It's six months since we saw the colour of his money. ROSELLE He's waiting to see the colour of yours at the inn. BELLINE Of mine indeed? You can wait a long time before I set foot in your dirty dram-shop. ROSELLE Yes, but that father of yours isn't so squeamish when he comes on Sundays and tipples till we have to put him out dead-drunk. ROSARELLE Don't answer her, my dear; we are not accustomed to these pot-house brawls. ROSELLE As for you, miss, who pretend to be so particular, you just go and ask your father, the mayor, who it was that nibbled the holes, which were not made by rats, in the town's cash-box. ROSARELLE (_Springing to her feet, furiously_.) Holes which were not made by rats! What do you mean? ROSELLE I mean what every one in the village means!... ROSARELLE Mind what you're saying; and say it again if you dare. ROSELLE Well, what would you do if I did say it again? You don't frighten me with your airs and graces. ROSARELLE Never mind my airs and graces; I'll soon show you what I'll do. ROSELLE Well, then, I do say it again. ROSARELLE (_Boxing her ears_.) And take that for your answer!... (_Piercing screams and a general turmoil_. ROSELLE and AIMETTE _make a rush at_ BELLINE _and_ ROSARELLE, _while_ MILETTE _and_ JALLINE _vainly try to separate the combatants_. THE VEILED GIRL _alone remains motionless in her corner, as though she were not present. The others claw one another's faces, tear one another's hair and end by uttering such piercing yells and shrieks that_ TYLTYL, _returning from the_ MISER'S, _hears them from the far end of the palace and comes running up, scared and dismayed. He is bare-headed and only half-dressed and does not understand what is going on_.) TYLTYL What is it? What's the matter? What has happened? An accident? Are you hurt? What have you been doing? THE GIRLS (_All speaking together_.) It's she!... No, no, it was Rosarelle who began!... I tell you, it was she!... She insulted me!... She boxed my ears!... She dared to talk against my father!... She spoke ill of my mother!... She's lying, she's lying!... She nearly pulled my ear off!... She's driven a hairpin into my cheek!... (_Enter_ THE FAIRY.) THE FAIRY Why, what's the matter? TYLTYL (_In bewilderment_.) I don't know, ma'am. I think they must have gone mad. They were so sweet when I left them. I should never have known them!... Look, look, they are quite different!... Rosarelle and Belline's eyes are blazing like furies', Aimette looks so spiteful and Roselle so brazen, Jalline hasn't washed herself and Milette's cheeks are as red as a turkey-cock's.... (_Bursting into tears and hiding his eyes with his arm, like a child crying_.) I can't bear it! Oh, I can't bear it! THE FAIRY But, you little silly, it's your own fault! TYLTYL My fault? THE FAIRY