M. DE SALLUS [_laughs gently_] Take care! One would think you were jealous. MME. DE SALLUS I? Jealous? For whom do you take me? [_The butler announces_.] Madame is served. [_Hands a letter to_ M. de Sallus.] MME. DE SALLUS [_to_ Jacques de Randol] Your arm, M. Jacques de Randol. JACQUES DE RANDOL [_in a low tone_] How I love you! MME. DE SALLUS [_indifferently_] Just a little, I suppose. JACQUES DE RANDOL Ah, no; with all my soul! M. DE SALLUS [_after reading his letter_] Come along, then, let us go to dinner. I have to go out this evening. _Curtain._ MUSOTTE OR A CRITICAL SITUATION A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS DRAMATIS PERSONAE JEAN MARTINEL Nephew of M. Martinel, a painter; not yet thirty years of age, but already well known and the recipient of various honors. LEON DE PETITPRÉ Brother to Gilberts Martinel, a young lawyer about thirty years of age. M. MARTINEL An old gunmaker of Havre, aged fifty-five. M. DE PETITPRÉ An old magistrate, officer of the Legion of Honor. Aged sixty. DR. PELLERIN A fashionable physician of about thirty-five. MME. DE RONCHARD Sister to M. de Petitpré, about fifty-five years of age. HENRIETTE LÉVÊQUE Nicknamed Musotte; a little model, formerly Jean Martinel's mistress. Twenty-two years of age. MME. FLACHE A midwife. Formerly a ballet-dancer at the Opera. About thirty-five years of age. GILBERTE MARTINEL Daughter of M. and Mme. de Petitpré, married in the morning to Jean Martinel. About twenty years old. LISE BABIN A nurse, about twenty-six. SERVANTS _Time: Paris of to-day. The first and third acts take place in_ M. de Petitpré's _drawing-room. The second act takes place in_ Musotte's _bedchamber_. ACT I SCENE I. (_A richly yet classically furnished drawing-room in_ M. de Petitpré's house. _A table_, C.; _sofas_, R.; _chairs and armchairs_, L. _Wide doors_, C., _opening upon a terrace or gallery. Doors_ R. _and_ L. _of_ C. _Lighted lamps_.) _Enter from_ R. M. de Petitpré, Monsieur Martinel, Madame de Ronchard, Léon de Petitpré, Jean _and_ Gilberte. Gilberte _is in her bridal attire, but without wreath and veil_. MME. DE RONCHARD [_after bowing to_ M. Martinel, _whose arm she relinquishes, seats herself_ R.] Gilberte, Gilberte! GILBERTE [_leaves Jean's arm_] What is it, Auntie? MME. DE RONCHARD The coffee, my dear child. GILBERTE [_goes to the table_] I will give you some, Auntie. MME. DE RONCHARD Don't soil your gown. LÉON [_comes up_] No, no, not to-day shall my sister serve coffee. The day of her marriage! No, indeed, I will take care of that. [_To_ Mme. de Ronchard.] You know that I am a lawyer, my dear Aunt, and therefore can do everything. MME. DE RONCHARD Oh, I know your abilities, Léon, and I appreciate them-- LÉON [_smiles, and gives his Aunt a cup of coffee_] You are too good. MME. DE RONCHARD [_taking cup, dryly_] For what they are worth. LÉON [_aside, turns to the table_]