HENRI. No woman ever had a more glorious wedding present. Come, Leocadie. Good-by for the present, Prosper. I shall soon be back again. [Exeunt HENRI and LEOCADIE.] Enter together FRANCOIS, Vicomte de Nogeant, and ALBIN, Chevalier de la Tremouille. SCAEVOLA. What a contemptible braggart! HOST. Good evening, you swine. [ALBIN starts back.] FRANCOIS (without taking any notice). Was not that the little Leocadie of the Porte St. Martin, who went away with Henri? HOST. Of course it was.--If she really took great trouble she could eventually make you remember that even you are something of a man, eh? FRANCOIS (laughing). That is not impossible. It seems we are rather early tonight. HOST. In the meanwhile you can amuse yourself with your minion. [ALBIN is on the point of flying into a passion.] FRANCOIS. Let it pass. I told you what went on here. Bring us wine. HOST. Ay, that I will. The time will soon come when you will be very satisfied with Seine water. FRANCOIS. Quite so, quite so ... but tonight I would fain ask for wine, and the best wine into the bargain. [HOST goes to the bar.] ALBIN. That is really a dreadful fellow. FRANCOIS. But just think, it's all a joke. And, withal, there are places where you can hear similar things in real earnest. ALBIN. Is it not forbidden? FRANCOIS (laughs). One sees that you come from the provinces. ALBIN. Ah! we, too, are having a bad time of it nowadays. The peasants are getting so insolent ... one doesn't know what to do any more.... FRANCOIS. What would you have? The poor devils are hungry--that is the secret. ALBIN. How can I help it? How can my great-uncle help it? FRANCOIS. Why do you mention your great-uncle? ALBIN. Well, I do so because they actually held a meeting in our village--quite openly--and at the meeting they actually called my great-uncle, the Comte de Tremouille, a corn-usurer. FRANCOIS. Is that all? ALBIN. Nay, is that not enough! FRANCOIS. We will go to the Palais-Royal tomorrow, and there you will have a chance of hearing the monstrous speeches the fellows make. But we let them speak--it is the best thing to do. They are good people at bottom; one must let them bawl themselves out in that way. ALBIN (pointing to SCAEVOLA, etc.). What suspicious characters those are! Just see how they look at one. (He feels for his sword.) FRANCOIS (draws his hand away). Don't be ridiculous. (To the three others.) You need not begin yet; wait till there is more audience. (To ALBIN.) They're the most respectable people in the world, actors are. I will warrant you have already sat at table with worse knaves. ALBIN. But they were better attired. [HOST brings wine.] Enter MICHETTE and FLIPOTTE. FRANCOIS. God be with you, children! Come and sit down by us. MICHETTE. Here we are. Come along, Flipotte. She is still somewhat shy.