GRASSET. The day is nigh. We live in great times. Come, Citizen Labret, we will go to our comrades. Farewell, Prosper; you will see me either a great man or never again. Labret (giddily). As a great man--or--not at all. [Exeunt. HOST remains behind, sits on a table, opens a pamphlet, and reads aloud.] HOST. "Now that the beast is in the noose, throttle it." He doesn't write badly, that little Desmoulins. "Never was richer booty offered to the victors. Forty thousand palaces and castles, two-fifths of all the property in France, will be the reward of valor. Those who plume themselves on being conquerors will be put beneath the yoke, the nation will be purged." Enter the COMMISSAIRE. HOST (sizing him up). Hallo--the rabble's beginning to come in pretty early tonight. COMMISSAIRE. My dear Prosper, don't start any of your jokes on me; I am the Commissaire of your district. HOST. And how can I be of any service? COMMISSAIRE. I have orders to attend the performance in your tavern this evening. HOST. It will be an especial honor for me. COMMISSAIRE. 'Tis nothing of that, my excellent Prosper. The authorities wish to have definite information as to what really goes on in your place. For some weeks-- HOST. This is a place of amusement, M. le Commissaire--nothing more. COMMISSAIRE. Let me finish what I was saying. For some weeks past this place is said to have been the theatre of wild orgies. HOST. You are falsely informed, M. le Commissaire. We make jokes here, nothing more. COMMISSAIRE. It begins with that, I know. But it finishes up in another way, so I am informed. You have been an actor. HOST. A manager, sir--manager of a first-class troupe who last played in Denis. COMMISSAIRE. That is immaterial. Then you came into a small legacy. HOST. Not worth speaking about, M. le Commissaire. COMMISSAIRE. Your troupe split up. HOST. And my legacy as well. COMMISSAIRE (smiling). Very well! (Both smile. Suddenly serious.) You started a tavern. HOST. That fared wretchedly. COMMISSAIRE. After which you had an idea that, which, as one must admit, possesses a certain quantum of originality. HOST. You make me quite proud, sir. COMMISSAIRE. You gathered your troupe together again, and have a comedy played here which is of a peculiar and by no means harmless character. HOST. If it were harmful, M. le Commissaire, I should not have my audience--the most aristocratic audience in Paris, I'm in a position to say. The Vicomte de Nogeant is my daily customer. The Marquis de Lansac often comes, and the Duc de Cadignan, M. le Commissaire, is the most enthusiastic admirer of my leading actor, the celebrated Henri Baston. COMMISSAIRE. As well as of the art or arts of your actresses. HOST. When you get to know my little actresses, M. le Commissaire, you won't blame anybody in the whole world for that. COMMISSAIRE. Enough. The authorities have been informed that the entertainments which your--what shall I say--?