und in the room the whole time,
frequently standing still, like a man tortured inwardly.]

HOST. What ails you, Jules?

JULES. I am learning my part.

HOST. What?

JULES. Remorse. Tonight I am playing a man who is a prey to remorse.
Look at me. What do you think of the furrow in the forehead here? Do I
not look as though all the furies of hell--(Walks up and down.)

SCAEVOLA (roars). Wine--wine, here!

HOST. Calm yourself.... There is no audience yet.

Enter HENRI and LEOCADIE.

HENRI. Good evening. (He greets those sitting at the back with a light
wave of his hand.) Good evening, gentlemen.

HOST. Good evening, Henri. What do I see?--you and Leocadie together?

GRAIN (who has noticed LEOCADIE, to SCAEVOLA). Why, I know her.
(Speaks softly with the others.)

LEOCADIE. Yes, my dear Prosper, it is I.

HOST. I have not seen you for a year on end. Let me greet you. (He
tries to kiss her.)

HENRI. Stop that. (His eyes often rest on LEOCADIE with pride and
passion, but also a certain anxiety.)

HOST. But, Henri--as between old comrades--your old chief Leocadie!

LEOCADIE. Oh, the good old times. Prosper!

HOST. What are you sighing about? When a wench has made her way in the
way you have! No doubt about it, a pretty young woman has always a much
easier time of it than we have.

HENRI (wild with rage). Stop it.

HOST. Why the deuce do you keep on shouting at me like that? Because
you've picked up with her once more?

HENRI. Hold your tongue--she became my wife yesterday.

HOST. Your ...? (To LEOCADIE.) Is he joking?

LEOCADIE. He has really married me. Yes.

HOST. Then I congratulate you.... I say, Scaevola, Jules, Henri is
married.

SCAEVOLA (comes to the front). I wish you joy (winks at LEOCADIE).

[JULES shakes hands with them both.]

GRAIN (to HOST). Ah! How strange! I saw that woman--a few minutes
after I was let out.

HOST. What do you mean?

GRAIN. She was the first pretty woman I'd seen for two years. I was
very moved. But it was another gentleman with whom-- (Goes on
speaking to HOST.)

HENRI (in an exalted tone as though inspired, but not theatrically).
Leocadie, my love, my wife ... all the past is over now. A great deal
is blotted out on an occasion like this.

[SCAEVOLA and JULES have gone to the back. HOST comes forward
again.]

HOST. What sort of occasion?

HENRI. We are united now by a holy sacramen