BETSY. What a pity, it was so interesting! (Laughs.) You should have seen what manifestations we had! Well, how is our charade getting on? KOKO KLINGEN. Oh, the verses for mon second are ready. Nick composed the verses, and I the music. BETSY. What are they? What are they? Do tell me! KOKO KLINGEN. Wait a minute; how does it go?... Oh, the knight sings: "Oh, naught so beautiful as nature: The Nautilus sails by. Oh, naughty lass, oh, naughty lass! Oh, nought, oh, nought! Oh, fie!" LADY. I see, my second is "nought," and what is my first? KOKO KLINGEN. My first is Aero, the name of a girl savage. BETSY. Aero, you see, is a savage who wished to devour the object of her love. (Laughs.) She goes about lamenting, and sings-- "My appetite," KOKO KLINGEN (interrupts)-- "How can I fight,".... BETSY (chimes in)-- "Some one to chew I long. I seeking go ...." KOKO KLINGEN-- "But even so...." BETSY-- "No one to chew can find." KOKO KLINGEN-- "A raft sails by," BETSY-- "It cometh nigh; Two generals upon it...." KOKO KLINGEN-- "Two generals are we: By fate's hard decree, To this island we flee." And then, the refrain-- "By fate's hard decree, To this island we flee." LADY. Charmant! BETSY. But just think how silly! KOKO KLINGEN. Yes, that's the charm of it! LADY. And who is to be Aero? BETSY. I am. And I have had a costume made, but mamma says it's "not decent." And it is not a bit less decent than a ball dress. (To THEODORE IVANITCH.) Is Bourdier's man here? THEODORE IVANITCH. Yes, he is waiting in the kitchen. LADY. Well, and how will you represent Aeronaut? BETSY. Oh, you'll see. I don't want to spoil the pleasure for you. Au revoir. LADY. Good-bye! [They bow. Exit LADY. BETSY (to KOKO KLINGEN). Come up to mamma. [BETSY and KOKO go upstairs. JACOB enters from servants' quarters, carrying a tray with teacups, cakes, etc., and goes panting across the stage. JACOB (to the FOOTMEN). How d'you do? How d'you do? [FOOTMEN bow. JACOB (to THEODORE IVANITCH). Couldn't you tell Gregory to help a bit! I'm ready to drop.... [Exit up the stairs. FIRST FOOTMAN. That is a hard-working chap you've got there. THEODORE IVANITCH. Yes, a good fellow. But there now--he doesn't satisfy the mistress, she says his appearance is ungainly. And now they've gone and told tales about him for letting some peasants into the kitchen yesterday. It is a bad look-out: they may dismiss him. And he is a good fellow. SECOND FOOTMAN. What peasants were they?