own in._

YANETTA [_to someone outside_] Very good, Monsieur. [_The door is
closed_]

THE MOTHER [_without looking at Yanetta_] Then I'll go.

ETCHEPARE [_the same_] Yes. I shall see you again to-night or down there
to-morrow.

THE MOTHER. Very well.

ETCHEPARE. Directly you get there you'll go and find out about the day
and hour.

THE MOTHER. Very well.

ETCHEPARE. Till to-morrow then.

THE MOTHER. To-morrow. [_She goes out without glancing at Yanetta_]

YANETTA [_takes a few steps towards her husband, falls on her knees, and
clasps her hands. In a low voice_] Forgive me!

ETCHEPARE. Never!

YANETTA. Don't say never!

ETCHEPARE. Was the judge lying?

YANETTA. No--he wasn't lying.

ETCHEPARE. You wretched thing!

YANETTA. Yes, I am a wretched thing! Forgive me!

ETCHEPARE. Kill you rather! I could kill you!

YANETTA. Yes, yes! But forgive me!

ETCHEPARE. You're just a loose woman--a loose woman from Paris, with no
honor, no shame, no honesty even!

YANETTA. Yes! Insult me--strike me!

ETCHEPARE. For ten years you have been lying to me!

YANETTA. Oh, how I wished I could have told you everything! Oh, how many
times I began that dreadful confession! I never had courage enough. I
was always afraid of your anger, Pierre, and of the pain I should cause
you--I saw you were so happy!

ETCHEPARE. You came from up there, fresh from your vice, fresh from
prison, and you chose me to be your gull.

YANETTA. My God, to think he believes that!

ETCHEPARE. You brought me the leavings of a swindler--the leavings of a
swindler--and you stole, in my house, the place of an honest woman!
Your lies have brought the curse of God on my family and it's you who
are the cause of everything. The misfortune that's just befallen us,
it's you who are the cause of it, I tell you! You're a pest, accursed,
damned! Don't say another word to me! Don't speak to me!

YANETTA. Have you no pity, Pierre? Do you suppose I'm not suffering?

ETCHEPARE. If you are suffering you've deserved it! You haven't suffered
enough yet. But what had I ever done to you that you should choose me
for your victim? What did I ever do that I should have to bear what I'm
suffering? You've made me a coward--you've lowered me almost to your own
level--I ought to have been able to put you out of my mind and my heart
already! And I can't! And I'm suffering torture, terrible torture--for
I'm suffering through the love I once had for you. You--you were