GERARDO. Yes, yes. (Takes the letters from the tray and throws himself into an armchair in front of the piano.) Now, for pity's sake, hurry up and get through. (Valet disappears in adjoining room. Gerardo opens the letters, glances through them with a radiant smile, crumples them up and throws them under his chair. From one of them he reads as follows:) "... To belong to you who to me are a god! To make me infinitely happy for the rest of my life, how little that would cost you! Consider, please, ..." (To himself.) Great Heavens! Here I am to sing Tristan in Brussels tomorrow night and don't remember a single note!--Not a single note! (Looking at his watch.) Half-past three.--Forty-five minutes left. (A knock.) Come i--n! BOY (lugging in a basket of champagne). I was told to put this in Mr.... GERARDO. _Who_ told you?--Who is downstairs? BOY. I was told to put this in Mr. Gerardo's room. GERARDO (rising). What is it? (Relieves him of the basket.) Thank you. (Exit elevator boy. GERARDO lugs basket forward.) For mercy's sake! Now what am I to do with this! (Reads the name on the giver's card and calls out.) George! VALET (enters from the adjoining room with another armful of clothes). It's the last lot. Sir. (Distributes them among the various trunks which he then closes.) GERARDO. Very well.--I am at home to no one! VALET. I know. Sir. GERARDO. To no one, I say! VALET. You may depend on me, Sir. (Handing him the trunk keys.) Here are the keys, Mr. Gerardo. GERARDO (putting the keys in his pocket). To _no one!_ VALET. The trunks will be taken down at once. (Starts to leave the room.) GERARDO. Wait a moment ... VALET (returning). Yes, Sir? GERARDO (gives him a tip). What I said was: to _no one!_ VALET. Thank you very much indeed. Sir. [Exit.] SCENE III GERARDO (alone, looking at his watch). Half an hour left. (Picks out the piano arrangement of "Tristan and Isolde" from under the flowers on the piano and, walking up and down, sings mezza voce:) "Isolde! Beloved! Art thou mine? Once more my own? May I embrace thee?" (Clears his throat, strikes two thirds on the piano and begins anew:) "Isolde! Beloved! Art thou mine? Once more my own? ..." (Clears his throat.) The air is simply infernal in here! (Sings:) "Isolde! Beloved! ..." I feel as if there were a leaden weight on me! I must have a breath of fresh air, quick! (Goes to the window and tries to find the cord by which to draw the curtain aside.) Where can that thing be?--On the other side. There! (Draws the curtain aside quickly and seeing MISS COEURNE before him, throws back his head in a sort of mild despair.) Goodness gracious! Scene IV MISS COEURNE. GERARDO