_The audience enters gradually. Gentlemen, tradesmen, lackeys, pages, pickpockets, the janitor, etc._ THE MARQUISES, CUIGY, BRISSAILLE, _the waiting girl, the violins, etc._ _Noise outside the door, then a gentleman bursts in._ THE JANITOR (_pursuing him_). Here! Your fifteen sols! THE GENTLEMAN. I pay nothing for admission. THE JANITOR. Why so? THE GENTLEMAN. King's guard! THE JANITOR (_to another gentleman just come in_). You, Sir? SECOND GENTLEMAN. Free admission. THE JANITOR. But .... SECOND GENTLEMAN. Musketeer! FIRST GENTLEMAN (_to second gentleman_). It's not two o'clock yet, and the pit is empty. Suppose we fence a bit? (_They begin fencing with foils they have brought along._) A LACKEY (_entering_). Pst----Flanquin! ANOTHER LACKEY (_just in_). Hallo, Champagne! FIRST LACKEY (_taking cards and dice from out his doublet_). Cards? Dice? Let's play. (_Seats himself on the floor._) SECOND LACKEY. Certainly, you rascal. (_Takes a candle out of his pocket, lights it, and after seating himself near first lackey, plants it on the floor._) GUARD (_taking flower-girl by the waist_). How sweet in you to come before the lights do! ONE OF THE FENCERS. Touched! ONE OF THE CARD-PLAYERS. Clubs! GUARD (_to flower-girl trying to escape_). A kiss! A MAN (_sitting on the floor, with a basket of provisions_). I come early, so as to eat in peace. A knowing fellow, when he is at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, should drink his Burgundy. (_Drinks._) TRADESMAN (_to his son_). It's as bad as a low tavern.--(_Showing the man drinking_): Drunkards!--(_One of the fencers backs up against him_): Cut throats!--(_He is pushed on to the card-players_): Gamblers! GUARD (_still pursuing the flower-girl_). A kiss! TRADESMAN (_hearing him_). And worse!--For shame! To think that walls like these, my son, have seen the plays of Rotrou! THE SON. And Corneille's! A TROOP OF PAGES (_coming in, dancing and singing, holding each other by the hand, so as to form a string_). Tra la la la la la la la la la la lère!.... JANITOR (_to Pages severely_). No practical jokes, mind! FIRST PAGE (_with great dignity_). Sir, your suspicion is an offense!.... SECOND PAGE (_to first Page_). I have some string. Haven't you a fish-hook? FIRST PAGE. Of course I have! We can do some fine angling from up stairs.