(Enter MIMI_ from the Rue d’Enfer; she looks about her as if anxious to make sure of her whereabouts.  On reaching the first plane-tree she is seized by a violent fit of coughing.  Then recovering herself, she sees the sergeant, whom she approaches._)

MIMI.  Oh!  Please, sir, tell me the name of that tavern
Where now a painter’s working?

SERGEANT. (pointing to the tavern) There it is.

MIMI.  Thank you.
(A serving woman comes out of the tavern; MIMI_ goes to her._)
Oh! my good woman, pray do me this favor! 
Can you find me the painter, Marcel? 
I fain would see him; the matter’s urgent;
Just tell him softly that Mimi awaits him.

SERGEANT. (to a passer-by) Ho! there!  What’s in the basket?

OFFICIAL. (after searching the basket) Empty.

SERGEANT.  Pass, there!

(Other folk now pass through the toll-gate and move off in different directions.  The bell of the Hospice Ste. Therese rings for matins.)

MAR. (coming out of the inn) Mimi!

MIMI.  I hoped that I should find you here.

MAR.  Aye, here we’ve been for a month: 
So to pay for our footing,
Musetta teaches singing
To those who come here. 
And I, well—­I paint warriors—­
There, on the house front!

MIMI.  Where is Rudolph?

MAR.  Here.  ’Tis bitter, pray enter!

MIMI. (bursting into tears)

Enter I cannot, no!

MAR.  Why not?

MIMI.  Oh! good Marcel! oh! help me!

MAR.  Say, what has happened?

MIMI.  Rudolph is madly jealous! 
He loves and yet avoids me! 
A glance, a touch, a token,
Suffice to make him jealous,
And start his senseless fury! 
And oft at night,
When feigning to be sleeping,
I felt his eyes were watching
to spy upon my slumbers! 
How oft he would reproach me! 
“You are not mine, Mimi! 
You love another gallant!”
Alas! ’tis jealousy that prompts him. 
Yet how may I reply?

MAR.  Two that live thus, I reckon,
Would be surely better parted.

MIMI.  You are right, you speak truly: 
’Twere best we were parted. 
Will you aid us, then,
Will you aid us to part? 
Oft to do this we have striven, but in vain. 
Ah! ’tis true, to part were the best.

MAR.  I’m happy with Musetta,
And she’s happy with me. 
Because ’tis mirth that binds us together. 
Laughter, music and song,
Ever our love prolong.

MIMI.  Ah! then, aid us, I pray you!

MAR.  ’Tis well, ’tis well!  Now will I wake him.

MIMI.  Wake him?

MAR.  Overcome with fatigue,
Just as dawn was approaching,
On the bench fast lie slumbers,

(Motions MIMI to look through the tavern window)

Behold him! (MIMI coughs persistently)