_Madame Gueret is sitting at a table. She is a woman of forty-five, dressed for the afternoon, cold and distinguished looking. Monsieur Gueret, who is with her, is about fifty-five and is wearing a frock coat. He is standing beside his wife._ GUERET. Then you really don't want me to go and hear the third act? MADAME GUERET [_dryly_] I think as I've been let in for these theatricals solely to please your goddaughter you may very well keep me company. Besides, my brother is coming back and he has something to say to you. GUERET [_resignedly_] Very well, my dear. _A pause._ MADAME GUERET. I can't get over it. GUERET. Over what? MADAME GUERET. What we're doing. What _are_ we doing? GUERET. We're giving a performance of _Barberine_ for the amusement of our friends. There's nothing very extraordinary in that. MADAME GUERET. Don't make fun of me, please. What we are doing is simply madness. Madness, do you hear? And it was the day before yesterday--only the day before yesterday--we heard the news. GUERET. We-- MADAME GUERET [_Who has seen Lucienne come in_] Hush! _Lucienne comes in, a girl of twenty, dressed as Barberine from Musset's play; then Maud, Nadia, and Antoinette [eighteen to twenty-two], dressed as followers of the queen. Lucienne goes to the piano, takes a piece of music, and comes to Madame Gueret._ LUCIENNE. You'll help me along, won't you, dear Madame Gueret? You'll give me my note when it comes to "Voyez vous pas que la nuit est profonde"? MADAME GUERET. Now don't be nervous. MAUD [_coming in_] We're ready. ANTOINETTE. If the third act only goes as well as the first two-- MAUD. We'll listen until we have to go on. ANTOINETTE. Won't you come with us, Madame? MADAME GUERET. No, I can't. I've had to undertake the noises behind the scenes. _That_ job might have been given to someone else, I think. LUCIENNE. Oh, Madame, please don't be angry with us. Madame Chain let us know too late. And you're helping us so much. MADAME GUERET. Well, I've invited the people, and I suppose I must entertain them. As I gave in to Therese about getting up this play, I don't want to do anything to spoil the evening. LUCIENNE. How pretty she is as Kalekairi. MADAME GUERET. You don't think people are shocked by her frock? LUCIENNE. Oh, Madame! MADAME GUERET. Well! LUCIENNE. I shall have to go in a moment. Therese has come out; I can hear her sequins rattling. MADAME GUERET. Yes; so can I. But Rene will let us know. Never mind. _She goes to the piano. Rene appears at the door at the back._ RENE. Are you ready, Lucienne? LUCIENNE. Yes. RENE. You've only two lines to say. LUCIENNE. Only one. [_She speaks low to Rene_] No end of a success, wasn't it, for your Therese? RENE [_low_] Wasn't it? I _am_ so happy, Lucienne. I love her so. LUCIENNE. Listen. That's for me, I think.