_Evening—A drawing-room furnished with cheap elegance in a house in Schwind street. The YOUNG MAN has just come in; and, still wearing his hat and overcoat, he lights the gas. Then he opens a door to a side-room and looks in. The light from the drawing-room shimmers over the inlaid floor as far as the Louis Quinze bed, which stands against the opposite wall. A reddish light plays from the fire-place in the corner of the bedroom upon the hangings of the bed. The YOUNG MAN now inspects the bedroom. He takes an atomizer from the dressing-table, and sprays the bed-pillows with a fine rain of violet perfume. Then he carries the atomizer through both rooms, constantly pressing upon the bulb, so that soon the odor of violets pervades the place. He then takes off his hat and coat. He sits down in a blue velvet armchair, lights a cigarette, and smokes. After a short pause he rises again, and makes sure that the green shutters are closed. Suddenly, he goes into the bedroom, and opens a drawer in the dressing-table. He puts his hand in it, and finds a tortoise-shell hair-pin. He looks for a place to hide it, and finally puts it into a pocket of his overcoat. He opens the buffet in the drawing-room; takes a silver tray, with a bottle and two liqueur glasses, and puts them on the table. He goes back to his overcoat, and takes from it a small white package. Opening this, he places it beside the cognac. He goes again to the buffet, and takes two small plates and knives and forks. He takes a candied chestnut from the package and eats it. Then he pours himself a glass of cognac, and drinks it quickly. He then looks at his watch. He walks up and down the room. He stops a while before a large mirror, ordering his hair and small mustache with a pocket-comb. He next goes to the door of the vestibule and listens. Nothing is stirring. Then he closes the blue portières, which hang before the bedroom. The bell rings. He starts slightly. Then he sits down in the armchair, and rises only when the door has been opened and the YOUNG WIFE enters._ YOUNG WIFE (_Heavily veiled, closes the door behind her, pausing a moment with her left hand over her heart, as though mastering a strong emotion_) YOUNG MAN (_Goes toward her, takes her left hand, and presses a kiss on the white glove with black stitching. He says softly._) Thank you. YOUNG WIFE Alfred—Alfred! YOUNG MAN Come, Madame… Come, Emma… YOUNG WIFE Let me be for a minute—please … oh, please, please, Alfred! (_She is still standing at the door_) YOUNG MAN (_Standing before her, holding her hand_) YOUNG WIFE Where am I? YOUNG MAN With me. YOUNG WIFE This house is terrible, Alfred. YOUNG MAN Why terrible? It is a very proper house. YOUNG WIFE But I met two gentlemen on the staircase. YOUNG MAN Acquaintances of yours? YOUNG WIFE I don’t know. It’s possible. YOUNG MAN But, Madame—You surely know your friends! YOUNG WIFE I couldn’t see their faces. YOUNG MAN