Page:Poet Lore, volume 28, 1917.djvu/56

42 Fadinard (Aside).—The lady's maid!

Virginie (Aside).—Felix's master!

Beauperthuis (To himself).—There are voices in my wife's room. She has returned! We'll see! (Limps quickly into the room where Helene is.)

Fadinard (Frightened).—What are you doing here, Minx?

Virginie.—What am I doing? I'm coming home to my master's. ..

Fadinard.—Your master's! Beauperthuis! He—your master?

Virginie.—Well, what of it?

Fadinard (Aside).—It was her husband! And I've let the cat out of the bag. . . !

Virginie.—Is Madame—

Fadinard.—Get out; get out, or I'll chop you into inch pieces! (Shoves her outside.) And this hat that I have been chasing around after, ever since morning, with a crowd upon my back,. . . like a hunting dog ... I get here. . . I stop. . . It's the same one that was eaten!

(Cries from Helene's room.)

Fadinard.—He'll kill her! Let's protect an unfortunate. . . ! (Rushes toward the door; but it bursts open, and Helene, in night clothes, hurries in, followed by the ladies of the bridal party, and by Beauperthuis, who is dumbfounded.)

Ladies.—Help! Help!

Fadinard (Horrified).—Helene!

Helene.—Papa! Papa!

Beauperthuis.—What is the meaning of all this crowd? And in my wife's room!

(Nonancourt enters from the room at the right, in night cap, and undershirt, with his coat over his arm, and still holding the myrtle. Bobin follows him, clad likewise.)

Nonancourt.—What's the trouble?

Beauperthuis (Amazed).—More of them!

Fadinard.—The whole party! Even down to the bouquet!

Beauperthuis.—What were you doing in there, in my house?

Nonancourt and Bobin (Exclamations).—Your house?

Helene and the ladies.—Heavens!

Nonancourt (Angrily and pushing Fadinard).—His house? Not yours? His house?

Fadinard (Crying out).—Father-in-law, you make me tired!

Nonancourt (Angrily).—What? Immoral and shameless?