd of him. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {ironically). We
 
 142 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 haven't you to thank. No ! I never saw 
 such a wet hen as you are. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {a trifie embarrassed). Good 
 heavens, my dear ! It was difficult enough 
 to — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {contemptuously). There 
 are people for whom everything is difficult. 
 {She returns to the cabin, followed by M. 
 Dutrac^ 
 
 M. Dutrac {at a loss for something to say). 
 I am delighted at your not having gone to 
 Caen to-day. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And I am unhappy 
 because I didn't go. {Gesture by M. Du- 
 trac^ Yes, because of the disagreeable 
 experience I have had. I am terribly 
 afraid of drunkards. 
 
 Amenaide. Well, you have chosen a 
 queer country. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to M. Dutrac, ignoring 
 Amdna'ide). And it is absolutely necessary 
 that I go to Caen to-morrow, because of 
 that dinner. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That must be made a very 
 good dinner. It is the first time we enter- 
 tain our neighbors.
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 143 
 
 Madame Dutrac {resolutely). Not too 
 good. There must be sufficient, but it is 
 not necessary, on the other hand, that all 
 these people become our boarders. 
 
 M. Dutrac. But, up to this time, it 
 seems to me they have not found the road 
 to us. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Those whom we 
 wish to see here shun us — like the Vyela- 
 dages — or wait a month before returning 
 a call — like the du Bleynoirs and the 
 Vignefleurs ; but the rest come too often, 
 to please me at least. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Do you say that of the 
 young de la Roche-Persee ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with animation). No; 
 on the contrary, he is charming. {Lowering 
 her voice.) And he would be a fine match 
 for Amenaide. {Aloud.) But I mean the 
 Montauciels and the Colin-Tampons, who 
 have seemed to me to force themselves 
 upon us a bit, on two occasions. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Good heavens ! The car- 
 riage of the Montauciels was broken, and 
 the last trolley had gone. One could 
 hardly avoid inviting them.
 
 144 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. One could not help 
 inviting them, but they could have re- 
 fused ; in such a case, one goes to a hotel. 
 It is like those Colin-Tampons. It isn't the 
 thing for six people to stay to dinner at a 
 moment's notice. Don't you see that ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. But, in the country — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is in the country 
 that such a thing is most annoying. 
 
 M. Dutrac. It was you who invited 
 them. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Because I was con- 
 vinced that they would not accept. 
 
 A Man {carrying a large stick, stops before 
 the cabin). Would you prove your good- 
 ness by obliging me with anything it may 
 please you to give. I haven't eaten a 
 thing since yesterday. {M. Dutrac plunges 
 two fingers into his vest pocket.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {quickly). I hope you 
 don't intend to give him anything ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {timidly). Yes, I — I — would 
 like to, because {whispering) the fellow 
 has a bad face. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. So you intend to 
 give to everybody who has a bad face ?
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 145 
 
 M. DUTRAC {alarmed). But don't talk so 
 loud, my dear. 
 
 The Man with the Stick {in a tearful 
 voice). And as you see me here, good 
 people, I am the son of a notary. I 
 have been unfortunate. I am a married 
 man. I have little ones. My wife has 
 run away with — 
 
 M. and Madame Dutrac. 
 
 The Man with the Stick. Have pity, 
 my good people ; remember that I have a 
 wife to provide for. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {who can not resist the 
 temptation to discover the blunders of others). 
 You said she had left you. 
 
 The Man with the Stick. Mine left 
 me, but I took another. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. When one has noth- 
 ing to eat, so to speak, it is wiser to remain 
 single. 
 
 The Man with the Stick. I can't, 
 and then, she didn't cost me much. {Philo- 
 sophically) When a woman has a good 
 tongue and has enough beatings, that's 
 half of her fare. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {glancing at the chil-
 
 146 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 dren, who laugh). That will do! That 
 will do ! 
 
 The Man with the Stick. But if 
 she doesn't eat much, and doesn't work 
 much either; if she lies like anything, and 
 doesn't coddle you — {Philosophically.) 
 Women are like clogs — one must try them 
 on before one takes them. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to her husband). Make 
 haste and give him whatever you like, so 
 he goes ! 
 
 The Man with the Stick. If my poor 
 father could see me hold out my hand — 
 and he a notary ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {feeling around in his pocket). 
 Where is he ? 
 
 The Man with the Stick. At Falaise. 
 I don't know where he is this minute. 
 
 M. Dutrac {who has finally found the fifty- 
 centime piece for which he was searching). 
 Was he in prison ? 
 
 The Man with the Stick {starting up). 
 In prison ? — my father ? — in prison ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {frightened). You said a 
 notary who had been unfortunate, so I 
 understood —
 
 HOURS OF CALM. 147 
 
 The Man with the Stick. No! I 
 
 want to see the fellow who would say that 
 — I want to see him ! Anybody who says 
 that, I'll bleed him like a hog ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {very pale). But, believe 
 me — {He takes twenty sons from his pocket, 
 and adds them to the fifty centimes^ There, 
 my good man, drink the health of your 
 good father. Good evening. {The man 
 takes the money and departs, still grumbling.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {wiping his brow). What do 
 you say to going back to the house ? It is 
 more quiet.
 
 VII. 
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 
 
 At Gribouville Castle. 
 
 The hall into which the majority of the 
 
 rooms open. 
 It is nine o'clock in the morning. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {opens his door a trifle and 
 listens, his nose in the crack). That is odd ! 
 I thought my wife had rung the bell. {See- 
 ing Florine, who appears at the end of the 
 hall.) Ah ! I knew I had heard it. ( The door 
 to Adolphe's room, opposite that of his father ^ 
 is opened a trifle, also.) 
 
 Ado LP HE {his nose ifi the crack). Ah, 
 there ! Will she pass by — yes or no ? 
 
 M. DUTRAC {throwing his door wide open 
 a)id stoppitig Florine, who is passing slowly 
 through the corridor, with a shti filing gait). 
 Florine, there is a button missing on my 
 vest. Will you sew it on ? 
 
 Florine. Thirty years of age; faded 
 
 (148)
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 149 
 
 blonde; light blue eyes; lips heavy and 
 pale; general appeara?tee bloodless; flesh 
 flabby. A bell is heard ringing a second 
 time. 
 
 M. DuTRAC {forcing Florinc to enter his 
 room). Madame will wait a second ! The 
 floods haven't come to the bridge. 
 
 Florine. No; but they're in the tub. 
 Madame is there too. {The bell is heard 
 again.) You hear yourself that she is 
 ringing for me. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {closing the door and speaking 
 in a7t altered voice). I want to tell you that 
 I know what you are up to. 
 
 Florine {vaguely). Ah ! What ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. You have been going to 
 the canyon. {With increasing digtiity.) You 
 have been seen in the arms of the grocer. 
 
 Florine {overwhelmed). 
 
 M. Dutrac. And, if I told you to come 
 in here this morning, it was to tell you 
 {the bell rings violently) that you will 
 have no occasion to come again in the 
 future {pointing to the door with a pompoiis 
 gesture), except for your regular duties. 
 
 Florine {imploringly). But — {reflecting)
 
 150 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 as Monsieur wishes. {She leisurely leaves 
 the room.) 
 
 Adolphe {popping his head out of the 
 door). P'stt, eh! Florine! {Softly.) Why 
 don't you come in, you donkey ! 
 
 Florine. I have no time ! {Pointing to 
 the bell, which is dancing against the wall at 
 the end of the hall.) You see yourself that 
 she is ringing. 
 
 Adolphe {grasping her arm). Come in, all 
 the same. I have something to say to you. 
 
 Florine {shaking him off). If you don't 
 let me go, I will call your father. 
 
 Gontran {opening the door of his room, 
 which is opposite that of his brother). Florine ! 
 {Giggling^ I think mamma is ringing the 
 bell in the bath-room. 
 
 Florine {walking leisurely toward the 
 bath-room). They're all screaming after 
 me again ! {She disappears into the bath-room. 
 A noisy discussion is heard.) 
 
 HALF AN HOUR LATER. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {again opening his door a 
 trifle and listening). She hasn't passed by 
 again! That is extraordinary ! She can't
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 151 
 
 go out unless she passes by here. {Seeing 
 Adolphe's door move^ What is he doing- 
 here at this hour? He should be on the 
 beach long ago. 
 
 Adolphe {Jiis eye glued to the crack of the 
 door). Papa's door is open. What can he 
 want? The devil ! If — 
 
 GONTRAN {hiding behind his door, tvatch- 
 ing his father and brother). What have they 
 both been up to these two hours ? Papa 
 probably wants to soak her head about the 
 grocer. But Adolphe? {The bath-room- 
 door ope?is, and Madame Dutrac emerges, 
 wrapped up in her red dressing-gown. She 
 looks furious. Florine follows her, carrying 
 a pyramid of clothing on her arm.) 
 
 Adolphe {reopens his door as soon as his 
 mother has passed). 
 
 M. Dutrac {shows his head at his door as 
 Madame Dutrac has reached the end of the 
 hall). Ah, she is with my wife ! She will 
 come back directly and beg my pardon. 
 {He looks at Florine sternly, and closes his door, 
 which creaks.) 
 
 Madame Y)\5'Y'Khc{turning around). Has 
 Monsieur not gone out ?
 
 152 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Florine {promptly). Yes, Madame ; at 
 least I think so. It seems to me I saw him 
 on the beach this morning. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I thought I heard a 
 noise in his room. {SJic hesitates a moment, 
 and finally enters M. Dutrac s room.) 
 
 Adolphe {leaving his room in glee). Papa 
 is caught ! Mamma will fix him for hav- 
 ing gone out walking with the Croutons. 
 Mamma must be sorry that she wanted 
 separate rooms here. There's more style 
 to it. Only now she can't scold him any 
 more when he comes in — she has to wait 
 until the next day. 
 
 noon — AT LUNCHEON. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Adolphe, who comes 
 in late). Where have you been ? 
 
 Adolphe {seating himself). In my room. 
 I didn't hear the bell. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {scrutinizing him). I 
 don't know whether it is due to the influ- 
 ence of the ocean, but your face has such 
 a vacant expression. 
 
 Adolphe {embarrassed). I slept badly. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It isn't only to-day
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 153 
 
 that you look so — it is always, within the 
 last two weeks. 
 
 Adolphe. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You don't feel ill, do 
 
 you ? 
 
 Adolphe {bored). Not at all ! ( Wishing 
 to change the subject?) But do you know, 
 mamma, you don't look well to-day. ( With 
 interest >j You are not feeling ill ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Not exactly, though 
 I have passed a frightful morning. {For- 
 tune leaves the room.) It is quite impos- 
 sible to keep Florine. {M. Dutrac and 
 Adolphe fidget.) 
 
 M . D u TR AC {conciliatorily) . N ow that we 
 have her — 
 
 Adolphe. She does what is asked of 
 
 her all right. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {vexed). Ah! it is 
 easy to see that you have nothing to do 
 with her; but that girl is impossible, 
 stupid as a goose, insolent, filthy — 
 
 M. Dutrac. Oh ! Filthy ! I don't think 
 
 that. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. As an old comb. If 
 you had occasion to approach her, you
 
 154 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 would notice it, even with your poor sense 
 of smell. She is poisoned. It is really 
 extraordinary. She doesn't do the cook- 
 ing, and it is she who smells of burnt fat. 
 I shall write to the intelligence office. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {very much bored). What? 
 Seriously, my dear, you want to change 
 again ? 
 
 Adolphe {vexed). That's idiotic. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I can not continue 
 to be served in that way. For instance, 
 this morning, I thought I would go mad. 
 
 M. Dutrac. What happened this morn- 
 ing? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I took a bath, and 
 told Florine to put in a bag of bran. 
 That's nothing new, is it ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Nothing new ? That de- 
 pends. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. She came in with a 
 great pudding, which looked like a balloon 
 — huge, like an enormous bolster. 
 
 Adolphe, What was it ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It was the bag of 
 bran. I said to her: "But that bag is 
 monstrous, it will make the water run
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 165 
 
 over." She answered: "No danger, it 
 will settle." 
 
 M. DUTRAC {absent-minded, but endeavor- 
 ing to seem interested^. And then ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And then she 
 plunged it into the bath, and the water 
 began to rise, and rise, and Florine kept 
 stirring it up with the bag at the bottom, 
 and finally she left, after asking me 
 whether I wanted anything. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well, that really isn't so 
 bad! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {shrugging her shoul- 
 ders). I got into the water, I ducked 
 under, and I sat down in a soup ! 
 {Amdjiatde laughs.) 
 
 Adolphe. What kind of a soup ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. A bran soup, of 
 course. In moving the bag about, she 
 had untied it, and all the bran was in the 
 bottom of the tub, and I tell you there 
 was enough of it. Then I rang. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I heard. 
 
 Adolphe {laughing). So did I. 
 
 GoNTRAN. And so did I. What a 
 jingle 1
 
 156 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I rang, you under- 
 stand, the bell which is beside the bath- 
 tub. I rang at least ten times. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I heard. 
 
 Adolphe. So did I. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Finally Florine de- 
 cides to come, and do you know what she 
 says to me ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. No, no; really, I have no 
 idea. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. She says: " I was 
 upstairs. Madame should have rung the 
 other bell ! " And the other bell is at the 
 other end, opposite mj^ room, at least six 
 yards away from the tub, and she tells me 
 to ring that bell when I am in the water ! 
 It is incredible ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. It certainly shows a lack 
 of intelligence — awkwardness; but, after 
 all, it is not a capital offense. 
 
 Adolphe. In other words, one wouldn't 
 whip a cat for it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {stupefied). But what 
 do you two men mean by defending her 
 like that ? The other day, when I wanted 
 to engage this girl in Pauline's place, you
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 167 
 
 tried to prevent my doing it, and to-day, 
 when I want to discharge her, you shriek 
 like peacocks, 
 
 M. DUTRAC (^embarrassed). I don't shriek 
 like a peacock; but I have a horror of all 
 changes. 
 
 Adolphe. So have I. {Checking him- 
 self.) That is to say {perplexed), I don't 
 know. 
 
 Fortune {reentering with a platter). 
 Monsieur Crouton has come. 
 
 M. DUTRAC AND Adolphe {rising ex- 
 citedly). He is here ? 
 
 Fortune. No; he has gone again. He 
 only came to say that if anyone wanted to 
 fish shrimps, they were going at about 
 four o'clock. 
 
 M. DuTRAC and Adolphe. Yes, cer- 
 tainly. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {sharply). Ah ! You 
 are going fishing with the Croutons ? 
 
 Adolphe. A little while. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to her husband). You 
 are going into the water, at your age ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {vexed). Why, my dear, if 
 I bathe, I don't see —
 
 158 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That is quite an- 
 other thing. In the water one doesn't see 
 you, but if you go in wading up to your 
 knees, with your figure — 
 
 M. Dutrac {viewing himself and endeav- 
 oring to appear as slim as possible^. But my 
 figure is not so extraordinary. 
 
 Fortune {wishing to pour oil onto the 
 flames^. Ah! I forgot to tell you this. 
 He said to say that his ladies were 
 going to fish, too; Monsieur Crouton said 
 so. {He leaves the room.. Madame Dutrac 
 strikes the cloth with the blade of her knife ^ 
 
 Adolphe {looking at his mother and 
 laughing^. When I was little and did that, 
 I was told I would cut the table-cloth. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {appearing not to have 
 heard, and addressing her husband). You 
 are of an age when you can do as you 
 please, and compromise yourself if you 
 like; {pointing to Adolphe) but, it seems to 
 me, there are certain precautions to be 
 taken for that child. 
 
 Adolphe. "But I — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I am talking to 
 your father.
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 159 
 
 M. DUTRAC {with an artless air). I don't 
 understand you, my dear. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Oh, it is useless 
 for you to play the innocent ! Aside from 
 its suiting you badly, I don't fall into your 
 trap, as the Marquis de la Roche-Persee 
 says. 
 
 M. Dutrac {stubbornly). I swear, my 
 dear, I'll be everlastingly condemned if I 
 know what you mean ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I mean to say that 
 Madame Crouton is not fit company for a 
 child of Adolphe's age. She has ways 
 that make me blush — me, the mother of 
 a family ! I appeal to Amenaide; she told 
 me only yesterday, and surely, God knows, 
 good manners are not Amenaide's strong 
 point ! 
 
 Adolphe {to his sister). What is that ? 
 Mademoiselle presumes to pass judgment 
 on people ? Such a brat ! 
 
 Amenaide {placidly). Well, yes. I 
 think Madame Crouton is not a well-bred 
 woman. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Her name is in every- 
 body's mouth.
 
 160 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Adolphe. Because she is pretty. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Pretty ! With such 
 a nose ! 
 
 Amenaide. Oh! As for being pretty, 
 she is that, and you can't deny it. 
 
 M. Dutrac. And then, when all is said, 
 my dear, if we know the Croutons, it is 
 because you called on the young woman. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. They live at Gribou- 
 ville. They were on the list. I could not 
 guess — 
 
 M. Dutrac. What? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That — that — well, 
 in short, that she knows a great deal. 
 {She points to Amenaide to imply that she can 
 not explain more clearly?) Young Vigne- 
 fleur — 
 
 M. Dutrac {surprised and stupe fied). Ah ! 
 
 Adolphe {incredulously^ Ah ! 
 
 Amenaide {tranquilly'). She knows Mon- 
 sieur du Bleynoir still better. 
 
 Madame Dutrac (.f/«r//£'^). Monsieur 
 du Bleynoir ? But he is married ! 
 
