COL.  Gavotte.

MAR.  Minuet.

RUD.  Pavanella.

SCH. (imitating a Spanish measure) Fandango.

COL.  I vote we dance quadrilles first. (the others approve)

RUD.  Now take your partners.

COL.  I’ll lead it. (pretends to be very busy arranging a quadrille)

SCH. (improvising, beats time with comic pomposity of manner)
La-lera, la-lera, la-lera!

RUD. (approaching MARCEL_, and bowing very low, offers him his hand as he gallantly says_) Oh! maiden fair and gentle!

MAR. (with coy bashfulness of manner, counterfeiting a woman’s voice) My modesty respect, sir, I beg you.

SCH.  Lal-lera, lal-lera, lal-lera, la!

COL. (giving directions as to the figures, while RUDOLPH and
MARCEL dance the quadrille) Balancez!

MAR. (in his ordinary voice) Lal-lera, lal-lera, lal-lera!

SCH. (teasingly) First there’s the Rond.

COL.  No, stupid!

SCH. (with exaggerated contempt) You’ve manners like a clown!

COL. (offended) As I take it, you’re insulting! 
Draw your sword, sir!

(rushes to the fireplace and seizes the tongs)

SCH. (taking up the poker) Ready!  Have at you! (preparing to receive his adversary’s attack) Thy hot blood would I drink!

COL. (doing likewise) One of us shall now be gutted! (Rudolph and
Marcel stop dancing and burst out laughing.)

SCH.  Now get a stretcher ready.

COL.  And get a grave-yard, too.

(SCHAUNARD and COLLINE fight.)

RUD. and MAR. (gaily) While they beat each other’s brains out, Our fandango we will finish. (They dance round the combatants, whose blows fall faster.  The door opens and Musetta enters in a state of great agitation.)

MAR. (amazed) Musetta! (All anxiously cluster round Musetta)

MUS. (hoarsely) ’Tis Mimi—­’tis Mimi who is with me—­And is ailing!

RUD.  Mimi!

MUS.  She has not strength to climb the staircase. (Through the open door RUDOLPH_ spies MIMI, seated on the topmost stair; he rushes to her, followed by MARCEL.)

SCH. (to COLLINE) Here’s the bed:  we’ll put her on it. (they drag the bed forward)

RUD. (supporting MIMI_ and leading her towards the bed, aided by MARCEL) There! some water!

(MUSETTA brings a glass of water and makes MIMI sip it.)

MIMI. (passionately) Oh, Rudolph!

RUD.  Gently, lie down there. (gently lowers her on the bed)

MIMI. (embracing RUDOLPH) My darling Rudolph!  Ah! let me stay with you!

RUD.  Darling Mimi! stay here ever! (He induces Mimi_ to lie down at full length on the bed, and draws the coverlet over her; he then carefully adjusts the pillow be neath her head._)