Pretentiously furnished room in a hotel. Entrance from the corridor in the centre; also side doors. In front to the right a window with heavy closed curtains. To the left a grand piano. Behind the piano a Japanese screen covering the fireplace. Big open trunks are standing around. Enormous laurel wreaths on several upholstered armchairs. A mass of bouquets are distributed about the room, some of them being piled up on the piano. SCENE I Valet de chambre. Immediately afterward an elevator boy. VALET (enters with an armful of clothes from the adjoining room, puts them into one of the big trunks. Knocks on the door; he straightens up). Well?--Come in! Enter an elevator boy. BOY. There's a woman downstairs wants to know if Mr. Gerardo is in. VALET. No, he isn't in. (Exit elevator boy. Valet goes into the adjoining room, returns with another armful of clothes. Knock on the door. He lays the clothes aside and walks to the door.) Well, who's this now? (Opens the door, receives three or four large bouquets, comes forward with them and lays them carefully on the piano, then resumes packing. Another knock, he goes to the door, opens it, receives a batch of letters in all varieties of colors, comes forward and examines the addresses.) "Mr. Gerardo."--"Courtsinger Gerardo."--"Monsieur Gerardo."--"Gerardo Esq."--"To the Most Honorable Courtsinger Gerardo"--that's from the chambermaid, sure!--"Mr. Gerardo, Imperial and royal Courtsinger." (Puts the letters on a tray, then continues packing.) Scene II GERARDO, valet, later the elevator Boy. GERARDO. What, aren't you through with packing yet?--How long does it take you to pack? VALET. I'll be through in a minute, Sir. GERARDO. Be quick about it. I have some work left to do before I go. Come, let me have a look at things. (He reaches into one of the trunks.) Great Heavens, man! Don't you know how to fold a pair of trousers? (Takes out the garment in question.) Do you call that packing? Well I _do_ believe, I might teach you a thing or two, though, surely, you ought to be better at this than I! Look here, that's the way to take hold of a pair of trousers. Then hook them here. Next, turn to these two buttons. Watch closely now, it all depends on these two buttons; and then--pull--the trousers straight. There you are! Now finish up by folding them once--like this. That's the way. They won't lose their shape now in a hundred years! VALET (quite reverent, with eyes cast down). Perhaps Mr. Gerardo used to be a tailor once. GERARDO. What? A tailor, I? Not quite. Simpleton! (Handing the trousers to him.) There, put them back, but be quick about it. VALET (bending down over the trunk). There's another batch of letters for you, Sir. GERARDO (walking over to the left). Yes, I've seen them. VALET. And flowers!