 AmSnaide {simply). That makes no 
 difference. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {indignantly). What !
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 161 
 
 That makes no difference ! {Reflecting.) But 
 how do you know that ? 
 
 Amenaide. Because I see it. Oh, I 
 haven't been playing the spy; but when 
 one lives next door — and then I often 
 take walks, and I see — 
 
 M. DuTRAc, Madame Dutrac, and 
 Adolphe {together). What do you see? 
 
 Amenaide. Oh, a heap of things ! To 
 begin with, I think that Madame Crouton 
 is pleased to be seen all the time with 
 Monsieur de Vignefleur, because he is 
 stylish — for the country. Then, so that 
 he won't leave her, she amuses him. 
 
 M. Dutrac. How so? 
 • Amenaide {artlessly). Well, as one 
 amuses men. She makes him believe 
 that she loves him best — makes eyes like 
 this {sJie rolls her eyes tenderly). She throws 
 kisses at them over the hedge. {Madame 
 Dutrac fidgets.) I have seen it, and as he 
 is something of a fool and very vain, he 
 requires nothing more to be convinced of 
 her love, and he is convinced. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {nervously). More 
 
 than what ? 
 11
 
 162 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 AmenaIde {artlessly). Why, nothing ! 
 
 Adolphe {laughing). That is only a 
 figure of speech. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I don't see what Mon- 
 sieur du Bleynoir has to do with all this. 
 
 Amenaide. Ah ! Monsieur du Bley- 
 noir — that's another pair of sleeves ! He — 
 he amuses her. He dotes on her less, but 
 he is much more droll, so she has a jolly 
 time with him. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {scandalised). She has 
 a jolly time ! • In what way does she have 
 a jolly time ? 
 
 Amenaide. They fool around. They 
 amuse themselves. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {w/io wants to discover 
 what Amenaide knows). With what? 
 
 Amenaide. Well, first they fool that 
 little Vignefleur. Yes — yes, he and lit- 
 tle Vignefleur ride over to luncheon to- 
 gether. Then, about two o'clock or a 
 little later — that depends upon the tide, 
 or other matters — Monsieur Crouton is 
 packed off in the boat or carriage. He is 
 always going fishing or something. 
 
 M. Dutrac {pensively). That is true !
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 163 
 
 AM^TSTAifDE, When Monsieur Crouton 
 has gone, the other two mount their horses, 
 I see them at the doorstep. They bow to 
 Madame Crouton and ride to Vignefleur. 
 Monsieur de Vignefleur always invites 
 Monsieur du Bleynoir in — I have seen 
 that three times at the canyon — and 
 Monsieur du Bleynoir replies : " I can 
 not ; my wife is waiting to go out with me." 
 Ah ! She must bear a great deal, poor 
 woman ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What has she to 
 bear? 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). Why, as soon as 
 little Vignefleur is at home, and can't see 
 the road. Monsieur du Bleynoir dashes 
 along the little path which leads through 
 the fields, and goes back to the Chateau 
 des Fleurs, where he joins Madame Crou- 
 ton again. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But how did you 
 manage to see what happened here and 
 on the road ? 
 
 Amenaide. I didn't see it all on the 
 same day, but now, when I see them com- 
 ing, I know what is going to happen.
 
 164 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {compassionately). Poor Mon- 
 sieur de Vignefleur, he is such a nice 
 fellow ! 
 
 AmenaKde. Well, you are like Monsieur 
 du Bleynoir. The other day he said, when 
 he embraced Madame Crouton — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {indignantly). Oh, he 
 embraces her ! 
 
 Amenaide {sivtply). Indeed ! I suppose 
 that is what he comes back to her for. 
 Well, when he embraced her in the tunnel 
 at the lower end of the garden, I saw 
 them from my window. 
 
 M. Dutrac {annoyed). Ah ! 
 
 Amenaide. He said just what papa 
 said: " Poor Vignefleur, he is such a nice 
 fellow ! " And she answered: " Yes, he is 
 a nice fellow, but he is too much of a dupe 
 — and then, as for sentiment, that is all 
 right, but in a different way." 
 
 M. Dutrac {aside). That story annoys 
 me, because it is difficult to arrange mat- 
 ters at Gribouville, and — this devilish 
 salt air — {He reflects.) 
 
 Adolphe {aside). This story is a bore. 
 And I thought — but I can have nothing
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 165 
 
 to do with a woman who has counts and 
 dukes as friends. 
 
 Fortune. Where do you want your 
 coffee — in the drawing-room or in the 
 cabin ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Bring it here. ( To 
 her hnsbafid.) I must go up at once and 
 write to the intelligence office. 
 
 Fortune {return ing zvith the coffee) .Mon- 
 sieur le Comte de la Roche-Persee is here. 
 
 Am^naide. Again ! Well, he comes 
 often enough. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {rising). Ask him to 
 come in. 
 
 FoRTUN]^. Into the dining-room? 
 
 M. Dutrac. No. Well, yes. Request 
 him to come in here. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {rising hastily). I 
 shall go and dress. 
 
 Adolphe. Ah! The fact is, the red 
 snail-shell isn't very swell. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And I must write 
 my letter. 
 
 M. Dutrac {folloiving his tvife). But 
 before you write, one might — {He and 
 Madame Dutrac /cave the room.)
 
 166 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Adolphe. I shall escape ! (Aside.) I 
 want to know what papa had to say to 
 Florine this morning in the hall, {/ust 
 as young de la Roche-Pers^e is ushered in by 
 Fortune, Gontran crowds into the doorway 
 and pushes by him.) 
 
 Amenaide {aside). Here I am — block- 
 aded ! ( Very pleasantly, as she rises and urges 
 young de la Roche-Pers^e to be seated}^ Papa 
 and mamma will be here directly. ( To 
 Fortufi^.) Tell Monsieur and Madame that 
 Monsieur le Comte de la Roche-Persee is 
 here. 
 
 Fortune. They know it very well 
 {taking away a plate and stooping to whisper 
 into the ear of Amenaide)] that's the reason 
 why they ran away. 
 
 Amenaide {who can not resist the impulse 
 to laugh, watching Fortune' as he leaves the 
 room). That servant is a fool ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Did you 
 not bring him with you from Paris ? 
 
 AmenaKde. Ah, no ! He is a native — 
 that is evident. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Pers£e. I did 
 see at once that he was a Norman; but I
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 167 
 
 did not know whether you had engaged 
 him in Paris. 
 
 Amenaide. No ; until now we have 
 never had Normans, fortunately. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Pers£e. One 
 would say that you do not love the Nor- 
 mans, Mademoiselle ? 
 
 Amenaide {with conviction). I certainly 
 do not ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. But they 
 are a handsome and good people. 
 
 AmenaIde {involuntarily measuring him). 
 I don't think so. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Permit 
 me to hope that you will alter your views 
 on this subject, otherwise I, for one, shall 
 be disconsolate. 
 
 Amenaide {for the sake of saying some- 
 thing). Why ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Be- 
 cause, Mademoiselle, I am a Norman, 
 and until now I have been proud of 
 it. 
 
 Ami^.NAIDE {who is thinking of other things). 
 You are quite right. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. But if.
 
 168 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 because I am a Norman, you were to take 
 a dislike to me, I — 
 
 Amenaide impolitely). Why, not at all. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {completing 
 his sentence). — would be profoundly un- 
 happy ! 
 
 AmEna!de. {Prolonged silence^ 
 
 Little de la Roche-Pers^e {passing 
 his hand over his brow as though to drive 
 away a sad iho7ight). I passed a delicious 
 evening yesterday, Mademoiselle ! 
 
 Amenaide. Ah ! So much the better ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-PersEe. And 
 that, thanks to you. 
 
 Amenaide {surprised.) To me ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Yes; I 
 had the joy of seeing you yesterday. 
 
 Am^naIde {puzzled). Yesterday, but 
 where ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. While 
 you were taking your bath. It is delicious 
 to see you swim — so supple and so strong. 
 I had happy visions in my eyes all the 
 evening and all night. 
 
 AmEnaide. Fortunately, happiness is 
 not like the sun, otherwise —
 
 IN THE FAMILY. 160 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persi^e. I don't 
 understand, Mademoiselle. 
 
 Am^naide. Oh, nothing, nonsense ! 
 Were you in the water ? I didn't see you. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. No ; I 
 was waiting for my mother, who had gone 
 to talk with Madame de Chaville, in her 
 cabin. I was on the beach in my little 
 cart with my pony. 
 
 Am^naide. Ah, exactly! I did see 
 something, but I thought it was the 
 wagon of the man who sells wafers. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. 
 
 Am^naide. I am very near-sighted ; 
 that accounts for it. {Rising.) I will go 
 and see why mamma does not come. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {eagerly). 
 No. I beg of you, do not shorten these 
 moments, which are so sweet to me ! Let 
 me see you — hear you — breathe you ! 
 
 Amti^A'iTi'E. {cutting a face). Ah, but he 
 is low !
 
 VIII. 
 
 IN LINE. 
 
 At Gribouville Castle. 
 
 Fortune in livery, his fingers spread far 
 apart in his white gloves, awaits the 
 arrival of the carriages on the doorstep. 
 In the vestibule stands one of the serv- 
 ants, who has been hired at Caen, in a 
 black suit, which is a trifle shiny, and a 
 white, but not altogether immaculate, 
 neck-cloth. 
 
 In the drawing-room are M. and Madame 
 Dutrac, Am6naide, Adolphe, and Gon- 
 tran in full array. 
 
 It is half-past seven o'clock. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {mouse-colored velvet 
 dress; Donatello square neck; dogesse sleeves; 
 puffed bands). They will be late, and if 
 the tenderloin waits, it will be overdone. 
 
 Amenaide {very simple dress of flowered 
 muslin). It is barely half-past seven. 
 
 (170)
 
 IN LINE. 171 
 
 Madame Dutrac {who dares not move, and 
 stands stiff as a rod in her robe, which looks 
 as though it were made of pasteboard. To 
 Amhiaide). Go and see whether the orchids 
 on the table are not fading. If they look 
 wilted, throw a little water on them — you 
 know — lightly. {To Adolphe.) Your neck- 
 cloth is turning. 
 
 Adolphe {suit with velvet collar and white 
 neck-cloth of the latest style; zvhite vest; a 
 gardenia in his button-hole. Sulky manner. 
 Has devoted three hours to his toilet, and 
 knoivs that his neck-cloth is so securely fast- 
 ened that it can not slip). Don't bother about 
 me. Worry over the tenderloin, or the 
 orchids, or whatever you like, but I beg of 
 you don't worry over me. 
 
 Amenaide {returning with an air of con- 
 sternation). I have been placed next to the 
 little de la Roche-Persee ! I would rather 
 not. 
 
 M. Dutrac {old suit; aspect not fashion- 
 able). Why ? 
 
 Amenaide. Because he is a bore. No 
 — he is — one can have no idea how much 
 of one he is.
 
 17^ THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Quite the contrary 
 — lie is charming. All the ladies here are 
 delighted with him. 
 
 Am^naide. Well, they are not critical. 
 {A pause.) If they think him charming, it 
 would be much better to let them have 
 him. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The table is very 
 well arranged as it is. Do me the favor of 
 keeping quiet. 
 
 Adolphe. And I ? Beside whom am I 
 placed ? 
 
 Am6na!de. Madame Crouton and one of 
 the Roches. 
 
 Adolphe. The devil! Those Reches 
 are not very amusing either. They are 
 always telling you about their music or 
 their pastor. There is no fun in that ! 
 ( T^e sound of carriage wheels is heard on the 
 sand^ 
 
 GONTRAN {his nose pressed against the win- 
 dow-pane). There are the Roche-Persies ! 
 Heavens ! Their truck isn't a young one ! 
 
 AmenaIde {looking ont also). It must 
 have done service at the coronation of 
 Charles X.
 
 IN LINE. 173 
 
 Madame Dutrac {bitterly). Well, what 
 do you want to prove by that — that the 
 owners assisted at that coronation also? 
 It means a great deal to date back so far. 
 
 Amenaide. Oh ! That wouldn't be too 
 much for a family {^she looks out again); but 
 for a coach — {She laughs^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to her husband, point- 
 ing to Amenaide). That chit is sometimes 
 intolerably stupid ! 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee {pansy 
 silk dress; high bodice; fiat collar of old point 
 d'AletK^on; lace barbe encircling her chignon). 
 We feared we were late. I see with 
 pleasure that it is not the case. 
 
 M. de la Roche-Persee. What an 
 exquisite view ! How charmingly you are 
 situated ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. This is very amiable 
 in you, who have such a splendid chateau. 
 Monsieur le Marquis, to admire our modest 
 little nest. 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee. It is 
 most charming. Adalbert had told us, 
 but as we had not the pleasure of finding 
 you in when we called, we have not yet
 
 174 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 been able to judge. {She estimates the 
 value of the furniture and the trinkets with 
 which the room is littered, with a discreet and 
 rapid glance^ 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {black 
 suit with velvet collar; daisy in his button- 
 hole; glossy linen. Bowing profoundly and 
 zvith an air of intensity to Amd?iatde). 
 Mademoiselle. 
 
 Amenaide. Good day, Monsieur. Have 
 you been well since this morning ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {seeming 
 puzzled). Since this morning? 
 
 Amenaide. Yes; I saw you this morn- 
 ing. You passed the house on horseback. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Oh, you 
 were there ? You saw me, Mademoiselle ? 
 
 Amenaide. And you saw me also; but 
 you passed by without a word {laughing), 
 with a pensive air, and so I — you under- 
 stand — I didn't run after you. {Aside.) 
 At this moment he is running after me 
 desperately. {M. and Madame Crouton are 
 announced^ 
 
 Madame Crouton. Thirty years of age ; 
 stylish, but a style which is of a bad quality ;
 
 IN LINE. 176 
 
 pretty ; unpleasantly conspicuous. Dress of 
 red crdpon very low cut; headbaftd h lajolic 
 femme. Remarkable self-assertion. — We are 
 late? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {reluctantly leaving 
 Madame dc la Rochc-Persde and advancing 
 toward Madame Crouton). Why, no — not 
 yet. We are still waiting for several 
 guests. 
 
 Madame Crouton {throwing herself into 
 a chair and crossing her legs). Ah, all the 
 better! I said to my husband: "I am 
 sure that we will be late " — and we live 
 next door. 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee {in a 
 tvhisper to Madame Dutrac, scrutinizing 
 Madame Crouton, whom her son approaches, 
 zvith a hostile air). Who is this lady ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. She is one of our 
 neighbors — Madame Crouton. {A trifle 
 troubled at seeing the severe air of Ma- 
 dame de la Roche-Persie.) You don't know 
 her, Madame la Marquise ? 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee. No 
 {a pause) ; but I surmised that it was she, 
 after what I have heard about her manner.
 
 176 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide {aside). And then, too, per- 
 haps you heard her name when vshe was 
 announced. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {embarrassed and con- 
 fused). If you don't know Madame Crou- 
 ton, your son seems to know her well. 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee {indul- 
 gently). O, young- men may know 
 everybody, and go no matter where. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. 
 
 Madame de le Roche-Pers^e {pointing 
 to M. Crouton with a significant pucker of 
 her lips). That is the husband ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes. {Repeating me- 
 chanically^ That is the husband. {M. 
 and Madame de Rhhe and their daughters 
 Iseult and Yolande enter.) 
 
 Madame de R^che. Forty-five years of 
 age; neither pretty nor plain ; insignificant 
 arid uninteresting ; rather ill-natured. — I 
 was very much afraid that we would be 
 late. My daughters were not ready. 
 
 Mesdemoiselles Iseult and Yolande 
 DE Reche. Twenty and twenty-two years of 
 age; large, angular, brown; not exactly ugly, 
 but disagreeable. Dresses of blue foulard
 
 IN LINE. 177 
 
 slightly lozv cut. Both protesting. — Oh, 
 mamma, it is you who — 
 
 Madame de Reche {to Madame Dutrac, 
 brushing against Madame Crouton in passing, 
 but not boiving to her). I did not know that 
 you had asked so many people. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But we are expect- 
 ing no more except Monsieur and Madame 
 de Lavalle-d'Auge and their children — 
 
 Amenaide {aside). Monsieur and Ma- 
 dame de Lavall6-d'Auge and their chil- 
 dren ! She talks like a book. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {continuing). — and 
 Madame de Vignefleur and her son. {Lit- 
 tle de la Roche-Persde approaches Amenaide 
 very closely, and whispers into her ear, with 
 an air of mingled respect and familiarity. 
 Madame Crouton scrutijtizes them.) 
 
 Madame Crouton {very loudly and ex- 
 tending her feet still more). Well, la Roche- 
 Persee ? {M. de la Roche-Pers^e the elder turns 
 around, looking shocked; Madame de la Roche- 
 Pers^e starts up.) And that headache? {Lit- 
 tle de la Roche-Pers^e does not hear, a?id contin- 
 ues to devote himself to A mdnaide.) La Roche- 
 Persee! {He turns?) P'stt! {Calling him and 
 
 12
 
 178 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 lowering her fan.) Come and talk to me. 
 {General consternation. Little de la Roche- 
 Persde crosses the drawing-room leisurely.) 
 
 Amenaide {delighted, aside). There, I 
 am well rid of him. {Looking at Madame 
 Crouton) She can't bear to see anybody 
 occupied with anyone except herself. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {in a low tone to M. 
 Dutrac, whom she drags to the doorway). It 
 is eight o'clock. The tenderloin will be 
 black ; and then we have made a mistake 
 in inviting the Croutons. Nobody knows 
 them. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Not only that, but they 
 don't want to know them. I presented 
 Crouton to the Marquis de la Roche-Pers^e, 
 and I thought I saw him toss his head in- 
 dignantly. {The Viscountess de Vignefleur 
 and the Viscount Gaston de Vignefleur are an- 
 nounced) 
 
 The Viscountess de Vignefleur. 
 Fifty years of age; has been very pretty , ele- 
 gant, and distinguished; white moire dress; 
 figure still charming. — Fortunately, the 
 Lavall6-d'Auges come later than we do. 
 We are not the last.
 
