ACT THIRD SCENE I--OSSEP'S HOUSE NATO [_stands before the mirror elegantly dressed, and, while she prinks, hums a European melody. Then she draws out of her pocket a little photograph and speaks to herself while looking in the mirror_]. O my treasure! my treasure! [_Presses the photo to her breast and kisses it._] _Mon chèr!_ Come; we will dance. [_Dances around the table_.] Tra-la-la, Tra-la-la. [_Sits down at the right_.] Alexander; my Alexander; dear Alexander! Yes, you are really an angel. Why are you so handsome? You have black eyes and I also have black. Then arched eyebrows just like me. [_Touches her eyebrows_.] A pretty little mustache, which I lack. Which of us is more beautiful, I or you? You are handsomest; no, I am handsomest [_springing up_]. We will see at once. [_Looks at herself in the mirror and then at the photograph. Enter Alexander at the middle door_. NATO [_without noticing Alexander_]. No, you are the more beautiful! [_Kisses the photograph_. [_Alexander approaches softly and kisses Nato_. NATO [_frightened_]. Oh! ALEXANDER. No, you are the more beautiful, Natalie, dear. _Ma chère Nathalie!_ NATO. _O mon chèr Alexandre!_ How you frightened me! ALEXANDER [_putting his arm around her_]. Let me kiss you again, and your fright will pass away. [_Kisses her_.] Give me a kiss just once! NATO [_kissing him_]. There, you have one. ALEXANDER. Well, I ought to allow you to kiss me. Am I not worth more than that piece of paper? [_Takes her by the hand; they sit down on sofa at the right_. NATO. They have come to congratulate us. ALEXANDER. Yes, your grandmother, your aunts, and your cousins. Nato, shall you give evening parties like this? NATO [_smiling_]. Ha! ha! ha! No such _soirées_ as this, my dear Alexander. Two evenings every month we will give little dances, either on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Which is better? Do you not think, Alexander, that Thursday will be best? ALEXANDER [_with a grimace_]. As you wish, _chère Nathalie_. If you like, you can give a _soirée_ every week. NATO. No, twice a month is better. Sophie, who is now Madame Jarinskaja, gives only two _soirées_ in a month. ALEXANDER. Very well, Nato dear. NATO. That is agreed, then. And every Thursday we will dance at the Casino. [_Alexander makes another grimace_.] Mind, now! every Thursday. ALEXANDER. Do you like to visit the Casino? NATO [_laying her hand on his shoulder_]. Who doesn't like to visit it? Is there another place where one can amuse one's self better? The beautiful long _salon_! the _boudoir_! the beautiful music and the rich costumes! How beautiful they all are! [_Embracing Alexander_.] We will dance together, and when we are tired, we will go into the mirror-room and rest ourselves and talk and laugh. ALEXANDER. And then we will dance again and rest ourselves, and talk and laugh again.