COUN. Ah! you little wretch, this is another of your stupidities. A well-bred lackey would have spoken in a whisper to the gentlewoman in attendance; the latter would have come to her mistress and have whispered in her ear: "Here is the footman of Mr. So-and-so, who wants to speak to you, Madam." To which the mistress would have answered, "Show him in." SCENE XIII.--THE COUNTESS, JULIA, ANDRÉE, CRIQUET, JEANNOT. CRI. Come along in, Jeannot. COUN. Another blunder. (_To_ JEANNOT) What do you want, page? What have you there? JEAN. It is Mr. Thibaudier, Ma'am, who wishes you good morning, and, before he comes, sends you some pears out of his garden, with this small note. SCENE XIV.--THE COUNTESS, CRIQUET, JEANNOT. COUN. (_giving some money to_ JEANNOT). Here, my boy; here is something for your trouble. JEAN. Oh no, thank you, Ma'am. COUN. Take it, I say. JEAN. My master told me not take anything from you Ma'am. COUN. Never mind, take it all the same. JEAN. Excuse me, Ma'am. CRI. Take it, Jeannot. If you don't want it, you can give it me. COUN. Tell your master that I thank him. CRI. (_to_ JEANNOT, _who is going_). Give it to me, Jeannot. JEA. Yes, you catch me. CRI. It was I who made you take it. JEA. I should have taken it without your help. COUN. What pleases me in this Mr. Thibaudier is that he knows how to behave with people of my quality, and that he is very respectful. SCENE XV.--THE VISCOUNT, THE COUNTESS, JULIA, CRIQUET. VISC. I come to tell you, Madam, that the theatricals will soon be ready, and that we can go into the hall in a quarter of an hour. COUN. Mind, I will have no crowd after me. (_To_ CRIQUET) Tell the porter not to let anybody come in. VISC. If so, Madam, I give up our theatricals. I could take no interest in them unless the spectators are numerous. Believe me, if you want to enjoy it thoroughly, tell your people to let the whole town in. COUN. Page, a seat. (_To the_ VISCOUNT, _after he is seated_) You have come just in time to accept a self-sacrifice I am willing to make to you. Look, I have here a note from Mr. Thibaudier, who sends me some pears. I give you leave to read it aloud; I have not opened it yet. VISC. (_after he has read the note to himself_). This note is written in the most fashionable style, Madam, and is worthy of all your attention. (_Reads aloud_) "Madam, I could not have made you the present I send you if my garden did not bring me more fruit than my love...." COUN. You see clearly by this that nothing has taken place between us.