 IN LINE. 179 
 
 Madame Dutrac Ah ! They are com- 
 ing ! {Softly to M. Dutrac^ Have dinner 
 served without delay, on account of the 
 tenderloin. 
 
 The Viscount Gaston de Vignefleur. 
 Thirty-three years of age; restless, devoted 
 to fashion; latest style clothes, with i8jo 
 collar; gardenia in Ids button-hole. Bows 
 profoundly to Madame Dutrac and all the 
 other ladies, striking heels as he salutes, and 
 shakes liands from his shoulder. — My mother 
 was very anxious to be here, and I also. 
 I was in great haste ! {He casts a tender 
 glance at Madame Crouton, who returns it. 
 The de Lavalld-d' Auges arrive^ 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {bril- 
 liant toilet; Loie Fuller moire antique dress 
 trimmed with draped Bruges lace, fastened 
 with tufts of blue roses with diamond foliage). 
 You dine at eight o'clock, do you not ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Well, no; usually 
 at half past seven. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {to her 
 husband). Do you see ? I asked you to look 
 at the invitation; you told me that dinner 
 would certainly not be served before eight
 
 180 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 o'clock; that for years people had dined 
 sometimes later, but never earlier. 
 
 Amena'ide {ill a whisper to Gontran'). 
 She isn't half an upstart ! 
 
 Gontran {admiringly). She has a styl- 
 ish dress and swell diamonds! Do you 
 see what a miserable figure mamma's 
 dress and riviere cut beside that? 
 
 Madame Crouton {appealing to little 
 Vigneflenr across the drawing-room). Vigne- 
 fleur, is it true that you want to sell your 
 gray pony ? {Gabriel and Camille de LavalU- 
 d'Auge examine Madame Crouton with 
 interest^ 
 
 Little Vignefleur. Why, yes, if I 
 get a good price for him. 
 
 Madame Crouton. What do you call 
 a good price ? 
 
 Little Vignefleur. Do you know 
 some one who wants him ? 
 
 Madame Crouton {pointing to herself). 
 Yes; 'tis me — me ! See here, Vignefleur, 
 you will let him go for five hundred 
 bullets?* 
 
 Little Vignefleur {who is very much in 
 
 * " Bullet" — slang for franc.
 
 IN LINE. 181 
 
 love, but very much of a Norman also). 
 Never ! 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee {with an 
 artless air and anxious to be informed, in low 
 tones to Madame Dutrac). I hear Madame — 
 {she endeavors to recall the name) Crouton, 
 I believe, calling all the gentlemen simply 
 by name, without saying Monsieur. Is that 
 a new custom ? I did not know of it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {embarrassed). I — I 
 didn't know of it myself. 
 
 Madame Crouton {iji a shrill voice). 
 La Roche-Pers^e ! {TJie elder la Roche- 
 Persee starts again.) Tell Vignefleur that 
 his pony is no good ! Bleynoir told me 
 so only this morning. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Because 
 he wants to collar you. {Stern look from 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee.) You take his 
 chestnut horse, by George ! And you know 
 there is no use in talking, he has ways, and 
 he is wShy of water. 
 
 Little Vignefleur. That's true. As 
 a hunting horse, he is not worth a shot. 
 That's why he wants to be rid of him. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. I have a
 
 182 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 horse though — my little bay mare ! She is 
 well made and stout-hearted. 
 
 Little Vignefleur. To make up for 
 her legs, for she is splay-footed, and her 
 mate will be pretty nearly like her before 
 long. 
 
 Amenaide {pointmg them out to Adolphe). 
 These good Normans ! This is beautiful ! 
 All slanderers ! 
 
 Madame de Lavall£-D*Auge {to Madame 
 Diitrac, pointing to Madame Crouton). Who 
 is that young woman, who is a trifle — 
 {she seems to be at a loss for a word) — new 
 woman ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That is Madame 
 Crouton, one of our neighbors. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. Ah, 
 exactly ! I am very much delighted to 
 see her. {She opens a huge lorgnon covered 
 with diamonds, and examines Madame Crou- 
 ton.) I have heard her spoken of so much. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {distressed). Ah ! 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {still iising 
 her lorgnon). Yes; and as nobody receives 
 her, I have not had an opportunity of see- 
 ing her.
 
 IN LINE. 183 
 
 Madame Dutrac {full of consternation). 
 We did not know. When we arrived, we 
 called upon them, and as they are such 
 close neighbors, it was difficult — 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {with the 
 air of a gracious princess). But I am not 
 objecting to meeting her, and the young 
 men must be charmed. {A pause.) Has 
 that lady a husband ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes, yes, certainly. 
 There he is ; he is speaking to Monsieur 
 de la Roche-Persee. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {leveling 
 her lorgnon at M. Croutoft). Ah ! that gen- 
 tleman — exactly. He has the figure of 
 an active man. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {ready to make every 
 concession to satisfy her guests, smiling). Yes, 
 hasn't he ? 
 
 The Servant from Caen {announcing). 
 Dinner is served. {M. Dutrac offers his 
 arm to the Marchioness de la Roche-Pers^e; 
 Madame Dutrac takes that of M. de La- 
 valle-d'Auge. The company enter the dining- 
 room. Seated. Silence of the soup. Con- 
 fused noise.)
 
 184 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Adolphe {to Madame Crouton, who is 
 seated beside him). Well, if you are not out 
 on that horse deal, it won't be their fault, 
 eh? 
 
 Madame Crouton. Go on ! I am able 
 to defend myself. 
 
 Adolphe {with admiration). Ah ! You 
 have strength enough ! You are a native 
 of this country, are you ? 
 
 Madame Crouton {laughing). Up to 
 my very neck ! 
 
 Adolphe. Then you won't buy any of 
 those lean nags? 
 
 Madame Crouton. That depends. I 
 have been offered five hundred bullets 
 for that pony of Vignefleur's. 
 
 Adolphe. And you will take it ? 
 
 Madame Crouton. If he will sell him 
 to me for four hundred. {A pause ^ And 
 he would like to — 
 
 Adolphe. The devil! You are sly, 
 so you are ! 
 
 Madame Crouton {proudly). So they 
 say. {Mademoiselle Yolande de Rhhe, to 
 whom Adolphe has not addressed a word 
 since the dinner began, has her nose in the air.)
 
 IN LINE. 185 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {to Ame- 
 naide, affecting to talk in a low tone). So 
 this morning you saw me ? 
 
 Amenaide. Well, when people pass a 
 window on horseback, they are not in- 
 visible ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Ah ! 
 Why didn't I know you were there ! 
 
 Amenaide {calmly'). I saw very well 
 how you looked toward the window when 
 you were still six or seven yards the other 
 side of it, and as I was there — 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. I did 
 not suspect your presence. 
 
 Amenaide. Yes, you did ; but when you 
 saw me — had you noticed me, you would 
 have been compelled to stop, talk to me 
 {laughing), and ruin the impression made 
 by your reverie and your yellow boots 
 — those boots of yours are superb ; one 
 might take them to be great snails after 
 a rain. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. How 
 sarcastic you are ! But, tell me. Made- 
 moiselle, don't you believe in true senti- 
 ment ?
 
 186 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Am^naide. Why, yes. I might even 
 tell you that I believe in nothing but that. 
 {Little de la Roche-Persde stirs.) And because 
 I do believe only in this, I can believe in 
 no other. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {gradually 
 lowering his voice to a whisper). You take 
 pleasure in tormenting those who love 
 you. 
 
 Amenaide. I ? Never ! Tell me, 
 why are you talking as though there 
 were a sick person in the room ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {vexed). 
 But I — I am speaking as one must speak 
 in order to avoid annoying others, {softly) 
 and in order not to shout to all the world 
 what is meant for you alone. 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). Secrets already ! 
 I am listening. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {with an 
 ecstatic air). How beautiful you are when 
 you laugh, Mademoiselle Amenaide! {Ame- 
 naide fidgets^ Oh, you are not annoyed, 
 are you, at my having called you bv that 
 sweet name — that name which I love so 
 well?
 
 IN LINE. 187 
 
 Am^naI'de. Well, I can't say that I 
 agree with you, for it bores me to have 
 such a grotesque name. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. I think 
 it is adorable ! Where does it come from ? 
 It is rather an unusual name. 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). Fortunately, 
 mamma selected it. She found it in some 
 old novel which she read just before my 
 birth. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. I should 
 like to read it also. What is the title of 
 the book ? 
 
 Amenaide. " The Negro Whom Few 
 Whites Resemble." {She laughs) That's 
 not an ordinary title, is it? It's some 
 name like that. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. My 
 name is Adalbert. It is a family name. 
 All the eldest sons of the de la Roche- 
 Pers6es are named Adalbert. 
 
 Amenaide. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Do you 
 like the name ? 
 
 Amenaide. It's immaterial to me. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. It is the
 
 188 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 name of a forefather, Adalbert de la 
 Roclie-Pers6e, who embarked at Dives 
 with William the Conqueror. His name 
 is inscribed with the most noble of the 
 land. 
 
 M. Gabriel de Lavalle-d'Auge {^juJio 
 is seated at the other side of Amhtaide, mid 
 whose name is not inscribed at Dives, atid for 
 a good reasori). There are many old fami- 
 lies of very good nobility who did not 
 sail from Dives with William. {Bitterly.) 
 One's lineage can be as ancient as that 
 of those whose ancestors sailed on that 
 famous ship; one can be — 
 
 Amenaide {conciliatorily). Of some other 
 ship ? {Little de la Roche-Pers^e laughs.) 
 
 M. Gabriel de Lavalle-d'Auge. The 
 first of our ancestors of whom anything 
 is known was a priest of Saint Martin de 
 Tours, where he was immediate successor 
 to Alcuin the Monk, in 804, so that is 
 more ancient than William, who dates 
 back only to 1000 and something. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. But the 
 de la Roche-Persee who was the compan- 
 ion of William is not the first who —
 
 IN LINE. 189 
 
 Amienaide {aside). They are both of 
 them racy enough ! {Mademoiselle Yseult 
 dc Rtche, to whom Little de la Roche-Persee 
 does not address a word, tosses her head and 
 darts a fierce glance at Am^natde.) And the 
 other one looks at tne as though she 
 would devour me. This is what I call an 
 amusing dinner ! I won't say that it isn't 
 much more amusing when we are alone ; 
 but after all, that's shorter work, and then, 
 I can lie down on the beach on my face, 
 and look at the sea. ( To Little de la Roche- 
 Pers^e, who has been talking to her the past 
 five minutes, and to zvhom she has not listened^ 
 I beg your pardon, did you speak ? 
 
 M. Crouton. Thirty-five years of age; 
 heavy, vulgar, low-class; a mixture of travel- 
 ing salesman, tenor, and bully. In a familiar 
 tone to Madame de VigJiefieur. — You swim 
 like a shark. I see you from my boat when 
 you take your bath. 
 
 Madame ue Vignefleur. 
 
 M. Crouton. After dinner I will intro- 
 duce you to my wife. Do you know which 
 one she is? People live close to each 
 other without meeting, and then all at
 
 190 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 once, some day, there you are! I have 
 often asked Gaston to take us to you. 
 Valentine has asked him, too {Madame 
 de Vignefieur moves uneasily) — Valentine 
 is Madame Crouton — because, after all, 
 when one knows the sons, it is surprising 
 never to have met the mother. He says 
 yes, and then makes himself scarce, and 
 never thinks of it again. Have you a day ? 
 
 Madame de Vignefleur {astounded). 
 No; I have no day. 
 
 M. Crouton. However, we will take 
 our chances, and see whether we can't 
 catch you in. We can always easily meet 
 each other again on the beach. 
 
 Madame de Vignefleur {stupefied, but 
 very polite). Yes, certainly. 
 
 M. Crouton. Valentine is at home on 
 Wednesdays, and often on other days. 
 There are friends who come — du Bleynoir 
 and then Gaston; they fool around a bit. 
 Valentine is very gay. You shall see ! 
 
 Madame de Vignefleur {looking at 
 Valentine luith horror). 
 
 M. DUTRAC {aside, looking at Adolphe, 
 who seems very much interested i?i Madame
 
 IN LINE. 191 
 
 Crouton). He seems entirely wrapped up. 
 It is incredible. That woman beats all 
 the devils. Ah, if I were ten years 
 younger — only ten years younger — and, 
 above all, if the place were not already 
 taken ! ( To Madame de la Roche-Pers^e.) 
 I believe your son is a very close friend of 
 the Crouton family? 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee. The 
 Crouton family! Ah, yes. That word 
 family didn't seem quite appropriate when 
 applied to that bizarre couple, and I didn't 
 comprehend for a moment. No, Adalbert 
 is not at all intimate with them. {Care- 
 lessly.) You know what such relations 
 mean to young men. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {squinting with an air of 
 shrewdness). Perfectly! {Aside.) What! 
 He too ! {Looking at Madame Crouton 
 admiringly^ Everybody, it seems. 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee {with 
 much animation). O, by "relations of 
 young men" I understand simply super- 
 ficial relations, without concern as to 
 where people are received. I do not wish 
 to say that my son has ever been any-
 
 192 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 thing to Madame Crouton but a " comrade 
 at the fete." There are several reasons 
 for this. To begin with, Adalbert is the 
 intimate friend of Monsieur Bleynoir and 
 of young Vignefleur, and then, too, he 
 would not interfere with their inter- 
 ests ; this class of flighty, boisterous 
 women displeases him exceedingly; and 
 finally (^preoccupied), of late, the poor boy's 
 heart has been won. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {with polite interest). Ah ! 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee. Yes. 
 He has not confided in me, but a mother 
 knows her son ; and I see that there is a 
 chanee in his life and in his moods — some 
 perturbation. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {zvho does not i?i the least com- 
 prehend zvhat she is aiming at). Oh ! That 
 is very annoying ! 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee. Yes, 
 because I believe it would be a great 
 grief to the poor child not to see his 
 dream realized. 
 
 M. DuTRAC {reassuringly). And why 
 should it not be realized, Madame la Mar- 
 quise? {Aside) I always— {Aloud.) Why
 
 IN LINE. 193 
 
 should it not be realized "^ Your son is 
 charming. 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee, Above 
 all, he is good ; his character is adorable 
 and his soul exquisite; but in spite of his 
 illustrious name, he lacks one thing which 
 is very necessary in this world — money. 
 {M. Dutrac starts.) To be sure, he is not 
 without a fortune, as he is an only son and 
 we are, thank heaven, very excellently 
 situated. {M. Dutrac becomes more calm.) 
 But he has not money, in the real sense of 
 the word — in the extreme sense in which 
 the word is used in the world in which we 
 move, for money is everything in the eyes 
 of some people. 
 
 M. Dutrac {chivalrously). Of very con- 
 temptible people, Madame la Marquise ! 
 {Madame Dutrac motions to her Jiusband^ and 
 the party leave the table}} 
 
 WHILE CROSSING THE HALL TO ENTER THE 
 DRAWING-ROOM. 
 
 M. Dutrac {aside, observing Madame de 
 la Roche-Pers^e). They are in comfortable 
 circumstances. She told me so herself. 
 
 13
 
 194 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 While she said of her own free will that 
 they don't gather up the money by the 
 shovelful, I still think it would be a good 
 match for Amenaide. Yes ; but if he is 
 " in love," I don't know with whom — some 
 millionairess as his mother believes {look- 
 ing at Little de la Roche-Persie, who passes, 
 giving his arm to Amenaide'). I should 
 prefer his having broader shoulders. But 
 after all — 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {tenderly 
 passing the arin of Amenaide to his side, while 
 she makes no sign). This little one is very 
 hard to understand. She doesn't respond 
 a bit. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {proudly passing along 
 on the arm of M. de Lavall^-d' Auge). The 
 dinner was very good ; only we made a 
 mistake in inviting the Croutons — they 
 are not in the set.
 
 IX. 
 
 ILLUSIONS. 
 
 On the beach. 
 
 The terrace of the casino. 
 
 It is two o'clock. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {in a most remarkable 
 toilet, conies onto the terrace, followed by M. 
 Dutrac, Amhia'ide, AdolpJie, and Gontran). 
 We must find a corner where the sun 
 doesn't shine. 
 
 Amenaide. Not difficult ! There is no- 
 body here besides ourselves. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Because it is too 
 early yet. The ladies told me that they 
 would be here about three o'clock. {She 
 settles herself. M. Dutrac takes a chair by 
 her side, with an air of resignation.) 
 
 Amenaide {looking at Adolphe as he seats 
 himself, and seating herself also). How fool- 
 ish we look ! {Pointing to Gontran.) Is that 
 poor brat obliged to stay here too ? 
 
 (195)
 
 196 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {turning hastily to see 
 whether anyone is within hearing distance^. 
 Don't make use of such vulgar expres- 
 sions; you have ways which are not at all 
 proper in our world. {Am^naide throws a 
 sly side-glance at her and laughs.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {yawni7ig). Who are those 
 ladies with whom you 'have made this 
 appointment, my dear ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It isn't exactly an 
 appointment. I heard Madame de Reche 
 say to Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge that 
 she would be here with her daughters 
 about three o'clock, to hear the music 
 before taking her bath. ( ToAinenaide, who 
 is rocking her chair.) Do be quiet ! That 
 perpetual motion is tiresome. {^Scrutinizing 
 her.) You didn't change your dress? 
 
