BEN.  But say—­I say!

MAR.  Be silent!

COL.  Be silent!

RUD.  Be silent!

(They surround BENOIT and gradually push him to the door.)

BEN.  Sirs, I beg you!

MAR., SCH. and COL.  Be silent, out, your lordship!  Hence away!

RUD., MAR., SCH. and COL.  Wish we your lordship a pleasant Christmas
Eve.  Ah!

(They push BENOIT outside the door.)

MAR. (locking the door) I have paid the last quarter!

SCH.  In the Quartier Latin
Momus awaits!

MAR.  Long live the spender!

SCH.  We’ll the booty divide!

RUD.  We’ll divide!

COL.  We’ll divide! (they divide the money on the table)

MAR. (holding out a cracked mirror to COLLINE)
Beauty is a gift heaven descended,
Now you are rich, to decency pay tribute. 
Bear! have your mane attended!

COL.  The first chance I can find,
I will make acquaintance with a beard eraser! 
So guide me to the monstrous outrage of a barber’s weapon. 
Let’s go!

SCH.  We go!

MAR. and COL.  We go!

RUD.  I stay here, finish I must the article for my new journal,
“Beaver”!

MAR.  Be quick then!

RUD.  Five minutes only, I know well the work!

COL.  We’ll await you at the porter’s lodge!

MAR.  Delay, and you’ll hear the chorus!

RUD.  Five minutes only!

SCH.  You must cut short the Beaver’s growing tale!

(RUDOLPH takes a light from the table and goes to open the door:  the others go out and descend the staircase.)

MAR. (from without) Look to the staircase! keep well to the handrail!

RUD. (on the landing near the open door holding up the candle) Go slowly!

COL.  How plaguing dark ’tis!

SCH.  May the porter be damned!

(The noise of someone falling is heard.)

COL.  I have tumbled!

RUD.  Colline, are you dead yet?

COL. (from the bottom of the staircase) Not this time!

MAR.  Come quickly!

(RUDOLPH shuts the door, puts down the light, clears a space at the table for pens and paper, then sits down and commences to write, after putting out the other candle.)

RUD.  I’m out of humor! (A timid knock is heard at the door.) Who’s there?

MIMI. (from without) Pardon!

RUD.  ’Tis a lady!

MIMI.  Excuse me, my candle’s gone out!

RUD. (running to open the door) Is it?

MIMI. (standing on the threshold with an extinguished candle and a key) Pray, would you—­

RUD.  Pray be seated a moment.

MIMI.  No, I thank you.

RUD.  I beg you enter.

(MIMI enters, but is seized with a fit of coughing.)

RUD.  Are you not well?