E [_holding out the paper to him_] Add it up.

VINCENT [_a little confused_] Oh, I'll take your word for it. I ain't
much good at sums.

THERESE. With that franc you might have put a fine lot of butter on
every round of bread.

VINCENT. Well, look here, I want a bicycle.

THERESE. Why? You live five minutes' walk from here.

VINCENT. Yes, but I want to get about a bit on Sundays.

THERESE. There's one thing you haven't thought of. You have two little
children. Who'll look after them if your wife comes to work here?

VINCENT. Don't you worry about that. You takes 'em all dirty to the
creche every morning and gets 'em back in the evenin' all tidied up.

THERESE. And who's going to get supper ready?

VINCENT [_naively_] Why, the old woman when she comes back from work.

THERESE. While you take your little drink?

VINCENT [_the same tone_] Oh, yes; I shan't hurry her up too much.

THERESE. Who'll mend your clothes?

VINCENT. Why, the old woman of course.

THERESE. When?

VINCENT. On Sundays.

THERESE. While you go off for a run on the bicycle?

VINCENT. Yes; it'll be a change for her. And at night I'll take her to
see me play billiards. [_With a change of tone_] That's all settled,
ain't it?

THERESE. Indeed, it's not.

VINCENT. Why not? Aren't you going to open a new workroom?

THERESE. Your wife has no need to work.

VINCENT. What's that got to do with you? You're taking on the others.

THERESE. The others are in want.

VINCENT. That's nothing to me. You ought to take the wives of the chaps
as works here first.

THERESE. All I can do is to mention her name at the next meeting of our
Union.

VINCENT. Oh, damn your Union--it's a fair nuisance!

THERESE. A Union is always a nuisance to somebody.

VINCENT. And you'll ask your Union not to take my old woman?

THERESE. I certainly shall.

VINCENT [_rather threateningly_] Very well. Things was more comfortable
here before you come from Paris, you know.

THERESE [_quietly_] I'm sorry.

VINCENT. And they'll be more comfortable when you take your hook back.

THERESE. That won't be for a good while yet.

VINCENT. I ain't so damned sure about that! Good-afternoon.

THERESE. Good-afternoon.

_He goes out._

LUCIENNE. You've made an enemy, my dear.

THERESE. I don't care as long as I'm able to prevent women being driven
to work to pay for their husbands' idleness and drunkenness.

_Feliat and Gueret come in. Lucienne goes out._