 Amenaide {in a very simple little blue 
 batiste dress). Change my dress! Why? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why, one makes 
 one's toilet to go to the casino. 
 
 Amenaide. Surely not at this time 
 of day! {Looking at the few bathers scat- 
 tered on the beach.) You are the only one 
 who has dressed.
 
 ILLUSIONS. 197 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Because those are 
 people who don't know what is the proper 
 thing. 
 
 Amenaide. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. In any case, when 
 you saw that I changed my dress, you 
 should have done so too. You look like a 
 chambermaid beside me. 
 
 Amenaide {under her breath). I am not 
 sure of that ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {fidgeting in his chair). One 
 is more comfortably seated in the cabin. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {straightening). P'stt! 
 Wait ! {Her eyes indicate the Vydadages, 
 who arrive on the terrace with a number oj 
 their friends^ There are the dukes 
 {Amdnaide laughs) and their guests. They 
 have a passion for being surrounded by 
 people who are strangers here. 
 
 Amenaide, I understand that, for the 
 people of this country are racy ! {Scrutin- 
 izing the Vy^ladages.) The Duchess is 
 charming and simple, and she has a fine 
 figure. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {bitterly). Because 
 she is a duchess !
 
 198 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide. Ah, surely ! It isn't often 
 such as I whom nature favors. {A pause.) 
 The devil ! There is Little de la Roche- 
 Persee ! {A pause.) He is implacable — 
 the animal ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {seeing Little de laRoche- 
 Persde, to Amenaide). Carry yourself well. 
 
 Amenaide {surprised). What for ? {En- 
 lightened^ Is it ? {She points to Little de la 
 Roche-Pers^e.) Ah, not for him ! {Madame 
 de Vye'ladage passes the Dutracs, and bows 
 very gracefully. Madame Dutrac returns the 
 greeting carelessly, puckering her lips.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {as soon as the Vyda- 
 dages have passed by). What possesses 
 them? Here they are bowing to us at 
 this hour ! 
 
 Amenaide. Why shouldn't they bow 
 to you ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Because they didn't 
 deign to return our call. 
 
 Amenaide. That is not the same thing; 
 and then they did return your visit. 
 
 Madame Dutrac, Beautifully — through 
 the mail ! 
 
 Fortune {appears with one corner of his
 
 ILLUSIONS. 199 
 
 white apron tucked mto his belt, looking dis- 
 turbed). Monsieur and Madame will have 
 to come to the house. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {rising). Who has 
 ' come ? 
 
 Fortune. Florine. 
 
 M. Dutrac and Adolphe {together). 
 What is the matter with her ? 
 
 Fortune. She tumbled. {M. Dutrac 
 and Adolphe rise abruptly^ Her side is 
 full of lumps, and she doesn't come to. 
 
 M. Dutrac {moved). Has the doctor 
 been sent for ? 
 
 Fortune. He was just passing ; they 
 caught him ; he ordered leeches. How I 
 ran to get them ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. How did she fall ? 
 
 Fortune. That I didn't see at all. 
 We heard a noise, and then we found her 
 on the floor in front of the step-ladder. 
 She must have tumbled off it. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And what did the 
 doctor say ? 
 
 Fortune. To put leeches on her — what 
 I told you. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I asked you what
 
 ^00 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 the doctor said about the accident. Is it 
 serious ? {Fortune does not answer^ Well, 
 out with it ! 
 
 Fortune. He doesn't know at all ; but 
 it's nothing. I said so. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {ill-naturedly). In that 
 case, it was useless to disturb us. 
 
 M. Dutrac {persuasively). If you will 
 stay here, my dear, I will go myself; 
 it is sufl&cient if one of us makes an 
 effort. 
 
 Adolphe. I will go with papa. 
 
 M. Dutrac {annoyed). Why, no, no ! I 
 have nothing for you to do. It is unneces- 
 sary for children to see sad sights. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But if there is 
 nothing the matter with the girl, where 
 is the use in going down there? If 
 the doctor ordered leeches to be put 
 on, there is nothing to do but to put 
 them on. 
 
 Fortune. They can't do it. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Why? 
 
 FoRTUNlfe. They won't stick at all. 
 
 M. Dutrac. How is that? {A pause.) 
 But you said just now that she doesn't
 
 ILLUSIONS. 201 
 
 come to again, and the leeches won't 
 stick. {A trifle pale) She isn't — 
 
 Fortune. Defunct ? O, no, indeed ; 
 she isn't defunct — she's red — she 
 breathes like a bull — no, it's sure she 
 grunts, but the leeches won't bite at all. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. They will bite 
 directly. {Very amiably to Little de la 
 Roche-Pers^e, who approaches to greet them) 
 Your mother is enjoying good health? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Excel- 
 lent. She charged me to remember her to 
 you a thousand times. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. And Monsieur your 
 father, and you yourself ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Pers^e. My 
 father is well. I am still as well as can be 
 desired — at the paper-chase yesterday, I 
 received a blow. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {grieved). Oh ! {In- 
 dignant) Who dared to do that ? 
 
 Adolphe {irritated'). Why, no, mamma^ 
 that's all right. To get a blow means to 
 tumble ; that means that Adalbert got a 
 tumble. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {stupefied). Adalbert !
 
 202 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 You make bold to call Monsieur the Count 
 de la Roche-Persee, Adalbert ! Why, you 
 are mad ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {with ani- 
 matioii). It is I who requested him to do 
 so, we are so congenial. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {very cunningly). True, 
 you are very intimate ! {Disturbed.) You 
 spoke of a paper-chase. Where was there 
 one ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. At 
 Clocheville. Jacques de Clocheville and 
 Jean de Vyeladage had arranged it in the 
 woods of Clocheville. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. There were many 
 guests ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. The 
 whole country. {Madame Dutrac tosses 
 her head.) That is to say, all the neigh- 
 bors who associate intimately — the Vye- 
 ladages have many guests just now ; in 
 short, it was very well attended, but we 
 were only among ourselves ; it was very 
 exclusive. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {very pointedly). So I 
 perceive.
 
 ILLUSIONS. 203 
 
 Fortune. Is anybody going to see 
 Florine, or is nobody going ? 
 
 M. DUTRAC. I am going. 
 
 Amenaide {rising). So am I. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why, no; you have 
 nothing to do there. 
 
 Amenaide. On the contrary, if there is 
 anything to be done, I can be of service. 
 
 Adolphe. I will come back and tell 
 you how she is. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Have 
 you a patient ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. No, a chambermaid 
 who had a fall. There is nothing the mat- 
 ter with her. 
 
 Fortune {dubiously). Nobody knows. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. If you 
 are going to Gribouville Castle, I will 
 return with you. I am going to make a 
 visit at your neighbors'. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. The Count and 
 Countess de Chaville ? {Sharply.) We 
 have not the pleasure of their acquaint- 
 ance. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {to Ame- 
 naide). No ; I am going to the Croutons.
 
 204 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {deciding to rise). I 
 shall go, too, and see what is the trouble 
 with that girl. ( They all walk away together. 
 In passing his different acquaintances, seated 
 on the terrace, Little de la Roche-Pers^e bows. 
 M. and Madame Dutrac bow also.) 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {to Am^- 
 naide). Naturally you will attend the ball 
 for the benefit of the poor, which we give 
 at the casino next Saturday, Mademoiselle ? 
 
 Am^naide. No, Monsieur, 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Oh, is it 
 possible ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. She is still too young 
 to go out ; she is only sixteen. Of course, 
 we have taken tickets, but we will not go; 
 at least, she will not go. We — we have 
 not decided as yet what we will do. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {disappoint- 
 edly). I am disconsolate. I counted upon 
 .asking Mademoiselle for the german, I 
 counted it a great enjoyment to dance it — 
 
 Amenaide {ironically). You will dance 
 it — with another. There will be no lack 
 of dancers, surely. There will be ten 
 women to every man.
 
 ILLUSIONS. 205 
 
 Little DE la Roche-Persee. Certainly 
 I will dance it all the same. {Softly to 
 A m^na'ide, who walks beside him.) But I shall 
 be very unhappy. ( They arrive at Gribou- 
 ville Castle^ 
 
 Fortune (opening the door of the drawing- 
 room). She is there. {Florine is seen lying 
 on a couch. A bout her are the cook and sev- 
 eral servants of the neighbors.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why was she put 
 there ? 
 
 Fortune. That's where she fell, and 
 she is so heavy. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {looking with horror at 
 the leeches, which squirm in a small porce- 
 lain jar). Oh, and these horrible beasts 
 will escape into the drawing-room ! They 
 had better be put onto her. 
 
 Fortune. We have tried, but they don't 
 bite. 
 
 M. Dutrac {anxiously). It must be tried 
 again. 
 
 Fortune. You will see. {He takes the jar 
 of leeches and beckons to the cook to assist him.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {detaining him). Where 
 are you going to put that ?
 
 206 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Fortune. Why, here. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I ask you where? 
 On which spot? 
 
 Fortune. Ah, well, it's on the back, 
 there where the bumps are, near the 
 shoulder. ( The cook turns Florine onto her 
 face, removes the cape which has been thrown 
 over her shoulders, and exposes her back.^ 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {who has 
 also entered to see the result of the accident, 
 endeavoring to approach Ainhia'ide, who is 
 looking at the leeches with great interest^. 
 Have you given up walking- on the road 
 which leads to Cabourg, Mademoiselle ? I 
 have been hoping to see you all this time. 
 
 Amenaide {who has abandoned that road, 
 because she has met Little de la Roche-Pers^e 
 so frequently). No, I don't go that way 
 now. 
 
 Fortune {placing a leech upon the back of 
 Florine^. It won't bite ! It won't, it won't 
 at all ! {He turns away discouraged?^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac {troubled). But some- 
 thing should be done; she doesn't stir. 
 
 Fortune. No more than a stump. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Perhaps the doctor
 
 ILLUSIONS. 207 
 
 would find some way to make those dirty- 
 beasts bite. {Regretting the expense of a 
 call from the doctor^ But before calling 
 him, you must try it again. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {who has 
 approached, examines). Ah ! I see very well 
 why they don't bite. It's because they like 
 a clean skin. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah ! 
 
 Amenaide {who is convulsed, to Little de la 
 Roche-Pers^e). If one were to take water — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {fiercely). Yes, boil- 
 ing water. {To the cook.) Hermancia, 
 bring boiling water. {Approaching M. 
 Dutrac^) I have concluded, if we take 
 Am6naide to this ball, that she shall dance 
 the german with young de la Roche-Persee. 
 That will establish our social position. 
 
 M. Dutrac {preoccupied). As you wish, 
 my dear. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I ask your advice. 
 
 M. Dutrac. And I ask you what for? 
 If, by chance, I give it to you, you don't 
 listen to it, and you never follow it. {The 
 cook brings the hot water; Fortune resolutely 
 plunges a rag into it and applies it, still steam-
 
 208 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 ing, to Florines back, who is up with a bound 
 and runs away, uttering frightful shrieks^ 
 
 Fortune {smiling and happy). If one 
 only had thought of that sooner, one would 
 have brought her back to her senses right 
 away. 
 
 Florine {very slightly burned, but furious, 
 threatens the Dutracs). You are a heartless 
 lot — miserly wretches — a heartless lot. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {in a low voice, to his wife), 
 I think, my dear, since we wish to part 
 with Florine, this is an excuse for accom- 
 plishing your purpose. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah, rest assured, 
 it will not be long ! 
 
 K'DO'LYYiY.i^ho has listened, aside). Thank 
 heavens ! I should like that very much. 
 I should always be thinking of the leeches 
 which didn't want to — and, frankly, if 
 even they didn't want to, it seems to me 
 that — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Monsieur le Comte, 
 would you like to refresh yourself ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {accustomed 
 to the Normans, but a trifle sickened, never- 
 theless). No, Madame, I thank you. I
 
 ILLUSIONS. 209 
 
 assure you that at this moment — and then 
 I must go and make my call at the 
 Croutons. {Sighing.) A task — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Eh, eh! Madame 
 Crouton is pretty. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {who courts 
 Madame Crouton with all his might). O, 
 very ordinary, very ill-bred. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {charmed). Ah ! That 
 satisfies me. I am pleased to hear such 
 a man as you express his views to that 
 effect. {To Little de la RocJie-Persde, who 
 bows profoundly^ I will go out with you. 
 I want to take my bath; it will soon be 
 high tide. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Then I 
 shall finish up the Croutons very quickly, 
 and come and admire you. ( Very catlike 
 and in a tone of flattery^ For you swim 
 superbly. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {secretly ecstatic, but 
 with a modest air). O, I swim a trifle. All 
 Parisians swim. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. What! 
 You a Parisian ! ( With regret.) And I 
 had believed we were compatriots ! 
 
 14
 
 210 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why, yes; I am a 
 Norman by birth. Monsieur Dutrac, also. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. That is 
 satisfactory. {Very afmad/j/.) Then you 
 will allow me to come and see you swim. 
 (Aside.) I am stroking her fur as much as 
 possible. May that serve me well, O Lord ! 
 {Aloud.) I dote on seeing you in the 
 water. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {gently moved). Why, 
 yes ; you may come as much as you like. 
 The beach belongs to everybody. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {with a 
 reproachful air). What an ugly permission ! 
 I am everybody, then ? 
 
 Amenaide. Perhaps he thinks he is 
 somebody ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {jnore and more ten- 
 derly moved). Why, no ; certainly not ! 
 You are not everybody ! (Aside.) And I 
 thought he was after Amenaide ! (S/ie 
 casts a tender glance at Little de la RochC' 
 Pers^e.) 
 
 M. Dutrac. My dear, are you going to 
 take your bath ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes. Why?
 
 ILLUSIONS. 211 
 
 M. DuTRAC. Because, then, it is not 
 necessary for me to return to the beach 
 with you. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But I never am in 
 need of you. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Yes, but you want me to 
 be there. The devil! I don't know why; 
 for, after all, you are not twenty-five years 
 old, and — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {vexed). Very well, 
 very well ! {A pause ^ Why all these pre- 
 liminaries ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. To tell you that, as you 
 do not need me — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {wearily). That is 
 agreed, then. 
 
 M. Dutrac. — I will go with de la 
 Roche-Persee to the Croutons {Madame 
 Dutrac tosses her head), upon whom I have 
 not called in an age. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {in a rage). Have I 
 ever prevented your going to see Madame 
 Crouton? If that amuses you, so much 
 the better. I am charmed, for I am not 
 disagreeable. {A pause.) On the con- 
 trary —
 
 212 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {annoyed). "On the con- 
 trary " is perhaps extreme. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Let us go! {She 
 dratus on her gloves?) 
 
 Amenaide. Let us go! {In leaving 
 Gribouville Castle they separate. Little de la 
 Roche-Pers^e and M. Dutrac go to the Crou- 
 tons; Madame Dutrac^ Atnhiaide, and AdolpJie 
 go to the beach. Madame Dutrac is radiant. 
 M. Dutrac looks at her with surprise^ 
 
 M. Dutrac. But tell me what is the 
 matter? One would think that you were 
 resplendent with some secret joy. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {embarrassed). I? 
 What an idea ! Why, no ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {bowing 
 before stopping before the house of the Crou- 
 tons). Good-by for a brief time. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with a soft glance). 
 Until we have the pleasure again ! 
 
 on the beach. 
 
 It is high tide. Many bathers, of whom 
 the majority are women. Not one ele- 
 gant, but a few pretty ones.
 
 ILLUSIONS. 213 
 
 Madame Dutrac {toAm^natde, who waits, 
 in order to go into the tvater with her). No; 
 don't wait for me. I am in no hurry, and 
 just now I have not the least desire to go 
 into the water. 
 
 Amenaide {surprised). Ah, well! Usu- 
 ally you want me to wait ; then I — {She 
 plunges in.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {aside, watching for 
 Little de la Roche-Pers^e). He stays at the 
 Croutons a long time ! That Madame 
 Crouton is so — she has no reserve — and 
 it seems that pleases the men. {A pause.) 
 I hope I will swim well, just now that 
 I am in practice. There are days when 
 my arms and legs seem to be made of 
 lead. {Beaming.) And, moreover, I have 
 never felt younger than I do to-day! 
 {A pause.) How nicely he said all those 
 pretty things to me ! {A pause.) And 
 my husband thought, too, that he was 
 thinking of Amenaide ! {She reddens as she 
 becomes aware of Little de la Roche-Persde 
 coming over the dunes.) Ah, there he is! 
 {She throws off her wrapper, which she lays 
 on the ground, placing a stone upon it in order
 
 214 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 to prevent its blowing away, and appears in 
 a navy blue swiniming-siiit with anchors em- 
 broidered in white — tJie costume which sells at 
 twenty-five frafics and eight sous in the large 
 shops; rubber cap. Very thin arms and 
 legs. She hesitates a ^noment before entering 
 the water?) Is tie coming here ? Must I 
 wait for him, or not seem to see him? 
 I believe it is best to pretend not to see 
 him. {She enters the water ^ 
 
 Amenaide {little blue costume, without 
 embroidery and braiding; slight, with well- 
 rounded and white arms and legs; swimming 
 at a distance of several yards from the shore). 
 What is mamma up to? She doesn't 
 know what she is doing. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. The old 
 lady has seen me ! Ah ! If the girl ogled 
 me as the mother does, things would go of 
 their own accord; but so far the daughter 
 has been quite forbidding. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {swimming rapidly into 
 the open sea). He must admire intrepid- 
 ity. I will show him that I really am a 
 good swimmer. {She is close to a fishing 
 smack occupied by two fishermen.)
 
