THE STEP-DAUGHTER. Forgive me, sir, but it's natural enough. This lady (_indicating Leading Lady_) stands there still; but if she is supposed to be me, I can assure you that if I heard anyone say "Good afternoon" in that manner and in that tone, I should burst out laughing as I did. THE FATHER. Yes, yes, the manner, the tone.... THE MANAGER. Nonsense! Rubbish! Stand aside and let me see the action. LEADING MAN. If I've got to represent an old fellow who's coming into a house of an equivocal character.... THE MANAGER. Don't listen to them, for Heaven's sake! Do it again! It goes fine. (_Waiting for the actors to begin again_): Well? LEADING MAN. Good afternoon, Miss. LEADING LADY. Good afternoon. LEADING MAN (_imitating the gesture of the Father when he looked under the hat, and then expressing quite clearly first satisfaction and then fear_). Ah, but ... I say ... this is not the first time that you have come here, is it? THE MANAGER. Good, but not quite so heavily. Like this (_acts himself_): "This isn't the first time that you have come here".... (_To Leading Lady_) And you say: "No, sir." LEADING LADY. No, sir. LEADING MAN. You've been here before, more than once. THE MANAGER. No, no, stop! Let her nod "yes" first. "You've been here before, eh?" (_The Leading Lady lifts up her head slightly and closes her eyes as though in disgust. Then she inclines her head twice_). THE STEP-DAUGHTER (_unable to contain herself_). Oh my God! (_Puts a hand to her mouth to prevent herself from laughing_). THE MANAGER (_turning round_). What's the matter? THE STEP-DAUGHTER. Nothing, nothing! THE MANAGER (_to Leading Man_). Go on! LEADING MAN. You've been here before, eh? Well then, there's no need to be so shy, is there? May I take off your hat? (THE LEADING MAN _says this last speech in such a tone and with such gestures that the_ STEP-DAUGHTER, _though she has her hand to her mouth, cannot keep from laughing_). LEADING LADY (_indignant_). I'm not going to stop here to be made a fool of by that woman there. LEADING MAN. Neither am I! I'm through with it! THE MANAGER (_shouting to Step-Daughter_). Silence! for once and all, I tell you! THE STEP-DAUGHTER. Forgive me! forgive me! THE MANAGER. You haven't any manners: that's what it is! You go too far. THE FATHER (_endeavouring to intervene_). Yes, it's true, but excuse her.... THE MANAGER. Excuse what? It's absolutely disgusting. THE FATHER. Yes, sir, but believe me, it has such a strange effect when.... THE MANAGER. Strange? Why strange? Where is it strange? THE FATHER. No, sir; I admire your actors--this gentleman here, this lady; but they are certainly not us!