FLIPOTTE. Good evening, young gentleman. ALBIN. Good evening, ladies. MICHETTE. The little one is a dear. (She sits on ALBIN'S lap.) ALBIN. But, Francois, please explain, are these respectable ladies? MICHETTE. What does he say? FRANCOIS. No, that's not quite the word for the ladies who come here. Odds life, you are silly, Albin! HOST. What shall I bring for their Graces? MICHETTE. Bring me a very sweet wine. FRANCOIS (pointing to FLIPOTTE). A friend of yours? MICHETTE. We live together. Yes, we have only one bed between us. FLIPOTTE (blushing). Would you find it a very great nuisance should you come and see her! (Sits on FRANCOIS'S lap.) ALBIN. She is not at all shy. SCAEVOLA (stands up; gloomily turning to the table where the young people are). At last I've found you. (To ALBIN.) And you, you miserable seducer, aren't you ashamed that you ... She is mine. [HOST looks on.] FRANCOIS (to ALBIN). a joke--a joke.... ALBIN. She isn't his-- MICHETTE. Go away. You let me sit where I want to. [SCAEVOLA stands there with clenched fists.] HOST (behind). Now, now? SCAEVOLA. Ha, ha! HOST (takes him by the collar). Ha, ha! (By his side.) You have not a farthing's worth of talent. Roaring, that's the only thing you can do. MICHETTE (to FRANCOIS). Recently he did it much better. SCAEVOLA (to HOST). I'm not in the vein. I'll make a better show later on, when more people are here; you see. Prosper, I need an audience. Enter the DUC DE CADIGNAN. DUKE. Already in full swing! [MICHETTE and FLIPOTTE go up to him.] MICHETTE. My sweet Duke. FRANCOIS. Good evening, EMILE ... (introducing) My young friend, Albin, Chevalier de Tremouille--the Duc de Cadignan. DUKE. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. (To the girls, who are hanging on to him.) Leave me alone, children! (To ALBIN.) So you, too, are having a look at this droll tavern? ALBIN. It bewilders me in the extreme. FRANCOIS. The Chevalier has only been in Paris a few days. DUKE (laughing). Then you have certainly chosen a nice time. ALBIN. How so? MICHETTE. He still has that delicious perfume! There isn't another man in Paris who has such a pleasant smell. (To ALBIN.) ... You can't perceive it like that. DUKE. She speaks of the seven or eight hundred whom she knows as well as me. FLIPOTTE. Will you let me play with your sword, dear? [She draws his sword out of its sheath and flashes it about.] GRAIN (to Host). He's the man--'twas him I saw her with-- [HOST lets him go on, seems astonished.] DUKE. Henri is not here yet, then? (To ALBIN.) If you see him, you will not regret having come here. HOST (to DUKE). Oh, so you're here again, are you? I am glad. We shall not have the pleasure much longer. DUKE. Why? I find it very nice at your place.