 ILLUSIONS. 216 
 
 First Seaman {surprised). What! Is 
 that you, Madame Dutrac? You are far 
 from shore, do you know ? 
 
 Second Seaman. Where are you bound 
 for? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {who does not under- 
 stand them perfectly, still swims on). What 
 did you say ? 
 
 Second Seaman. I say that if you go 
 on that way, you will drown yourself. 
 It isn't still water here; there are cur- 
 rents — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {terrified). Oh ! 
 
 First Seaman {amiably). That's very 
 sure ! 
 
 Amenaide {watching her mother s course). 
 But what is she doing? Lord, what is 
 she doing ? Why is she swimming into 
 the open sea like that? {Anxiously.) It's 
 idiotic ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {turning over on her back 
 to rest, aside). I will certainly not be 
 drowned, but I am not very comfortable. 
 It's all those horrible leeches that have 
 Upset me. {Raising her head to see Little de 
 la Roche-Pers^e.) He is coming ! It seems
 
 •216 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 to me I feel easier already. {^Swimming on 
 her stomach again) An agile and resolute 
 woman has great charm. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {aside, still 
 walking). There are lots of people on the 
 terrace. There — the de Reches and the 
 Lavalle-d' Auges ! {The little de Rhhes 
 beckon to him with their umbrellas; he bows 
 and walks toward the terrace, entirely for- 
 getting Madame Diitrac^^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac {turning onto her back). 
 That's strange. It seems to me that I see 
 double — it's the sun. {She beats the water 
 with her hands) 
 
 Amenaide {cries). Mamma, don't go so 
 far! {She swims toward Madame Dutrac, 
 who seems to be returning) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I don't see a thing 
 now. I — {She breathes loudly) Help ! 
 {She begins to twirl around. The fishermen, 
 who are at a distance oftzventy yards, turn) 
 
 First Seaman. Didn't you hear some- 
 thing ? 
 
 Second Seaman. From where ? 
 
 First Seaman. I think Madame Dutrac 
 is calling.
 
 ILLUSIONS. 217 
 
 Second Seaman {busy arranging a net in 
 the bottom of the boat). That's possible. 
 
 First Seaman. Let's see. {He turns 
 the boat.) 
 
 Second Seaman {seeing Madame Dutrac, 
 who continues to turn about and beat the water 
 blindly). Ah, yes. She looks to me as if 
 she was scared. {Madame Dutrac disap- 
 pears.) There, she goes down ! 
 
 First Seaman {ivho turns, as he rows 
 backward and sees Jiothing). Do you think 
 so? 
 
 Second Seaman. Sure ! She doesn't 
 come up again. ( They reach the place zvhere 
 Madame Dutrac had disappeared. The water 
 is feebly disturbed^ 
 
 First Seaman. I hear her struggling 
 yet. 
 
 Second Seaman. Hadn't we better 
 jump into the water after her ? {A m^na'ide 
 utters piercing shrieks^ 
 
 First Seaman {endeavoring to keep the 
 boat on the same spot without disturbing the 
 zvater). Try first to grab her with the 
 boat-hook. 
 
 Second Seaman {dragging the water witfi
 
 218 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 his boat-hook). I don't strike her. {He takes 
 off his jersey and boots and prepares to jump 
 in.) 
 
 First Seaman {calmly guiding the boat). 
 Wait a bit; let's see — {thoughtfully) if 
 she is drowned it's twenty-five francs. 
 {Ame'naide reaches the boat and implores the 
 jisher7nen to save her mother. The jirst jisher- 
 man aids A m^naide, who is utterly exhausted, 
 to climb into the boat; then he holds the 
 pole for his comrade, who reappears with 
 Madame Dutrac. She is placed in the bottom 
 of the boat.) 
 
 Amenaide {overpowered, gazing at her 
 mother, who does not stir). My God ! My 
 God! 
 
 First Seaman. Come, don't cry, don't be 
 afraid ! She looks all right ! ( They return 
 rapidly to the beach. The people have gathered 
 in groups. M. Dutrac is runnifig aimlessly 
 along the shore, waving his arms. Madame 
 Dutrac is taken from the boat and laid upon 
 the sand.) 
 
 First Seaman. Her feet have to be 
 lifted {he grasps her limbs and lifts them vio- 
 lently) like this; the head must be low.
 
 ILLUSIONS. 219 
 
 Second Seaman {forces his hand into 
 the month of Madame Dutrac, and, grasping 
 her tongue with his five fingers, pulls it out by 
 jerks). She must breathe. Ah, here is the 
 doctor ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {to the doctor, who is approach- 
 ing). Is she dead, doctor ? 
 
 The Doctor {kneeling and, with a hand- 
 kerchief, grasping the tongue of Madame Du- 
 trac, p7ills it as the fisherman had done). Not 
 a bit of it ! She didn't swallow any water. 
 {Madame Dutrac opens her eyes immediately. 
 The crowd disperses, their curiosity being 
 satisfied.) 
 
 Amenaide {reassured). Ah, how fright- 
 ened I was ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. How do you feel, my 
 dear? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {who sees Little de la 
 Roche-Pers^e within two steps of her). Deli- 
 ciously. {She looks at Little de la Roche- 
 Persde tenderly}) 
 
 Amenaide {who sees the glance without 
 comprehending for whom it is intended, 
 aside). That's funny. I never have seen 
 mamma's eyes so beautiful. {Irritated at
 
 220 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 seeing all the people collected about them.) Do 
 you want to go into your cabin, mamma? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes. {She rises.) 
 
 Amenaide. Give me your arm. {She 
 offers her arm to Madame Dutrac^ 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {aside, 
 looking at A m^naide). How pretty the little 
 one is in her bathing-suit ! Really, a 
 dream ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {gently repulsing Amd- 
 naide). Not you. I must have a real sup- 
 port. ( To Little de la Roche-Perse'e.) Your 
 arm, will you ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {bored, but 
 very amiable). Will I ? Lean on me. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {soulfully, leaning heav- 
 ily and spattering water about). Thank you ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {aside). 
 I shouldn't have told her to lean on me ; 
 she is crushing me and drenching me. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {releasing Little de la 
 Roche-Persee reluctantly and entering her cabin, 
 followed by Amhiaide). Thank you, again. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {with spirit, 
 in a very low tone to Amenaide, who passes 
 him). You are adorable !
 
 ILLUSIONS. 221 
 
 FIVE MINUTES LATER. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {knocking at the door of the 
 cabin). Are you there, my dear ? 
 
 Irritated Voice of Madame Dutrac. 
 Naturally ! What is the matter ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Why — those men — they 
 seem to be waiting. 
 
 Same Voice of Madame Dutrac. 
 Which men ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {timidly). The seamen who 
 fished you out. 
 
 Same Voice. Well? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well — I think— I believe 
 they are waiting for — for me to give them 
 something. {There is no reply. A pause.) 
 What shall I do? 
 
 Voice More and More Irritated. 
 Whatever you like ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {more and more intimidated). 
 I should rather have you tell me. {No 
 response.) Do you think that 20 francs — 
 
 Exasperated Voice. Never in my 
 life ! You are mad ! Ten francs is quite 
 enough — perhaps too much ! 
 
 Amenaide {who is rubbitig Madame Du- 
 trac down with a horsehair glove, stops, over-
 
 222 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 come). Oh ! {Between her teeth.) That is 
 tough, all the same ! I should be accus- 
 tomed to it ! But I can't stand it ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What are you say- 
 ing? 
 
 Amenaide {tossing the horsehair glove into 
 the air). Hurrah for Anarchy !
 
 X. 
 
 MORTIFICATION. 
 
 In the drawing-room of Gribouville Cas- 
 tle. 
 It is four o'clock. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {standing in the mid- 
 dle of the drawing-room, is trying to force 
 her fat hands into a pair of thick, hard, dog- 
 skin gloves. English cloth tailor-made dressy- 
 little straw hat with a black ba?id; shirt 
 front; stiff cravat; pin made of a deers 
 tooth surmounted by a crest). I shall have a 
 fine time ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {nervously). Be very care- 
 ful, my dear ; be very careful. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {resolute air). And of 
 what, good Lord ! Of what ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Why, of accidents. You 
 may upset, or fall into a hole, or have a 
 runaway. When one is not in the habit — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {dryly). In order to be 
 
 (223)
 
 224 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 in the habit, one must acquire it, that 
 is all. 
 
 Amenaide {stupefied, looking at her with 
 round eyes. Aside'). The devil ! What is she 
 after, what does she mean ? I don't recog- 
 nize her of late. 
 
 M. DUTRAC. Come home in time for 
 dinner. {Madame Diitrac shrugs her shoul- 
 ders^ I mention that because of the ball 
 this evening. {Looking at a little English 
 cart which is standing at the door.) There 
 is the cart; it seems very light to me. 
 Buridan will think he has nothing to 
 draw, and now he is laying back his ears. 
 He is not in a good humor. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {aside, disdaining to 
 reply to all the advice). If I could meet 
 him! I will take the road to la Roche- 
 Persee; but, perhaps, as he is going to the 
 ball this evening, he won't go out during 
 the day. When he said the other day 
 that one of the greatest charms in a wo- 
 man was the ability to drive well, I 
 vowed to myself that I would drive, and 
 I will drive. I don't handle the reins 
 badly at all. I have had six lessons in
 
 MORTIFICATION. 225 
 
 the training-school at Caen, and I received 
 many compliments. It seems that never 
 had there been seen a person at the school 
 with so much excellent ability as I. 
 
 Fortune {who stands at the horse s head, 
 calling up to the window). The carriage is 
 here! 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). Fortune isn't 
 very strict about etiquette. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {furious^. He is ex- 
 asperating ! {SJie goes out.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {preoccupied, to Amenaide). I 
 am afraid that your mother will meet with 
 an accident. 
 
 Amenaide {consolingly). Why, no; you 
 mustn't think of sad things. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Strictly speaking, that 
 isn't a sad thing. {Amdnaide stirs.) I mean 
 to say that an accident may happen that 
 isn't really serious — for instance, a broken 
 arm or leg — 
 
 Amenaide. You call that not really 
 serious! What must it be, then? The 
 accident that you consider serious must be 
 of the very greatest seriousness, I sup- 
 pose? 
 
 16
 
 228 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {thoughtfully). I can't ex- 
 plain this idea of driving that took posses- 
 sion of her suddenly, without a motive. 
 It really is inconceivable. {A pause.) Do 
 you think she drives well ? 
 
 Amenaide. I don't know. That would 
 surprise me. {Reassuringly.) But the roads 
 are excellent, and Buridan is afraid of 
 nothing. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. That little cart doesn't 
 look very solid to me. {A pause.) That 
 your economical mother should have 
 bought that cart at Caen in that offhand 
 way, suddenly, without hesitation, with- 
 out bickering — all at once. By thunder, 
 that beats me ! 
 
 Amenaide. Me too ! {A confused noise 
 is heard zvithout ; several people enter tJie gar- 
 den and open the gate. In the 'middle appear 
 the cart a7id Buridan, whom Fortune leads.) 
 
 Adolphe {running into the room). Mam- 
 ma has run over somebody. There they 
 bring her. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. She has run over some- 
 body ! {Frightened.) But why do they 
 carry her }
 
 MORTIFICATION. 227 
 
 Adolphe. Because she has fainted. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {calmed'). She has run over 
 somebody! {To Amdna'ide^ We didn't 
 think of that ! {He goes to Madame Dutrac, 
 whom a guard and a peasant have laid upon 
 the couch.) 
 
 The Guard {looking at Madame Dutrac, 
 whose eyelids quiver slightly^. There, she is 
 coming to again. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {anxiously to the guard). Is 
 he dead? 
 
 The Guard. Is who dead? 
 
 M. DuTRAC. Why, the man who is run 
 over. 
 
 The Guard. Dead ! Right sure, he 
 isn't. {Reflecting^ But then he is injured, 
 severely injured. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. Is there any danger ? 
 
 The Guard {hesitating). Danger ! I 
 don't know whether there is right away. 
 But there may be some later. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {not comfortable on the 
 couch and furious at seeing that nobody is 
 busy over her, decides to open her eyes, and 
 whines). Ah! {In a plaititive voice.) Where 
 am I?
 
 228 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DuTRAC {a trijie unnerved, sharply, 
 forgetting his Jiabitiial tijnidity). In the 
 drawing-room, my dear, in the drawing- 
 room. {Madame Dutrac, who sees that the 
 hour is not propitious, faints away again^ 
 
 M. Dutrac {to the guard). Who is the 
 man ? 
 
 The Guard. A man from Dives. 
 
 M. Dutrac. An honest man? 
 
 The Guard. I don't know him well. 
 
 M. Dutrac. What is the matter with 
 him? 
 
 The Guard. One of his arms is hurt. 
 Then, he says he is hurt internally ; he is 
 in the drug store. I am going to see him 
 again. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Yes, see him, will you ? 
 And then tell me. 
 
 The Guard. I am going. {He takes up 
 his cap which he had laid on the floor ^ 
 
 The Peasant Who Has Assisted in 
 Carrying in Madame Dutrac {tnopping 
 his head). Just now a glass of wine 
 wouldn't be bad. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Amenai'de, will you — no 
 — after all — I will go myself.
 
 MORTIFICATION. 229 
 
 Am^naide. Wait, you haven't the keys. 
 {She goes to Madame Diitrac and shakes her a 
 little in trying to find the pocket in which she 
 has the keys) Here, papa ! {She goes out with 
 M. Dutrac, followed by Adolphe, who is not 
 anxious for an interview tvith his mother. 
 The guard and the peasant also leave the 
 drawing-room, but wait in the Jiall) 
 
 Fortune {poking his head through the arch 
 in the hall and pointing to Madame Dutrac in 
 the drawiiig-room). Is she still sleeping? 
 
 The Guard. She acts as if she slept all 
 the time. 
 
 Fortune {striking his thigh). No, I 
 never laughed so much. It's enough to 
 make one roll. 
 
 The Guard. And he won't let them go 
 now. He is the worst fellow in the whole 
 country. 
 
 Fortune {Joyously). Good for them ! 
 That's all right ! 
 
 The Peasant {to Fortune). Will you go 
 and tell them that he did it on purpose ? 
 
 Fortune. I — I'll say as much as I can 
 that it was the fault of Madame; that's 
 certain.
 
 230 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 The Peasant. That's all right. Then 
 he will demand a big indemnity. 
 
 Fortune. Will he go to a Circuit 
 judge ? 
 
 The Guard. A Circuit judge or before 
 the tribunal at Caen ; can't tell. 
 
 M. DuTRAC {reentering). If you will 
 step in here, my daughter will conduct 
 you. I thank you. It is understood then ? 
 You will tell me what must be done for 
 that individual ? 
 
 The Guard. Yes, M'sieur Dutrac; I 
 am going to see him right away. 
 
 M. Dutrac. What is his name ? 
 
 The Guard. Tuvache — Honore. He 
 is a relative of M'sieur Tuvache, who is 
 deputy. 
 
 M. Dutrac {dismissing them). Good 
 day. I thank you for the trouble. 
 
 The Peasant {in a lozv voice to the guard, 
 while walking behind Am^natde, who takes 
 them into the dining-room). He can't even 
 shake hands; it might hurt his skin. 
 Mossieu le Due did it all right, and Mos- 
 sieu the Viscount d'Vignefieur, and all 
 those gentlemen.
 
 MORTIFICATION. 231 
 
 The Guard {explaining). Yes ; but this 
 one here — he's a plain plebeian. 
 
 The Peasant {informed to his satisfac- 
 tion). Ah, that's the reason, then ? 
 
 IN the drawing-room. 
 
 M. Dutrac {taking a newspaper and going 
 to the window to sit dottni, with an air of dig- 
 nity. Aside). I hope that man hasn't 
 been hurt {a pause), and that he won't de- 
 mand a considerable sum. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {in a feeble voice). I 
 am suffocating ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {calmly). Probably your cor- 
 sets are too tight, my dear. You have 
 been lacing considerably for some time. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {raising herself ab- 
 ruptly and sitting erect on the couch). How 
 can one say — 
 
 M. Dutrac. I say it! Your waist is 
 only about half its former size. {Aside, look- 
 ing at her.) It is true. I don't know why, 
 but she is positively growing young again. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Fear and emotion 
 made me ill {sententiously), when I saw 
 that man rolling bleeding at my feet.
 
 232 THORE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {starting). Bleeding ! He 
 was bleeding! Why, then, he will de- 
 mand a mad sum ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That is a figure of 
 speech. I saw him rolling in the dust, 
 under the horses' feet. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That's another figure of 
 speech. There was only one horse. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {rising). It is useless 
 to say a word. I don't know what is the 
 matter with you. {She leaves the room, vio- 
 lently slajnming the door.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {watching her go). And now 
 she is always as neat as a pin. There is 
 no use in talking, she is growing prettier 
 {a pause), unless the sea-air is making me 
 — she is better looking, much better look- 
 ing, than Florine. {A pause.) And the 
 new chambermaid is at least forty years 
 old! 
 
 IN THE EVENING, AT THE CASINO. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {dress: Hydrangea pink 
 silk, style i8jo; a hem of blue hydrangeas 
 with silver foliage; low-cut bodice; huge mut- 
 ton-leg sleeves, very short ; vestal crown 
 of pink hydrangeas with silver foliage; a
 
 MORTIFICATION. 233 
 
 startling toilet . To Aindna'ide). Your father 
 had to be late; it is always the same story. 
 
