Page:Poet Lore, volume 28, 1917.djvu/48

34 :Baroness (To ). — Take your place at the piano... (She sits upon the tête à tête, beside a lady.)
 * Nonancourt. — You wish me to take my place at the piano? (All are seated, at the left, so as not to obstruct the view of the door at the back.)


 * Baroness. — Signor Nisnardi, we are ready to applaud you..


 * Fadinard (Near the piano at the extreme right, aside). — What a mess! I sing like a well-rope! (Aloud, coughing.) Hum! Hum!


 * All— Sh-h!


 * Fadinard (Aside). — What shall I sing? (Aloud, coughing.) Hum! Hum!


 * Nonancourt. — Must I play? I'll play! (Bangs away at the piano, without striking any chords.)


 * Fadinard (Recitative). — "Toi qui connais les hussards de la garde...! (Shouts from within.) Long live the bride! ! ! (General astonishment; sound of an Austrian galop, within. The three doors at the back burst open; and the bridal party rushes into the drawing room, crying, "Partners for the contradanse")


 * Nonancourt. — Plague on it, that music! Here's the whole crowd! (To Fadinard.) You're to dance with your wife!


 * Fadinard. — Go on with you! (Aside.) Each for himself; and the devil —!


 * (The wedding guests snatch the ladies, helter-skelter; and rush them into the dance; shouts; confusion.)


 * A bedroom in the house of Beauperthuis; at the back, a curtained alcove. A folding screen, at the left. Main entrance, at the right of the alcove. Side doors, a stand, at the right, against the partition.


 * Beauperthuis (Alone, as the curtain rises he is seated in front of the screen, taking a foot bath. A napkin conceals his legs. His shoes are placed by his chair. A lamp is upon the stand. The curtains of the alcove stand open). — Strange! Very strange !My wife said, this morning, at seven minutes to nine: "Beauperthuis, I'm going out to buy some suede gloves." And here it is a