_Renée (alarmed_). Your past _wife_ isn't alive somewhere?
_Mérital_. Oh no, not that sort of thing at all. (_Embracing her carefully_.) I will marry you, Renée, but run along now because my friend Frépeau is coming, and he probably wants to talk business. [_Exit_ Renée.
_Frépeau (excitedly_). Mérital, you are in danger. A scandalous libel is being circulated about you.
_Frépeau_. It is said that thirty years ago (Alexandre's _nose twitches_), when you were in a solicitor's office (Alexandre's _jaw drops_), you stole ninepence from the stamp drawer (Alexandre's _eyeballs roll_). Of course it is a lie?
_Mérital (with a great effort obtaining command of his features again_). Of course.
_Daniel Mérital_. Father's face has been very odd these last few weeks. Sometimes I wonder whether he didn't steal the money after all. But we shall know after the libel action this afternoon. It starts at two. Oh, are you there, Father? I'm just going to see a man about something. [_Exit.
_Mérital_. Ah, Frépeau, the man I wanted to see. (_Plaintively_) Frépeau, when you called on me in the First Act, don't you think you might have given some indication by the play of your features that it was _you_ who originated this libel against me, and that you are my deadly enemy? The merest twitch of the ears would have been enough.
_HOLMAN CLARK_. I wanted it to be a surprise for the audience.
_Sir GEORGES (amazed_). Real life? Good Heavens, HOLMAN, is this _your_ first appearance in England too?
_HOLMAN CLARK (annoyed_). Let's get on with the play.
_Sir GEORGES_. Certainly. Wait a moment till I've got my "strong-man-with-his-back-to-the-wall" expression. (_Arranging his face_.) How's that?
_HOLMAN CLARK_. Begin again.... That's better.
_Mérital (sternly_). Now then, Frépeau! I must ask you to give instructions that the libel is withdrawn in court this afternoon. If not--
_Mérital (softly_). I know somebody else who stole something from the stamp drawer thirty years ago. (Frépeau's _whiskers tremble_.) Aha, I thought I'd move you this time.
_Frépeau_. It's a lie! How did you find out?
_Mérital (blandly_). I said to myself, "I am the hero of this play and I've got to get out of this mess somehow. If I could only find some papers incriminating the villain--that's you all would be well." So I--er--found them.... It's no good, Frépeau. Unless you let me off, you're done.