 Amenaide {white crepe dress; belt of 
 white moire ribbon^ rather narrow and with 
 very long loops; knots of the same on the 
 shoulders; bouquet of yellow daisies on her 
 bodice, none in her hair). You wanted to 
 leave so early ! {Looking about.) There is 
 nobody here yet. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It is better to come 
 early and be well seated. {She installs her- 
 self near the entrance and beckons to Adolphe, 
 ■who is prometiading about the hall, to return 
 to them.) 
 
 Adolphe {approaching them ill-naturedly). 
 What is it now ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {fearfully). It — I 
 would — I should have liked you to stay 
 with us until your father comes. 
 
 Adolphe {who realizes that the later 
 arrivals regard with surprise the too elegatit 
 toilet of Madame Dutrac). This is very 
 amusing. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Complain ! You 
 really are to be pitied for being- compelled 
 for five minutes to play the cavalier to
 
 234 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 such women as I {a pause) — and your 
 sister ! 
 
 Adolphe. Naide is very nice ; I don't 
 deny it. But, after all, that isn't every- 
 thing you see. As for you, you are a little 
 — a little too conspicuous for my taste. 
 {Gesture of vexation from Madame Dutrac.) 
 I don't say that to annoy you. But I 
 wouldn't promenade with you in that cos- 
 tume for anything in the world. It seems 
 to me only the carpet is wanting. If 
 you had that, you might give us a dance. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. 
 
 Adolphe. No, truly. You could give 
 me five hundred bullets; I wouldn't prom- 
 enade with you. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Wait! There is 
 your father. {Bitterly.) You can go where 
 it pleases you now. 
 
 Adolphe {tzvirling on his heel). I am off. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to M. Dutrac). That 
 is fortunate ! What has happened to you ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Nothing, my dear, noth- 
 ing. That is to say — {A pause^ You 
 know those letters which were brought to 
 us this evening — the two letters which
 
 MORTIFICATION. 235 
 
 were lying on the table with the news< 
 papers, and which were addressed to me ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I didn't notice them. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That is surprising ! Gen- 
 erally you notice all the letters which are 
 addressed to me — though it isn't a habit 
 of people in high life to do so. I am 
 perfectly sure that the Duchess de Vye- 
 ladage and the Marchioness de la Roche- 
 Persee don't. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {wearily). When you 
 have finished — 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well, to come back to 
 these two letters {lowering his voice). They 
 were anonymous letters. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {disturbed). What did 
 you say ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. That surprises you ? Me 
 too — it surprised me. I have lived to be 
 fifty years of age without having received 
 any anonymous letters. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Where do they come 
 from ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. From here. Both have 
 only one postmark — that of Gribouville- 
 by-the-sea.
 
 236 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {still more disturbed). 
 Ah ! And what do these letters say to 
 you? 
 
 M. Dutrac. In the first — when I say 
 the first, I don't know why, for it might as 
 well be the second — {Madame Dutrac beats 
 the floor zvith her feet.) In short, in one of 
 the two I am called "Old Horned Fool." 
 {Madame Dutrac fidgets.) Yes, my poor 
 dear — would you believe it, eh ? {Laugh- 
 ing^ That's not probable. {Madame Du- 
 trac tosses her head.) But it vexed me, all 
 the same. I am told that, instead of roll- 
 ing- sweet eyes from the carriage at people 
 whom you meet by chance, you would do 
 better to watch your feet and not run over 
 poor people. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {red as a tomato). 
 , That is absurd ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {calmly). Absurd! The 
 second letter — I don't know why I want 
 that to be the second, it might as well be 
 the first — is more annoying ; it informs 
 me that Monsieur de la Roche-Pers^e 
 sneaks into our park every evening, or 
 rather every night —
 
 MORTIFICATION. 237 
 
 Madame Dutrac {almost overcome, aside). 
 He ! He comes under my window, surely 
 — and to think that I never suspected it ! 
 Adalbert ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {continuing). — where he 
 meets Am^nai'de. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {starting up). Ame- 
 naide ! 
 
 Amenaide {who is conversing with one of 
 the little de Reches, turns). Mamma ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {looking furious). 
 Nothing ! It is all right ! {She scarcely 
 bows to Madame de Rhhe, who bids her good 
 evening.) 
 
 AmenaIde {aside). What is the matter 
 with mamma ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {iii a whisper to Madame Du- 
 trac). You understand, my dear, we must 
 look into the matter. I don't believe 
 that Naide has ever met him, as this letter 
 pretends ; but that is of no importance. We 
 must be watchful ; we may want Monsieur 
 de la Roche -Persee very much as a son-in- 
 law. But such means are — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {explosively). But he 
 scarcely thinks of Amenaide !
 
 238 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {surprised). What! But — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {affirming). Not at all ; 
 slie is not rich enough for him. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Not rich enough? The 
 devil ! What does he expect, then ? We 
 give Naide five hundred thousand francs ; 
 Aunt Galuchat gives her the same sum — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Under the condition 
 that she marries a title. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well, it seems to me that 
 will be the case. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But Monsieur de la 
 Roche-Persee doesn't know that. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That's fixed ! I told him 
 myself. O, in the course of the conver- 
 sation, carelessly, without giving him the 
 impression — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {dreamily, smiling 
 angelically). He comes in the night ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. What do you say? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. From whom are 
 those letters ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Why, my dear, if I knew, 
 they wouldn't be anonymous letters. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I ask you what sort 
 of an air they have ? How do they look ?
 
 MORTIFICATION. 239 
 
 M. DUTRAC. The first — {repeating) well, 
 the first, which concerns you, and me 
 also, is revolting in orthography; the 
 other is better, much better, written. 
 There are a few little errors here and 
 there, but it is of quite another character ; 
 the paper is quite different too. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with animation). 
 There he is ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. Who? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Monsieur de la 
 Roche-Persee. {She offers her hand to Lit- 
 tle de la Roche-Persdc. Profound bows.) 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. I was 
 impatient, Madame, to hear news about 
 you. You must have been quite upset by 
 that accident which occurred lately. 
 
 M. Dutrac {eagerly). Have you any 
 news about the man ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Nothing 
 at all; but he must be all right. I saw the 
 carriage only graze him slightly. He 
 managed so that he should be hurt as 
 little as possible, naturally. I saw him 
 when he threw himself before the — 
 
 M. Dutrac {surprised). You were there ?
 
 240 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. I had 
 just bowed to Madame Dutrac. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Ah ! And he threw him- 
 self, you say, before the horse ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Exactly. 
 He saw that Madame Dutrac was not a 
 very experienced driver {toss of the head 
 from Madame Dutrac), and he wanted to 
 profit by the situation. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {eagerly). You noticed 
 that ? Will you say that ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {cautiously). 
 That is to say, I may make a mistake. 
 One often believes a thing, and then, later, 
 one sees that one has made a mistake. 
 ( Very Norman.) It is nothing but a vague 
 impression. {Altering his tone.) How I 
 thank you for having brought Mademoi- 
 selle Amenaide to the ball ! I am so happy 
 to be able to dance the german with her ! 
 {To Amenaide, in leaving^ My german, 
 Mademoiselle ! Remember ! 
 
 Amenaide {over her shoulder, in a mocking 
 voice). Unceasingly ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {to his wife). He seems very 
 much in love.
 
 MORTIFICATION. 241 
 
 Madame Dutrac {brusquely). With 
 whom? 
 
 M. Dutrac {surprised). Why, with 
 Naide ! {Madame Dutrac shrugs her shoul- 
 ders.) And with whom should he be in 
 love, if not with her ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac {not able to resist the 
 pleasure of showing M. Dutrac that a man of 
 fashion finds her to his taste). Well, you see 
 nothing? {With pity.) You haven't no- 
 ticed that it is of me that Monsieur de 
 la Roche-Persee is thinking ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {overwhelmed). Of you ! La 
 Roche-Persee ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {sharply). That sur- 
 prises you ? 
 
 M. Dutrac {greatly astounded). You ask 
 whether that surprises me ? I might say I 
 would not be more surprised if I were 
 told that he were in love with me ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {horribly vexed). 
 Thank you! {Madame de Lavalk'-d' Auge 
 and her sons come to greet the Dutracs, and 
 seat themselves beside them.. Conversation 
 between the two tvomen.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {thoughtfully, aside). It's not
 
 242 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 to be imagined. No, if I had been told 
 — but then — those tender eyes — that 
 anonymous letter. Is it — no, if he did 
 nothing but "think of it"— I wouldn't be 
 called a horned fool ! {^Looking at Madame 
 Dutrac) She looks transfigured. It's pro- 
 digious, the way she improves in appear- 
 ance. Ah — but — ah ! It is a very good 
 thing to acquire the manners of the great 
 world, but not to that extent. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {calling Am^na'ide). 
 Who is that officer with whom you just 
 danced ? 
 
 Amenaide. I don't know, mamma ; he 
 is an officer from Caen. Why ? Do you 
 want anything of him ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. On the contrary. 
 {A pause.) I don't like very much to see 
 you dancing with the officers. 
 
 Amenaide. But why, mamma? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Because all the 
 officers are adventurers. 
 
 Amenaide. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes; their manner 
 is much too free. They are not formal 
 enough.
 
 MORTIFICATION. 243 
 
 Amenaide. I didn't notice that. 
 
 Madame Crouton {^flame-colored dress; 
 very low-cut bodice. Riinniiig toward Madame 
 Diitrac with outstretched arms). How we 
 have sympathized with you in your recent 
 misfortune ! I heard of the accident from 
 Vignefleur and Bleynoir, who came to see 
 me and take tea with me. {Very loudly, to 
 annoy Madame du Bleynoir, who is within 
 hearing distance}) I wanted to come and 
 inquire after you, but Bleynoir didn't leave 
 until half past seven. I was obliged to 
 show him the door, and then we had to 
 take dinner, and I couldn't come to you. 
 {She glances over to see the face of Madame 
 Bleynoir, who looks at her with a scornfully 
 indiffereytt expression; then abrjiptly leaves 
 Madame Dutrac to rush at Little de la Roche- 
 Pers^e, with whom she is soon engaged in an 
 animated conversation^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac {watches her jealously. 
 To Amenaide). You think that little Crou- 
 ton is pretty, do you ? 
 
 Amenaide. Yes. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. You are like the 
 men.
 
 244 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. All the men are 
 mad over her! (7b Adolphe, who ap- 
 proaches^ Are they not ? 
 
 Adolphe {more and more sulkily, with a 
 heavy tongue). Mad over whom? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Madame Crouton. 
 {Scrutinizing him.) Be careful not to drink 
 too much, my treasure. 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). He has been 
 drinking- like a sponge this last half-hour 
 {Adolphe turns away, looking crushed) with 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {indignantly). " Lit- 
 tle ! " You take the liberty of calling the 
 Count de la Roche-Pers6e " little " ? 
 
 Amenaide. Well, he isn't big ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {return- 
 ing; his tongue is heavier than Adolphe' s). 
 That Madame Crouton's dress is cut out 
 like the devil! We've been cracking 
 jokes. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {sharply). That is 
 evident. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Makes 
 no — we are at the casino. If it were at
 
 MORTIFICATION. 245 
 
 Monsieur de la Rochefoucauld's one would 
 have to behave, but here — tavern dance. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {severely). But, after 
 all, your mother is here, and on her ac- 
 count {sadly and with a world of meaning), 
 not to speak of others — 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Mamma ? 
 She understands young men, mamma 
 does. She doesn't recognize the Croutons, 
 but thinks it all right if I have sport with 
 them. {M. de Vignefleur passes.) Even- 
 ing, Vignefieur; evening. {Confidentially.) 
 Snubs me — Vignefieur does — because the 
 other day, at the rally, I abused him like 
 a dog, exactly ; we came very near having 
 an affair, exactly. 
 
 Amenaide {whom Little de la Roche- 
 Pers^e bores). There ; somebody is calling 
 you down there — Madame Crouton. {Lit- 
 tle de la Roche-Persde turns and starts off on a 
 rim.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {annoyed, to Amenaide). 
 Was it necessary for you to tell him that ? 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). The more so be- 
 cause " that " isn't true. It was only to be 
 rid of him. {Gesture from Madame Dutrac.)
 
 246 THOSE GOOD IJORMANS. 
 
 Don't yoti see that lie is as drunk as a fool ? 
 Adolphe, too, for that matter. {The two 
 Lavall^-d' Auges and M. de Vignejleur ap- 
 proach Am^naide, who has already danced 
 with them, and ask her for waltzes, the ger- 
 man, etc. She is the object of much atten- 
 tion^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac [to Adolphe, who is 
 wandering about like a soul itt distress'). Yon 
 don't dance ! Why don't yon ask Mes- 
 demoiselles de Reche? Mademoiselle 
 Montauciel ? 
 
 Adolphe. They don't want to — say 
 they have everything engaged. 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {to Ma- 
 dame Dutrac, in a frightened voice). Im- 
 agine, dear Madame — there is a question- 
 able character here ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac {with disgust). Oh, 
 where ? 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge {pointing 
 to a very pretty woman in a simple white 
 dress). There, near the card room. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Horrible ! 
 
 Madame de Lavalle-d'Auge. How can 
 she have come in? We are only eight
 
 MORTIFICATION. 247 
 
 lady patronesses. We kept account of our 
 cards of invitation. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {continuing to scrutinize 
 the stranger, who is very attractive^. It is an 
 outrage to think that such a thing can 
 occur. What a shame ! {A m^naide laughs.) 
 
 Madame de la Roche-Persee {ap- 
 proaches with a disturbed expression). How 
 sorry I am for you, my dear Madame ! 
 This accident ! What a misfortune that 
 it should be that miserable Tuvache ! He 
 will cause you every imaginable annoy- 
 ance. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Amdnaide). What 
 did these gentlemen want of you ? 
 
 Amenaide. The german. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. They all want to 
 snatch your dances, and all this time no- 
 body will accept the invitations of your 
 brother. I don't know why they are all 
 after you. 
 
 Amenaide. My dowry ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But Adolphe is rich 
 also. 
 
 Amenaide. Oh, but he is still a trifle 
 too young ; one may marry a girl of six-
 
 248 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 teen, but one doesn't marry a boy of nine- 
 teen — and then he takes his name with 
 him, while I leave it at the door. 
 
 Adolphe (a trifle " off," to Little de la 
 Roche-Perse'e, who is abominably drunk and is 
 determined to invite the questionable character 
 to dance with him, opposite M. de Vignefleiir, 
 who has invited Amdnatde). No, don't do 
 that, old fellow ! I beg of you, don't do 
 that! It will shock papa and mamma! 
 {Pulling him away by the tail of his coat) I 
 tell you that would shock them ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. What 
 does that matter to me? I snap my 
 fingers at my parents. You worry about 
 your own ! ' 
 
 Adolphe.
 
 XL 
 
 SINGING. 
 
 The dining--room of Griboiiville Castle. 
 
 Amenaide {entering^ and seeing no one at 
 table). Why, and I thought I was late! 
 {To Fortune, zvho is looking out of the win- 
 dow}) Monsieur and Madame are not here ? 
 
 Fortune {iiot turning around). They 
 didn't stay. 
 
 Adolphe {entering). At the doctor's — 
 
 Amenaide {anxiously). Are they ill ? 
 
 Adolphe. No; seems it's the fellow 
 mamma ran over; he wants to make them 
 sing. 
 
 Amenaide. And Gontran? I don't see 
 him either. 
 
 Adolphe. Must be with them. 
 
 Amenaide. I was afraid they might be 
 ill, because I don't know what they were 
 doing. I heard them fussing around all 
 night. 
 
 (849)
 
 250 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Adolphe. Disputing ? 
 
 Amenaide. Oh, no ! When they dis- 
 pute I hear every word. 
 
 Adolphe. Very agreeable for you ! 
 
 Amenaide. Oh ! I hear when I don't 
 sleep, but last night they didn't dispute; 
 they were restless. It is the first time 
 since my room has been next to theirs 
 that such a thing has happened. 
 
 Fortune {leaving the window). There 
 they are, coming back ! They are with 
 the guard. ' It's sure they weren't alone 
 with Tuvache. You know he's a bad 
 one, Tuvache is! {M. and Madame Du- 
 trac return, followed by Gontran and the 
 guard.) 
 
 M. DUTRAC (Jo Fortuni). Give me an 
 inkwell, and a pen, and some paper, quick. 
 {He sits dowti and arraftges a corner of the 
 dining-room table.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {severely). At least 
 take away the tablecloth; you will stain it. 
 
 Adolphe {sulkily). Are you going to 
 write, papa ? Do you know that it is half 
 past twelve, instead of twelve ? 
 
 M. DUTRAC {ntakes no answer, but gives
 
 SINGING. 251 
 
 the guard a sheet of paper, which he has 
 folded four times). There! I propose to 
 have Tuvache placed in the hospital at 
 Caen, and operated upon, if necessary. I 
 will pay for all, operation included, and 
 when he has recovered, I will give him 
 five hundred francs. {Graciously.) Will 
 that do ? 
 
 The Guard. It would do me — but 
 as for him, I don't know. We're not in it, 
 you know. In short, he always looks out 
 for a fat chicken. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Five hundred 
 francs! You offer that much? Five 
 hundred francs and an operation! But 
 that is absolutely insane ! Why not give 
 him your pipes and my linen, while you 
 are about it? That wouldn't cost much 
 more. 
 
 Amenaide {aside). All the same, it's 
 always mamma who is the most stingy. 
 
