She wipes her mouth and continues, laughing:

"Here I am wiping my mouth even now. You have all seen how I wiped
my mouth. I am wiping away Philipp's kisses. You are laughing. But
ask your wife, Desfoso--does she want the life of the man who kissed
her before you? Ask all women who love--even the old women! We
never grow old in love. We are born so, we women."

Haggart almost believes her. Advancing a step forward, he asks:

"You urged me? Perhaps it is true, Mariet--I don't remember."

Mariet laughs.

"Do you hear? He has forgotten. Go on, Gart. You may say that it
was your own idea? That's the way you men are--you forget
everything. Will you say perhaps that I--"

"Mariet!" Haggart interrupts her threateningly.

Mariet, turning pale, looking sorrowfully at his terrible eyes which
are now steadfastly fixed upon her, continues, still smiling:

"Go on, Gart! Will you say perhaps that I--Will you say perhaps
that I dissuaded you? That would be funny--"

HAGGART--No, I will not say that. You lie, Mariet! Even I, Haggart--
just think of it, people--even I believed her, so cleverly does this
woman lie.