PAPPELMEISTER But you vill vant to talk to your fader, and all _I_ vant is Mr. Quixano's address. De Irish maiden at de house says de bird is flown. VERA [_Gravely_] I don't know if I ought to tell you where the new nest is---- PAPPELMEISTER [_Disappointed_] _Ach!_ VERA [_Smiling_] But I will produce the bird. PAPPELMEISTER [_Looks round_] You vill broduce Mr. Quixano? VERA [_Merrily_] By clapping my hands. [_Mysteriously_] I am a magician. BARON [_Whose eyes have been glued on VERA_] You are, indeed! I don't know how you have bewitched me. [_The BARONESS glares at him._] VERA Dear little father! [_She crosses to him and strokes his hair._] Herr Pappelmeister, tell father about Mr. Quixano's music. PAPPELMEISTER [_Shaking his head_] Music cannot be talked about. VERA [_Smiling_] That's a nasty one for the critics. But tell father what a genius Da--Mr. Quixano is. BARONESS [_Desperately intervening_] Good-bye, Vera. [_She thrusts out her hand, which VERA takes._] I have a headache. You muz excuse me. Herr Pappelmeister, _au plaisir de vous revoir_. [_PAPPELMEISTER hastens to the door, which he holds open. The BARONESS turns and glares at the BARON._] BARON [_Agitated_] Let me see you to the auto---- BARONESS You could see me to ze hotel almost as quick. BARON [_To VERA_] I won't say good-bye, _Verotschka_--I shall be back. [_He goes toward the hall, then turns._] You will keep your Rubinstein waiting? [_VERA smiles lovingly._] BARONESS You are keeping _me_ vaiting. [_He turns quickly. Exeunt BARON and BARONESS._] PAPPELMEISTER And now broduce Mr. Quixano! VERA Not so fast. What are you going to do with him? PAPPELMEISTER Put him in my orchestra! VERA [_Ecstatic_] Oh, you dear! [_Then her tone changes to disappointment._] But he won't go into Mr. Davenport's orchestra. PAPPELMEISTER It is no more Mr. Davenport's orchestra. He fired me, don't you remember? Now I boss--how say you in American? VERA [_Smiling_] Your own show. PAPPELMEISTER _Ja_, my own band. Ven I left dat comic opera millionaire, dey all shtick to me almost to von man. VERA How nice of them! PAPPELMEISTER All egsept de Christian--he vas de von man. He shtick to de millionaire. So I lose my brincipal first violin. VERA And Mr. Quixano is to--oh, how delightful! [_She claps her hands girlishly._] PAPPELMEISTER [_Looks round mischievously_] _Ach_, de magic failed. VERA [_Puzzled_] Eh! PAPPELMEISTER You do not broduce him. You clap de hands--but you do not broduce him. Ha! Ha! Ha! [_He breaks into a great roar of genial laughter._] VERA [_Chiming in merrily_] Ha! Ha! Ha! But I said I have to know everything first. Will he get a good salary? PAPPELMEISTER Enough to keep a vife and eight children! VERA [_Blushing_] But he hasn't a----