 Fortune {immovable, holding in his hand 
 a platter with an omelet, ready to serve as 
 S0071 as the family shall be seated. He casts a 
 contemptuous glance at Madame Dutrac. 
 Aside). She would kill a bug to get its
 
 252 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 skin. Heavens! And I thought I was 
 coming to Parisians ! The stingy lot, with 
 their candle-end economy! Luckily I 
 won't be here long. 
 
 The Guard {to Madame Diitrac). Mon- 
 sieur doesn't offer too much. I don't be- 
 lieve — I thought that perhaps he didn't 
 offer enough. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {indignantly). But 
 what does the fellow want ? 
 
 The Guard. What does he want ? {Iron- 
 ically.) He wants his arm returned to him 
 as it was before Madame Dutrac drove 
 over it. 
 
 M. Dutrac. We regret that deplorable 
 accident as much as he does. 
 
 The Guard. As much! One doesn't 
 see that. Well, good-by to you. 
 
 M. Dutrac {following him to the door). 
 Try to arrange this matter satisfactorily, 
 Monsieur Letellier, try. {Returning to his 
 seat.) That fellow may demand extraor- 
 dinary sums. What need had you to 
 drive, I want to know, when you have 
 reached your forty-fifth year without hav- 
 ing had a rein in your hands !
 
 SINGING. 253 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Oh, enough — enough 
 has been said about that ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. If I thought it would 
 satisfy the demands of that miserable 
 Tuvache to talk more about it, I — {cutting 
 a face). This omelet is execrable; I don't 
 know what is the matter with it. 
 
 Adolphe. But I know ! The matter is 
 that it waited three-quarters of an hour. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That's true. {To Amdnaide.) 
 Didn't I see young de la Roche-Persee on 
 horseback this morning? He passed 
 under your window. 
 
 Amenaide {laughing). For a change ! 
 
 Fortune. Hermancia wants to know 
 whether she shall take a crawfish. Grelu 
 is here with crawfish. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {rising). Wait — I 
 am coming ! 
 
 Amenaide, Ah ! I am going too ! I 
 want to know whether one can go shrimp 
 fishing at five o'clock this evening. {She 
 runs out, followed by Adolphe and Gotitran.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {retumiitg). It is hor- 
 rible ! Their — guess a bit, how much ! 
 Eight francs !
 
 254 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Amenaide. Well ! It was as long- as 
 the table. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Infamous — I tell 
 you ! Everything is more expensive here 
 than in Paris. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Did you take it ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Certainly not; we 
 must economize. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That's true, on account of 
 the accident. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What accident ? 
 
 M, Dutrac. Why, yours, my dear — 
 Tuvache, who will cost us a sum — 
 
 Madame Dutrac {in a rage). Again? 
 Ah, you are going to speak of the accident 
 to me? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Well, and you — you have 
 talked enough to me about Panama ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. That has nothing to 
 do with it. You — Panama — you ran after 
 it. I — that idiot came and threw himself 
 down in front of me. 
 
 M. Dutrac. I don't see — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. In short — Panama — 
 you may say what you like, that was no in- 
 vestment for a father of a family to make.
 
 SINGING. 255 
 
 M. DUTRAC. Go on ! It seems to me 
 that Monsieur de Lesseps was father of a 
 family. 
 
 AMENAJfDE. Oh! If you begin again 
 about Panama — 
 
 M. DUTRAC. The little one is right; 
 we vowed not to speak of it aga.in. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I ask nothing better, 
 but then let no one talk to me of Tuvache; 
 let no one mention his name. 
 
 Fortune {entering). M'sieur Tuvache 
 is here. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {starting up). Oh, he 
 really is a perfect nightmare ! 
 
 Fortune. What must I say to him ? 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What is it that he 
 wants ? 
 
 Fortune. He wants to see Monsieur, 
 for Madame — 
 
 M. Dutrac. Very well, we must receive 
 him. ( To his zuife.) It would be stupid to 
 be rude to him. ( To Fortun<f.) Show him 
 in. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {recovering herself). 
 Here? To soil everything? 
 
 Fortune. No danger that he'll soil
 
 256 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 anything. He's in his good clothes — the 
 same that he wears when he mames some 
 
 one. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. When he marries? 
 
 Fortune. It isn't the Madame's man 
 at all. It's M'sieur Tuvache (Eusebe), the 
 deputy of M'sieur the Mayor. {M. Dutrac 
 shoots out of the dining-room and returns, 
 bringing Monsieur Tuvache with him, stiff in 
 his Sunday raiment^ 
 
 M. Dutrac {amiably). Do be seated, 
 Monsieur Tuvache ! Will you take a cup 
 of coffee with us ? 
 
 Tuvache (Eusebe). Thank you, M'sieu 
 du Trac. That is not to be refused. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {charmingly). What 
 good wind bloAvs you to us ? 
 
 Tuvache (Eusebe). My God, Madame 
 du Trac, it isn't, to speak the truth, a wind; 
 it's, rather, my cousin — you know well, 
 Tuvache. It's the one you ran over. 
 
 M. Dutrac {anxiously). Yes, well ? 
 
 Tuvache (Eusebe). Well, there are 
 always some black sheep in every family, 
 you know. Tuvache was never good for 
 anything, and now that he has this chance
 
 SINGING. 257 
 
 he means to make the most of it. {A pause.) 
 It's sure that's what he would like. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {more and more disturbed). 
 How much ? 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe). That, M'sieu du 
 Trac, I won't tell you. I don't know. 
 He'll tell you that himself. I believe he 
 wants an operation first. He has to have 
 his arm cut first, I believe. {Good-naturedly^ 
 You mustn't give him all he asks right 
 away, you know, don't you? {A pause.) 
 But you mustn't displease him either, for 
 that's the way — Oh, no; you mustn't do 
 that on any account ! 
 
 M. DuTRAC. If you could make him 
 listen to reason ! {He pours zvhisky into 
 Tuvaches {Euskbe) half-empty cup, and fills 
 it to the brim.) 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe). I will try, M'sieu 
 du Trac, I will try ! And then he must 
 come and talk with you. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Ah ! he also ! 
 
 TuvACiiE (Eusebe) {rising). And now, a 
 good evening, M'sieu and Mam' du Trac. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Do stay another minute! 
 Won 't you take another cup ? 
 
 17
 
 258 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe). No; many thanks ! 
 I am going to M'sieu Crouton. I have 
 a commission his lady gave me this morn- 
 ing. 
 
 M. DuTRAC {wishing to continue the con- 
 versation^. Madame Crouton is pretty ! 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe). You're right there, 
 she is pretty! {Admiringly.) Then it's not 
 only that she is pretty, but that woman — 
 she has diamonds in her eyes, and when 
 she ogles you, you want to run right on 
 to them. What? {Madame Dutrac tosses 
 her head.) I looked at her this morning 
 when she went to meet M'sieu Paul. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Paul? 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe). Paul — that's M'sieu 
 the Count de Bleynoir. We have known 
 him since he was little ; only this morn- 
 ing he came home from a voyage, and 
 she met him, because, you know, she's the 
 good friend of M'sieu Paul. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But I thought they 
 said it was Monsieur de Vignefleur? 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe). Sure ! 
 
 M. Dutrac But, see here, we should 
 understand each other. You said, a mo-
 
 SINGING. 259 
 
 ment ago, it was Monsieur Paul, and now 
 ' you say — 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe). That it's M'sieu 
 Jacques too ! {Explaining^ That's M'sieu 
 the Marquis de Vignefleur, M'sieu Jacques, 
 
 Madame Dutrac {beginning to be inter- 
 ested in the conversation). Ah! 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe) {laughing). And 
 then, you know, there are more. {Shrug- 
 ging his shoulders.) Such a woman ! Give 
 her two weeks — and it won't be M'sieu 
 Paul any more, nor M'sieu Jacques she 
 will have to do with ! Oh dear, no ! She's 
 a jolly one, that's certain. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Amdnaide). Do go 
 to the beach with your brother, it is such 
 lovely weather ! 
 
 Amenaide. Too hot ! I am very com- 
 fortable here. 
 
 Fortune {reentering). It's Tuvache; 
 he's here. {Madame Dutrac makes a ges- 
 tured) The other Tuvache ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {promptly). Tell him there 
 is no one in. 
 
 Fortune. He saw everybody through 
 the window, when he came.
 
 260 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe). Why don't you 
 want to see him? You have to at some 
 time; what's the difference whether it is 
 now or later ? 
 
 M. DUTRAC. After all, that is true — as 
 well now as later. 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe) {rising). Well, a 
 good evening to you. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {eagerly). But do stay ! 
 
 TuvACHE (Eusebe). My cousin and I, 
 we aren't on good terms, so it's as well 
 if he doesn't find us two together here. 
 {A pause.) And he surely wouldn't do 
 what you ask. {He turns once more before 
 leaving the room.) But don't annoy him, 
 for anything, because he always gets his 
 revenge. ( The tzvo Dutracs exchange a dis- 
 couraged glance. Fortune introduces Tuvache 
 II ; the two cousins pass each otlier at the 
 door.) 
 
 Tuvache (Eusebe) {very quickly, in a 
 whisper to Tuvache II). Go at it square ; 
 don't be afraid. 
 
 Tuvache II. Fifty years of age; head 
 like a weasels; gray hair; brick-red com- 
 plexion. Very miserable blouse and trans-
 
 SINGING. 261 
 
 parent pantaloons; lie twirls a greasy cap in 
 his hands; his right arm hangs in a sling 
 made of a red and yellow checked Jiandker- 
 cJiief. — A very good evening- ! i^He bows 
 to the Dutracs and to the children, examining 
 them zvith his little, blinking, red eyes?) 
 
 M. DUTRAC {politely but rather coldly). 
 You wish to see me ? 
 
 TuvACHE 11. Yes, you or Madame. 
 {He points to Madame Dutrac.) It's all the 
 same to me. {Madame Dntrac tosses her 
 head. A silence.) It's about our little 
 affair. {Silence.) You know well enough 
 what I want to say, don't you ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. I have just been talking 
 about it with your cousin, Monsieur 
 Tuvache, the deputy. 
 
 TuvACHE II. It isn't his business. 
 
 M. T)-[JTRAC {puaaled). But it— in short, 
 I have asked him to make you an offer. 
 
 Tuvache II. Make it to me yourself, 
 because I am here. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to Avt^naide, in a whis- 
 per). That man exhales a terrible odor ! 
 {To Adolphe.) Pass me the vinegar bottle. 
 {A do Ip he pushes the bottle across the table with
 
 262 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 a sulky air.) Thank you, my treasure ! 
 {She pours vinegar on her handkerchief, and 
 daubs it on her nose in an affected manner.) 
 
 TUVACHE II {who watches her, begins to 
 smile). It's good, isn't it — the vinegar? 
 It's nice and fresh, when one needs it. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. I had charged Monsieur 
 Tuvache to tell you that I offer to have you 
 cared for in the hospital at Caen ( Tuvache 
 11 shakes his head), where you will be oper- 
 ated upon, if it is the opinion of the doc- 
 tors — which is not very probable — that it 
 will be necessary, 
 
 Tuvache II. Operated ! Operated at 
 Caen ! Thank you, I don't want to die ! 
 
 M. DuTRAC {stupefied). Die ! Why, one 
 of our very first surgeons is at Caen, who — 
 
 Tuvache II {shaking his head with in- 
 creasing energy). I don't want to go to 
 Caen at all, I tell you! I don't want to 
 die! I'm not wanting to see death, and 
 then, because {he begins to cry suddenly) my 
 poor father died, and that just ten days 
 ago to-night. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {sympathizing as a matter 
 of form). Ah, that is very sad !
 
 SINGING. 263 
 
 TUVACHE II {drying his eyes and rubbing 
 them zvith his bandaged arm, zvithout the slight- 
 est difficulty). It's just ten days ago to-night ! 
 
 M. DUTRAC {wishing to appear interested). 
 ' Who is the doctor that treated him ? 
 
 TuVACHE II {still crying and rubbing his 
 eyes nimbly with his injured ariii). He 
 didn't have a doctor at all; he died of 
 his own accord. {He continues to cry. 
 M. Diitrac listens in a rage, but shows 
 no sign of impatience. Abruptly stopping his 
 whining and showing a calm, smiling face.) 
 To come back to our little affair : It's to 
 Paris I want to go to get well. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {overwhelmed). To 
 Paris ! 
 
 Tuvache II. That's a sure thing! One 
 is taken care of the right way there. 
 
 M. Dutrac. But the Paris hospitals 
 won't receive people from the province 
 — they are too small to hold all those 
 from Paris. 
 
 Tuvache II. I don't want to be taken 
 to the hospital ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {anxiously). And where do 
 you want to be put ?
 
 284 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 TuvACHE II. There was a custom- 
 house officer from Thibouville ; he was 
 shot by a bather, one year — it's about 
 five years ago — behind a hedge, in the 
 knee. 
 
 M. DUTRAC. And then? 
 
 TuvACHE II. Then they took him 
 to Paris, and they took out the bone, 
 little by little. He's the greatest surgeon 
 — the one that does the best work, that did 
 the cutting — a name like Geant, I guess. 
 He has made operations where there was 
 no need — it seems — and that did some 
 good, all the same. 
 
 M. DuTRAC {wearily). And then ? 
 
 TuvACHE II. Well, for all this, that 
 was a great deal. The custom-house offi- 
 cer was nursed at the expense of the 
 bather, as was right, in a house — what 
 I call a hospital for the rich — but nursed, 
 so that it was the finest time of his life, he 
 told me. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {anxiously, aside). That 
 must be the Dubois house 1 {Aloud.) What 
 was the name of the house ? 
 
 TuVACHE II {reflecting). Let me see—
 
 siNCiNG. 265 
 
 the Brothers Thunder of God, I guess it 
 was {Amena'ide and AdolpJie laugh), or 
 something like that. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. You mean to say the 
 Brothers St. John of God. 
 
 TuvACHE II. That's it! 
 
 M. DuTRAC. We will see. Before we 
 send you to Paris, we must know what is 
 the matter with your arm, and that 
 doesn't seem to me to be very much, to 
 judge by the way you amused yourself by 
 shaking it about, just a little while ago. 
 
 TuvACHE II {crying out). Good God ! is 
 it possible ! And I can't budge it ! {He tries 
 to move it, and his face contracts miserably.) 
 Not a bit ! 
 
 M. DuTRAC. We will see, I tell you. 
 I shall send for Doctor Lubin to-night. 
 [Gesture from Tuvache.) He has treated 
 you from the first ; he will tell me posi- 
 tively what is the matter. 
 
 Tuvache II {crying). He will say it's 
 nothing; he has said so since the first 
 day. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That is what I believe, 
 too — in short, we will see. Be here this
 
 266 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 evening- at six. I shall ask the doctor to 
 stop in on his way home from his calls. 
 
 TUVACHE II {anxious in turn). Well, 
 wait, M'sieu du Trac! You are a good 
 man; I too. L^t's fix this — give me a 
 thousand francs. I'll take care of myself, 
 and I'll never speak of anything again. 
 
 M. DuTRAC. A thousand francs ! You 
 are joking. {With authority.) I was — I 
 don't know why — good enough to make 
 you an offer, which you have refused. I 
 withdraw that offer. Doctor Lubin will 
 write a certificate explaining your acci- 
 dent. I will bring the witnesses who saw 
 you fall between the legs of the horse, 
 and then under the wheels. 
 
 TuVACHE II {crtcshed). 
 
 M. DuTRAC {concluding). And we will 
 go to the justice of the peace. 
 
 TuvACHE II {completely withered). Well, 
 wait ! I don't want to exact too much ; 
 you give me — 
 
 M. DuTRAC {rising). Not a copper! 
 
 TuvACHE II {aside). I never have seen 
 such close-fisted Parisians. 
 
 M. DuTRAC {to Fortune, who, annoyed at
 
 SINGING. 267 
 
 being detained so long, begins to clear the 
 table). Show Monsieur Tuvache out. ( Tti- 
 vache II leaves the room without a farewell, 
 and, putting on his eap, draws it over his 
 eyes.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac {exasperated, to Am^- 
 naide). Did you see the impertinence of 
 that wretch ? 
 
 Amena'ide. Oh, what a strong expres- 
 sion! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Well, yes, I call 
 him a wretch ! 
 
 Fortune {reentering and walking around 
 M. and Madame Dutrac). I have some- 
 thing- I must tell to Monsieur and Madame. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What is the matter 
 now ? ( Thinking of Tuvache.) Can it be 
 that he doesn't want to go ? 
 
 Fortune. Oh, yes, he has gone. 
 [A pause.) It's me who has to go. I have 
 to go in a week. 
 
 M. Dutrac and Madame Dutrac. You 
 are going ! Why is that ? 
 
 Fortune. Join my company again. 
 
 M. Dutrac {startled). Your company ! 
 Which company ? That's very anno3'ing.
 
 268 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Didn't yoti tell me that you were to sefve 
 your twenty-eight days this year ? 
 
 Fortune. It isn't my twenty-eight days; 
 it's my three years. I am a regular. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. What ! At twenty- 
 five years of age ? 
 
 Fortune. I am only twenty-one. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {^furiously). But you 
 told me — 
 
 Fortune. Yes, or you wouldn't have 
 taken me for two months, that's certain. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. 
 
 {Fortim^ leaves the room.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. We must find some 
 excuse for sending him this evening. It 
 won't be difficult. We can make use of 
 the least excuse. 
 
 Amenaide. Why? 
 
 Madame Dutrac (zV/ a rage). In order 
 not to be obliged to pay him for this last 
 week, {/hndna'ide laughs.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {amioyed also). That makes 
 you laugh! You see that we are embar- 
 rassed. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. At the mercy of 
 these people ; and instead of pitying us —
 
 SINGING. 269 
 
 Amenaide. I don't pity you. You 
 are Normans too; you are a match for 
 them.
 
