FÉLIAT. Well, now listen to me. I told you--
_René comes in and takes something off a table. Féliat stops suddenly._
RENÉ. Good-morning, uncle. [_He hurries out_]
FÉLIAT. No; and my sister-in-law asked me to tell him.
MADAME GUÉRET. Well, why shouldn't you? If they _are_ engaged, we know nothing about it.
MADAME GUÉRET. We know nothing officially, because in these days young people don't condescend to consult their parents.
FÉLIAT. René told his people and they gave their consent.
FÉLIAT. Oh certainly, unwillingly. Then I'm to tell him?
GUÉRET. I'm afraid it'll be an awful blow to the poor chap.
MADAME GUÉRET. Oh, he's young. He'll get over it.
FÉLIAT. What was I saying when he came in? Ah, yes; you know I've decided to add a bindery to my printing works at Evreux; you saw the building started when you were down there. If things go as I want them to, I shall try to do some cheap artistic binding. I want to get hold of a man who won't rob me to manage this new branch and look after it; a man who won't be too set in his ideas, because I want him to adopt mine; and, at the same time, I'd like him to be not altogether a stranger. I thought I'd found him; but I saw the man yesterday and I don't like him. Now will _you_ take on the job? Would it suit you?
GUÉRET. Would it suit me! Oh, my dear Féliat, how can I possibly thank you? To tell you the truth, I've been wondering what in the world I should do with myself now; and I was dreading the future. What you offer me is better than anything I could have dreamt of. What do you say, Marguerite?
GUÉRET [_to his brother-in-law_] I think you won't regret having confidence in me.
FÉLIAT. Yes; how is _she_ going to face this double news of her ruin and the breaking off of her engagement?
MADAME GUÉRET. I think she ought to have sense enough to understand that one is the consequence of the other. She can hardly expect René's parents to give their son to a girl without money.
FÉLIAT. I suppose not. But what's to become of her?
GUÉRET. She will live with us, of course.
GUÉRET. She has no other relations, and her father left her in my care.
MADAME GUÉRET. He left her in _your_ care, and it's _I_ who have been rushed into all the trouble of a child who is nothing to me.