RUD. So we have come. (_introducing Mimi_) This is Mimi, The merry flower girl; And now she's come to join us. Our party is completed-- For I shall play the poet, While she's the muse incarnate. Forth from my brain flow songs of passion, As, at her touch the pretty buds blow; As in the soul awaketh beautiful love! MAR. (_ironically_) My word, what high falutin'! COL. _Digna est intrari._ SCH. _Ingrediat si necessit._ COL. I'll grant only an _accessit_! (RUDOLPH _makes_ MIMI _sit down. All being seated, the waiter returns with the menu_.) COL. (_with an air of great importance_) Some sausage! PAR. (_faintly in the distance_) Who'll buy some pretty toys from Parpignol? (_Boys and girls running out from the shops and adjoining streets._) BOYS and GIRLS. Parpignol! Parpignol! (_Enter PARPIGNOL from the Rue Dauphin, pushing a barrow festooned with foliage, flowers and paper lanterns._) PAR. (_crying_) Who'll buy some pretty toys from Parpignol? CHILDREN, (_crowding and jumping round the barrow_) Parpignol! Parpignol! With his pretty barrow bright with flowers! (_admiring the toys_) I want the horn! and I the horse! Get away, they are mine! I want the gun! and I the whip! No, the drum shall be mine! (_At the cries of the children, the mothers try, but without success, to lead them away from PARPIGNOL, scolding loudly_.) MOTHERS. Ah! wait a bit, you dirty little rascals. What can it be that sets you all a-gaping? Get home to your beds, get home, lazy rascals, Or you shall all have a tidy beating. (_The children refuse to go. One of them cries for Parpignol'S toys and his mother pulls his ear. The mothers, relenting, buy some. Parpignol moves down the street, followed by the children, pretending to play on their toy instruments_.) PAR. (_in the distance_) Who'll buy some pretty toys of Parpignol! (_The waiter presents the menu, which the four friends carefully scrutinize in turn._) SCH. Bring some venison. MAR. I'll have turkey. RUD. (_in an undertone to MIMI_) Mimi, what would you like? MIMI. Some custard! SCH. And some Rhenish! COL. Bring some claret, too! SCH. And some lobster, only shell it! The best you've got--for a lady! MAR. (_disconcerted at the sight of MUSETTA; to the waiter_) And I'll have a phial of poison! (_throwing himself on a chair_) SCH., COL. and RUD. (_turning on hearing MARCEL'S exclamation_) Oh! Musetta! (_the friends look pityingly at MARCEL, who turns pale_) (_The shopwomen are going away, but stop to watch the fair stranger, and are astonished to recognize in her MUSETTA; they whisper among themselves, pointing at her._) Look! 'tis Musetta! She! Musetta! 'Tis she! Yes! Yes! 'Tis Musetta! Oh! what swagger! My! she's gorgeous. (_entering their shops_) STUDENTS and WORK GIRLS (_crossing the stage_) Only look! why, there she is! Some old stammering dotard's with her, too! Yes, 'tis she! Tis she! Musetta!