 XIL 
 
 APOTHEOSIS. 
 
 At Gribouville Castle. 
 
 In the room of M. and Madame Dutrac. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {stillin bed; languid face, 
 swollen eyes, yellow complexion. To M. Dutrac, 
 who is shaving before a mirror near the window^. 
 Couldn't you shave in your dressing-room ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. My dear, I have poor light 
 there. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. If you knew how it 
 annoys me to see you shave ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {surprised^. My dear, in the 
 four months since we came here I have 
 always shaved in this way, and you have 
 always seen me, because you always get 
 up later than I. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Yes, but it is just 
 because for the last four months I have 
 had every possible annoyance that my 
 nerves are less strong, and that — {shiver- 
 
 (270)
 
 APOTHEOSIS. 271 
 
 ing). I beg of you, get out of the room ! 
 {Interrogative glance from M. Dutrac.) Oh, 
 wherever you like, but go ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {taking down his mirror and 
 gathering up his mug and soap). It is singu- 
 lar, all the same, that you can't bear to see 
 me shaving. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Since we are in this 
 abominable country, surrounded by these 
 abominable people, I can't — my health is 
 failing. 
 
 M. Dutrac {calmly contimmig to remove 
 his little shop). It isn't evident. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But it is evident to 
 me. I, who was so perfectly sound, who 
 never had an ache — I am so feeble! I 
 never can get into my clothes ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. You must, though, my 
 dear. Have you forgotten that the de la 
 Roche-Persees have announced the visit 
 of the Marquis for this morning? He is 
 evidently intending to make an official 
 call — to ask for Amenaide. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. She will refuse. 
 {Languidly.) I am sure that she will 
 refuse. Amenaide is very intelligent.
 
 272 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC [with pride). As a monkey. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. She must have 
 realized that Monsieur de la Roche-Persee 
 is after her dowry. {Gesture from M. Du- 
 trac^ She must have seen that he is 
 egotistical, immoral, careless, {furiously) 
 faithless, heartless, and unprincipled. 
 
 M. Dutrac {stupefied). Why, you 
 thought he was charming! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I didn't know him. 
 
 M. Dutrac. That is to say, you 
 thought the man was interested in you. 
 {Madame Dutrac makes an effort to protest^ 
 Don't forget that you told me so yourself, 
 exactly ; you told me on the evening of 
 the casino ball. Now you see that it is — 
 as we thought first — it's Amenaide whom 
 he loves, and that vexes you. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {giggling). Whom 
 he loves ! You are simple ! Why, these 
 de la Roche-Persees are a family of vul- 
 tures, and the young man in particular 
 thinks only of himself, his fortune, his 
 comfort {philosophically) like all men, for 
 that matter. 
 
 M. Dutrac. My dear, if all men are
 
 APOTHEOSIS. 273 
 
 so, then one is worth as much as another, 
 and as Amenaide must marry some day — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. She isn't seventeen 
 years old yet ! 
 
 M. Dutrac. It isn't to be supposed 
 that men will change between this and 
 the time she reaches her eighteenth year ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Then do as you 
 like. If Amenaide should say no — 
 
 M. Dutrac. That isn't certain. How- 
 ever, in any case, I think it isn't neces- 
 sary to consult her until the step has been 
 taken by the father, for if it shouldn't 
 be this — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. As you like. I won't 
 interfere. It is a bad marriage ; they are 
 penniless. 
 
 M. Dutrac {ironically). Four months 
 ago you thought " there were still the 
 remnants of a fine territorial fortune." 
 
 Madame Dutrac {i)exed'). It makes 
 little difference what I think and what I 
 do not think ; the interesting part is what 
 Amenaide thinks. 
 
 M. Dutrac. But what makes you sup- 
 pose that she — 
 
 18
 
 274 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. A thousand things 
 — a thousand nothings. Do you remember 
 the way she tossed her head the day you 
 showed her the anonymous letter which 
 said she met Monsieur de la Roche-Persee 
 in the park ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Perfectly ! She laughed 
 and said : " That is too stupid ! But it 
 isn't that that will settle it." {A pause.) 
 I didn't understand what she meant by 
 that. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. It doesn't matter; 
 but she laughed at the very idea that she 
 might marry that boy, who is good for 
 nothing, has no future, of whom she 
 makes fun every day since she met him. 
 
 M. Dutrac. My God ! Men who have 
 no great future and who are not superior 
 creatures are being married continually, 
 
 Madame Dutrac {looking at M. Dutrac, 
 with conviction). Oh, as for that — {The 
 noise of wheels is heard on the sand.) 
 Listen, there comes the Marquis ! 
 
 M. Dutrac {slipping into a black coat). I 
 am ready. {Looking at himself^ A frock 
 coat at this hour is a little too dressy, but
 
 APOTHEOSIS. 275 
 
 it is more correct. It is agreed, isn't it — 
 we give five hundred thousand to Ame- 
 naide, and Aunt Galuchat gives as much? 
 Madame Dutrac. That is agreed. 
 
 IN THE GARDEN. 
 
 Amenaide {seeing the Marquis de la Roche- 
 Pers^e enter). Well, Father de la Roche- 
 Persee at this hour ! What is he after ? I 
 suspect he is coming "to take an official 
 step," only for the sake of having the 
 refusal of my little fist. Papa must be 
 enchanted, and mamma won't be pleased. 
 It's a rough change anyhow. {A pause.) 
 And I — and what do I really think of all 
 this? Well, I think it may as well be this 
 one as another. He isn't more wicked 
 nor more ugly than any other, and, though 
 I am not a martyr at home, I don't dream 
 of growing moldy there — the sooner I 
 get away, the better it will please me. 
 {A pause}} He is not handsome, handsome. 
 Little de la Roche-Persee ; but the others 
 whom I see are not handsome, hand- 
 some, either, and if I must be beheaded, 
 it won't be an extraordinary man who
 
 276 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 will ask to marry me. I am not so 
 attractive that one would leap with both 
 feet over papa and mamma. {A pause?) 
 Papa, he might do ; he is as good as can 
 be, and colorless ; he never will cloud any- 
 thing. But mamma — that's another pair 
 of sleeves ; above all, since she has rejuve- 
 nated and dresses like a baby. I don't 
 know what has taken possession of her 
 suddenly. {She approaches the bay windoiv 
 and sees her father and M. de la Roche-Pers^e 
 conversing ceremoniously in the drawing-room.) 
 What can they be talking of, eh? Non- 
 sense, and telling each other stuff that 
 neither the one nor the other believes. {She 
 laughs?) It's sport, all the same ; it doesn't 
 affect me in the least to think that I am to 
 be married. I look upon it as a useful 
 thing, something that everybody does — 
 in short, a formality. When I went to 
 first communion I was ready to die with 
 emotion. It is impressive even now; but 
 to marry — oh, not the least bit. {Seeing 
 Madame Dutrac enter?) Mamma in a dress- 
 ing-gown of rose-leaf batiste ! {She pttffs?) 
 Another one that she has had sent to her
 
 APOTHEOSIS. ^77 
 
 on the sly. We are a long way from the 
 red shirts at nineteen ninety-five. {A 
 pause.) Mamma looks cross. I suppose 
 she doesn't want me to marry her former 
 favorite. Well, I shouldn't say so, but 
 she doesn't show Father la Roche-Persee 
 a very sporty face. One should think he 
 would lose some of his Knight of the 
 Cross bearing. Bah ! That wouldn't dis- 
 hearten him, all the same. There, they 
 have stopped jabbering. {S/ic /tides among 
 a mass of hydrangeas.) Monsieur the Mar- 
 quis is going. {The Marquis de la Roche- 
 Pers^e appears on the doorstep, followed by 
 M. Dutrac. Bows, etc.) 
 
 The Marquis de la Roche-Persee 
 {entering his carriage). My son will do 
 himself the honor of presenting himself 
 soon to the ladies. {Lowering his voice.) 
 And I hope that whatever Mademoi- 
 selle your daughter may decide, nothing 
 will be altered in our relations as neigh- 
 bors. 
 
 M. Dutrac. How so, Monsieur le 
 Marquis, how so? {Watching the departure 
 of the Marquis. Aside.) An old truck !
 
 278 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Horses that can't keep on their feet! 
 {Surprised^ And in spite of it all a grand 
 air ! Explain that if you can ! ( The lun- 
 cheon bell ri7igs.) 
 
 Amenaide {coming out from among the 
 hydrangeas). Good day, papa ! 
 
 M. DuTRAC. You were there ? 
 
 Amenaide. I have just come. {M. 
 Dutrac and Amhiatde enter the dining-room, 
 where Madame Dutrac and Gontran are 
 already seated^ 
 
 Madame Dutrac {to the servant). 
 Where is Monsieur Adolphe? 
 
 The Servant {anotJier Normaii). I don't 
 know. I haven't seen M'sieu Adolphe this 
 morning. ( The eggs are eaten in silence^ 
 
 M. Dutrac {consulting his watch). Half 
 past twelve ! It is incredible that the 
 scamp never can be here on time ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. He has probably 
 met somebody, or else he has been 
 delayed. (Sharply.) It never has hap- 
 pened to you that you were late ? 
 
 M. Dutrac. Yes, my dear; it happens 
 to me sometimes, but it always happens 
 to Adolphe — latterly especially.
 
 APOTHEOSIS. 279 
 
 Madame Dutrac. I haven't noticed. 
 ( The servant brings on tripe a la mode de Caen.) 
 
 M. Dutrac. This tripe is excellent ! 
 {Enter A dolphe, looking exceedingly pale. His 
 cravat is awry, and he has a scratch under 
 Ids eye.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Why, what has hap- 
 pened to you? 
 
 Adolphe {takes his seat with trembling 
 limbs). Tome! Why, nothing — nothing 
 at all ! 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Your cravat is on 
 your shoulder ? 
 
 Adolphe {blushing). Ah ! That comes 
 from running. 
 
 Madame 'D\jtrkc {scrutinising him). And 
 you have a scratch under your eye? 
 
 Adolphe {blushing more deeply). That's 
 from the shrubs. {A Muse. Everybody 
 eats the tripe.) 
 
 Adolphe {aside). If only the guard 
 doesn't come during luncheon, and if 
 only Father Legras doesn't come with 
 him ! That would be neat. I would rather 
 have time to drop a hint into papa's ear 
 while he is drinking his coffee.
 
 280 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 The Servant. The guard is here with 
 Father Legras. They want to speak with 
 Monsieur. 
 
 M. Djtrac. After hmcheon. 
 
 The Servant. They say it is important. 
 
 M. Dutrac. What do they want ? 
 
 The Servant. I don't know. I guess 
 it's about M'sieu Adolphe. {Adolphc hangs 
 his head. M. Diitj-ac leaves the room and 
 returns in a fezv mimites, in a rage.) 
 
 M. Dutrac {to the servant). Take the 
 coffee onto the piazza, in the shade, not in 
 the sun as you did yesterday. ( To Gon- 
 tran.) You may go and play. 
 
 AD01.VYIE {his head still dozvn. Aside). He 
 is sure to find me out. Still, he wouldn't do 
 it before Naide, and he doesn't send her 
 away. {He raises his head again to see zuhat 
 IS goi7ig on?) 
 
 M. Dutrac {to Adolphe). You — we 
 will speak to each other directly. {To 
 Am^naide.) My little Naide, the Marquis 
 de la Roche-Persee came here this morn- 
 ing ; he came here to take a step — 
 
 Amenaide. — which concerns me — yes, 
 1 know.
 
 APOTHEOSIS. 281 
 
 M. DUTRAC {puzzled). Ah, you know! 
 Well, what must we say in reply ? 
 
 Amenaide. That I accept {Madame 
 Diitrac starts up), but that I wish to tell his 
 son myself why and under what conditions. 
 
 Madame Dutrac {stupefied). You 
 accept ! You, who — 
 
 Amenaide. I have changed my mind. 
 
 M. Dutrac. Monsieur de la Roche- 
 Persee will be here directly. 
 
 Amenaide. Then I shall speak with 
 
 him. 
 
 Madame Dutrac. But it is not proper 
 
 that — 
 
 Amenaide. Oh, go along ! For a time 
 you did nothing but manage tete-a-tetes. 
 It would be funny if, now that we are 
 engaged — 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Oh ! Engaged ! 
 
 Not yet ! 
 
 Amenaide {tranquilly). Yes. {To her 
 father^) It is settled, isn't it, papa ? I will 
 talk to him directly {she folds her napkin), 
 and now I think it is Adolphe's turn {she 
 laughs), and I will let you have your talk. 
 {She glides out of the room.)
 
 282 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 M. DUTRAC {to his wife). I ask your par- 
 don, my dear. This miserable blackguard 
 of an Adolphe has {he stops at a loss for a 
 word) — forgotten his duty. 
 
 Adolphe. His duty ? Oh ! La, la ! 
 
 Amenaide {peeping in at the door). 
 Monsieur de la Roche- Persee is coming 
 with his mother. {SJie latighs.) 
 
 M. DUTRAC {surprised). But what time 
 is it? 
 
 Amenaide. Two o'clock. Oh, they 
 lose no time ! I am going into the gar- 
 den; keep the mother {she laughs), and 
 send me the child. {M. and Madame 
 Dutrac leave the table. Madame Dutrac 
 looks at Amenaide compassionately and shrugs 
 her shoulders^ 
 
 IN THE GARDEN. 
 
 On a rustic bench which stands very 
 near the house. 
 
 Amenaide {to Little de la Roche-Pers^e, 
 who approaches ivith an air of embarrass- 
 ment). No, don't make words ; it's useless ! 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. But I
 
 APOTHEOSIS. 283 
 
 should like to tell you of my happiness 
 — thank you for — 
 
 Amenaide. No cause for it, and it 
 annoys me to be thanked; so here — it's 
 settled — I am to marry you. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. Let me 
 express to you — 
 
 Amenaide. Now let me speak. I am 
 to marry you, but I insist upon telling 
 you under what conditions — 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. I accept 
 them. 
 
 Amenaide. Wait ! Don't shout so soon. 
 {Resuming^ — under what conditions and 
 why I marry you. Don't imagine that I 
 have a passion for you, nor even that I 
 think you very nice. {^Little de la Roche- 
 Persee moves about uneasily.) No; I think 
 you nice enough, but that is all. Don't 
 think, either, that your story about 
 Charles X and Andromeda impresses me 
 more than necessary. I think nobility 
 has a market value like everything else, 
 and I prove my appreciation of your 
 titles by exchanging my money for them. 
 {A pause.) We will marry with the
 
 284 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 understanding that we do not share each 
 other's worldly goods. {^Little de la Roche- 
 Pcrsde starts.) That is an absolute con- 
 dition. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. But, 
 Mademoiselle, that is a condition which 
 is intensely humiliating to a man. That 
 looks like distrust. 
 
 Amenaide {calmly). So it is. I want 
 equality — equality in everything ; other- 
 wise I could not display Charles X, and 
 Andromeda, and the rock, and all, could I ? 
 While you could very easily squander all 
 my little wealth, and I don't wish that — 
 that is understood. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. But, 
 Mademoiselle, I would do nothing with- 
 out your authority ; I would obey your 
 slightest caprice. 
 
 Amenaide. Turlututu! That's what 
 they say; and then, at the end of six 
 months, they go dancing off on a lark or polo 
 playing ; they gan;ble at the tables, inviting 
 obscure plebeians to stay and spin in their 
 little corner ; and then, I only have one 
 million — that isn't the ocean to drink.
 
 APOTHEOSIS. 285 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. But, 
 Mademoiselle, I have a small fortune, 
 which — 
 
 Amenaide. No humbugging, eh ? We 
 are not here to amuse ourselves, but to 
 talk seriously. It is to take or to leave ; 
 do you accept ? 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee. I accept, 
 Mademoiselle, but you severely abuse my 
 love for — 
 
 Amenaide. Don't speak of that, will 
 you? Or rather let us talk of it, if you 
 insist. I will repeat to you, k propos of 
 our love, what I told you a moment ago : 
 I have no love for you, but I am very 
 determined to be a good and kind wife, if 
 you are a good husband. I say " if." If, on 
 the contrary, you cut up any capers, I will 
 return them a hundredfold, I promise you ! 
 {Toss of tJie head from Little de la Roche-Per- 
 see^ I don't exactly know what that con- 
 sists in — " cut up capers " — but before then 
 I shall learn. {A pause.) I believe we have 
 nothing more to say. {M. Dntrac, Adolphe, 
 tJic guard, and Father Legras pass by zvithout 
 seeing A mtfnaide and Little de la Roche-Persee^
 
 288 THOSE GOOD NORMANS. 
 
 Adolphe. I tell you it isn't true ! It 
 was her fault — I didn't want to — I was 
 afraid ! ( They pass, still dispiLtiug. The 
 voices of Madame Diitrac and Madame de la 
 Roche-Pers^e are heard, as they pass along 
 the covered walk.) 
 
 Madame Dutrac. Our fortune is to 
 be divided among our three children. 
 
 Voice of the Marchioness. We have 
 but one son ; our entire patrimony goes 
 to him. La Roche-Persee does not yield 
 a large income ; but, after all, it is always 
 something, {aside) especially when the 
 three hundred thousand franc mortgage 
 has been paid. 
 
 Little de la Roche-Persee {to Amd- 
 na'ide, with an air of tenderness). Our 
 mothers are happy in our happiness ! 
 
 Amenaide {aside). All Normans ! {A 
 pause.) Even I ! ! ! 
 
 the end.
 
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