NeRISSE [_annoyed_] Madame Nerisse! Nonsense! Do you suppose I drag her everywhere I go? Say no more about it. Whatever I say will only make you suspicious. [_With a sigh_] All this misunderstanding and suspicion is horrible to me. How stupid the world is! There are times when I feel disgusted with everything, myself included! I'm getting old. I'm a failure. I'm losing my time and wasting my life over this ridiculous paper, which will never be anything but an obscure rag. I shall have done for myself soon.

THeReSE [_awkwardly, for something to say_] Don't say that.

NeRISSE. Yes, I shall. I might have a chance of saving myself yet if I took things energetically and got free of the whole thing. But I should have to be quick about it. [_A silence. Therese does not know what to say and does not dare to leave the room_] I'm so low--so unhappy!

THeReSE. So unhappy?

NeRISSE. Yes. [_Another silence. Madame Nerisse comes in and looks at them pointedly_] Are they gone?

MADAME NeRISSE. Yes, they're gone.

NeRISSE. Is it all settled?

MADAME NeRISSE. Yes. I am to meet them at the bank at four. But they wouldn't give way on the question of reducing expenses as regards the contributors.

NeRISSE. And the dates of publication?

MADAME NeRISSE. We are to come out fortnightly instead of weekly.

[_Indicating the door on the right_] You must go and speak to them.

NeRISSE. Is Therese's salary to be reduced too?

MADAME NeRISSE. It would be impossible to make distinctions.

NeRISSE. Difficult, yes. Still--I think one might have managed to do something for her.

MADAME NeRISSE. I cannot see how she differs from the others. Can you?

NeRISSE. Oh, well--say no more about it.

MADAME NeRISSE. That will be best. [_He goes out to the right. To herself_] I should think so indeed! [_To Therese_] While Monsieur Nerisse was talking to the other man I had a chat with Monsieur Cazares.

He was talking about you. He's a nice fellow, and it's quite a good family you know. He's steady and fairly well off--very well off.

THeReSE [_laughing_] You talk as if you were offering me a husband!

NeRISSE. And what would you say supposing he had asked me to sound you?

THeReSE. I should say that I was very much obliged, but that I decline the honor.

NeRISSE. What's wrong with him?

THeReSE. Nothing.

MADAME NeRISSE. Well then?

THeReSE. You can't marry upon that.

MADAME NeRISSE. Have you absolutely made up your mind?

THeReSE. Absolutely.

MADAME NeRISSE. I think you're making a mistake. I think it all the more because this chance comes just at a time--well, you'll understand what I mean when I've told you something that I have to say to you as manageress of _Woman Free_. It's this. You know that in spite of all we could do we've had to hunt about for more capital. We've found some, but we've had to submit to very severe conditions. The most important is that they insist upon a stringent cutting down of expenses. Instead of coming out every week, _Woman Free_ will be a fortnightly in future, and we've been obliged to consent to reducing the salaries of the contributors in proportion.

THeReSE. How much will they be reduced?

MADAME NeRISSE. In proportion I tell you. They'll be cut down by one half.

THeReSE. And I shall not have enough to live upon even in the simplest way.

MADAME NeRISSE. That was exactly what I said to them. And the work will not be the same.

THeReSE. My work will not be the same?

MADAME NeRISSE. No; you will be obliged to work at night.

THeReSE. At night?

MADAME NeRISSE. Yes.

THeReSE. But then I shall be free all day.

MADAME NeRISSE. No, you won't. In the daytime you will have to take charge of the business part of the paper, and in the evening too your work will not be purely literary, but more of an administrative character.

THeReSE. It appears to me that I'm asked to accept a smaller salary and to do double work for it.

MADAME NeRISSE. I am conveying to you the offers of the new Directors; if they don't suit you, you have only to refuse them.

THeReSE. Of course I refuse them, and you may say to the people who have made them that they must be shameful sweaters to dare to offer women salaries that leave them no choice between starvation and degradation.

MADAME NeRISSE. Those are strong words, my dear, and you seem to forget very quickly--

THeReSE [_softening_] Yes. Oh, I beg your pardon. But think for a minute, Madame, and you'll forgive me for being angry. I hardly know what I'm saying. [_Madame Nerisse half turns away_] Listen, oh listen!

Forget what I said just now; I'll explain to you. I accept the reduction of salary. I'll manage. I'll get my expenses down. Only I can't consent to give up all my time. You know I have some work in hand; you know I have a big undertaking to which I've given all my life. I've told you about it, you know about that. You know I can only stand my loneliness and everything because of the hope I have about this. If people take all my time, it's the same as if they killed me. I beg you, I implore you, get them to leave me my evenings free.

MADAME NeRISSE. It can't be done.

THeReSE [_pulling herself together_] Very well, that's settled. I will go at the end of the month; that's to say to-morrow.

MADAME NeRISSE. Take a little time to consider it.

THeReSE. I have considered it. They propose that I should commit suicide. I say no!

MADAME NeRISSE. I'm sorry, truly sorry. [_She rings. While she waits for the bell to be answered, she looks searchingly at Therese, who does not notice it. To the page boy who comes in_] Go and call me a taxi, but first say to Monsieur Nerisse--

BOY. Monsieur Nerisse has just gone out, Madame.

MADAME NeRISSE. Are you quite sure?

BOY. I called him a taxi.