trangled her.

FRANCOIS. That is feeble. He is an amateur. I have never seen him
before.

GEORGETTE (comes quickly in, dressed like a prostitute of the lowest
class). Good evening, children. Is my Balthasar not here yet?

SCAEVOLA. Georgette, sit by me. Your Balthasar will yet be here in
time.

GEORGETTE. If he is not here in ten minutes, he won't bring off
anything again--he won't come back at all then.

FRANCOIS. Watch her, Marquise. She is the wife of that Balthasar of
whom she has just been speaking, and who will soon come in. She
represents just a common street-jade, while Balthasar is her bully. All
the same, she is the truest wife to be found in the whole of Paris.

BALTHASAR comes in.

GEORGETTE. My Balthasar! (She runs toward him and embraces him). So
there you are.

BALTHASAR. It is all in order. (Silence around him.) It was not worth
the trouble. I was almost sorry for him. You should size up your
customers better, Georgette. I am sick of killing promising youths for
the sake of a few francs.

FRANCOIS. Splendid!

ALBIN. What--?

FRANCOIS. He brings out the points so well.

Enter the COMMISSAIRE, disguised; sits down at table.

HOST (to him). You come at a good time, M. le Commissaire. This is
one of my best exponents.

BALTHASAR. One should really try and find another profession. On my
soul, I am not a craven, but this kind of bread is hard earned.

SCAEVOLA. I can well believe so.

GEORGETTE. What's the matter with you today?

BALTHASAR. I will tell you what. Georgette--I think you're a trifle too
tender with the young gentlemen.

GEORGETTE. See what a child he is! But be reasonable, Balthasar. I must
needs be very tender so as to inspire them with confidence.

ROLLIN. What she says is really deep.

BALTHASAR. If I thought for a moment that you felt anything when
another--

GEORGETTE. What do you say to that? Dumb jealousy will yet bring him to
his grave.

BALTHASAR. I have already heard one sigh, Georgette, and that was at a
moment when one of them was already giving sufficient proofs of his
confidence.

GEORGETTE. One can't leave off playing a woman in love so suddenly.

BALTHASAR. Be careful, Georgette--the Seine is deep. (Wildly.) Should
you ever deceive me--

GEORGETTE. Never, never.

ALBIN. I positively can't make it out.

SEVERINE. Rollin, that is the right interpretation!

ROLLIN. You think so?

MARQUIS (to SEVERINE). It is ti