“What do you say? you’ll make one?” “To be sure, of pasteboard; with a doll; that’s simple enough.” “But the child has something to say.” “That makes a difference; we will have one that can talk; at a pinch I will play the child myself.” “No, no,” said Monsieur Glumeau, “we’ll have my gardener’s little one; he’s a very smart child.” “Are there any other female parts?” “There’s a peasant--little Colas; we’ll turn him into a girl--little Colette.” “That’s right; and Mademoiselle Polymnie will take the part.” “She would have made a little Colas quite as well!” whispered Madame Dufournelle to Chambourdin, who replied: “Such things are thought, not said.” “There’s one piece chosen,” said Mangeot, “so far so good; but you are going to give something besides that, aren’t you?” “Yes, of course; we must have a very lively farce.” “Have you made your selection? If not, I suggest _Il y a plus d’un Ane à la Foire_.” “Yes,” said Dufournelle, “that’s very amusing; we saw it, didn’t we, Eléonore?--She laughed so much that we came near having to leave the theatre.” “I don’t know that play,” said Monsieur Camuzard. “Are there actually any asses in it?” “There are three--but they’re dressed as men.” “Ah! very good!” And the old gentleman turned to the baroness and said: “I don’t understand, do you, madame?” The baroness looked at her neighbor with an ironical expression, and replied: “Have you never seen any, monsieur?” “Any what, madame?” “Asses dressed as men.” “I don’t think so--that is to say--Ah! I see, it’s a metaphor!--That’s a very unkind thing to say.” “Do you think so, monsieur? I don’t.” The play suggested was adopted; then they desired a third, to begin the performance. “Yes,” said Chambourdin, “when you take so much trouble to put yourselves in training, you must give full measure--a performance _complet_, like an omnibus. I am going to propose a jolly farce, a little one-act affair with three characters: _Œil et Nez_.” “Oh, yes!” cried Dufournelle; “do you remember, Eléonore? when we saw it, you laughed so hard that--really you laughed too heartily.” “I had already suggested that,” said little Astianax; “I know the part of Tityrus.” “And I will be the Eye, if you choose,” laughed Madame Dufournelle. “And I the Nose,” said Chambourdin. “But what on earth can this play be in which there’s an Eye and a Nose?” queried Monsieur Camuzard, appealing once more to his neighbor. “I can’t imagine, can you, madame?” “I, monsieur? Why I am accustomed to seeing them in all the plays that are acted, and it doesn’t seem at all strange to me.” Far from satisfied with this reply, Monsieur Camuzard dropped his chin on his cravat and his nose beneath his spectacles. The choice of plays being made, they sent out for books, in order to distribute the rôles during the evening. Then they left the table and returned to the salon, where other guests, invited for the evening, were already assembled.