ALINE and MAIDS; _to whom_ FIDDLERS; _afterwards_ DUMONT _and_ CHARLES. _As the curtain rises_, _the sound of the violins is heard approaching_. ALINE _and the inn servants_, _who are discovered laying the table_, _dance up to door L. C._, _to meet the_ FIDDLERS, _who enter likewise dancing to their own music_. _Air_: ‘_Haste to the Wedding_.’ _The_ FIDDLERS _exeunt playing into house_, _R. U. E._ ALINE _and_ MAIDS _dance back to table_, _which they proceed to arrange_ ALINE. Well, give me fiddles: fiddles and a wedding feast. It tickles your heart till your heels make a runaway match of it. I don’t mind extra work, I don’t, so long as there’s fun about it. Hand me up that pile of plates. The quinces there, before the bride. Stick a pink in the Notary’s glass: that’s the girl he’s courting. DUMONT (_entering_; _with_ CHARLES). Good girls, good girls! Charles, in ten minutes from now what happy faces will smile around that board! CHARLES. Sir, my good fortune is complete; and most of all in this, that my happiness has made my father happy. DUMONT. Your father? Ah, well, upon that point we shall have more to say. CHARLES. What more remains that has not been said already? For surely, sir, there are few sons more fortunate in their father: and, since you approve of this marriage, may I not conceive you to be in that sense fortunate in your son? DUMONT. Dear boy, there is always a variety of considerations. But the moment is ill chosen for dispute; to-night, at least, let our felicity be unalloyed. (_Looking off L. C._) Our guests arrive: here is our good Curate, and here our cheerful Notary. CHARLES. His old infirmity, I fear. DUMONT. But Charles—dear boy!—at your wedding feast! I should have taken it unneighbourly had he come strictly sober. SCENE II _To these_, _by the door L. C._, _the_ CURATE _and the_ NOTARY, _arm in arm_; _the latter owl-like and titubant_ CURATE. Peace be on this house! NOTARY (_singing_). ‘Prove an excuse for the glass.’ DUMONT. Welcome, excellent neighbours! The Church and the Law. CURATE. And you, Charles, let me hope your feelings are in solemn congruence with this momentous step. NOTARY (_digging_ CHARLES _in the ribs_). Married? Lovely bride? Prove an excuse! DUMONT (_to_ CURATE). I fear our friend? perhaps? as usual? eh? CURATE. Possibly: I had not yet observed it. DUMONT. Well, well, his heart is good. CURATE. He doubtless meant it kindly. NOTARY. Where’s Aline? ALINE. Coming, sir! (NOTARY _makes for her_.) CURATE (_capturing him_). You will infallibly expose yourself to misconstruction. (_To_ CHARLES.) Where is your commanding officer? CHARLES. Why, sir, we have quite an alert. Information has been received from Lyons that the notorious malefactor, Robert Macaire, has broken prison, and the Brigadier is now scouring the country in his pursuit. I myself am instructed to watch the visitors to our house.