FANNY. They go in for adventures and call you Aramis.

TROTTER. They wouldnt dare!

FANNY. You always make such delicious fun of the serious people.
Your _insouciance_--

TROTTER. [frantic] Stop talking French to me: it's not a proper
language for a young girl. Great heavens! how is it possible that a
few innocent pleasantries should be so frightfully misunderstood? Ive
tried all my life to be sincere and simple, to be unassuming and
kindly. Ive lived a blameless life. Ive supported the Censorship in
the face of ridicule and insult. And now I'm told that I'm a centre
of Immoralism! of Modern Minxism! a trifler with the most sacred
subjects! a Nietzschean!! perhaps a Shavian!!!

FANNY. Do you mean you are really on the serious side, Mr Trotter?

TROTTER. Of course I'm on the serious side. How dare you ask me such
a question?

FANNY. Then why dont you play for it?

TROTTER. I do play for it--short, of course, of making myself
ridiculous.

FANNY. What! not make yourself ridiculous for the sake of a good
cause! Oh, Mr Trotter. Thats _vieux jeu_.

TROTTER. [shouting at her] Dont talk French. I will not allow it.