Percinet.  I must have musicians.

Sylvette.  Then go quick.

Percinet.  I fly!

Sylvette. [Calling him back] I’ll take you as far as the gate. [They go up-stage, arm in arm.] We are at least as great as the most celebrated lovers.

Percinet.  We shall take our place with Romeo and Juliet!

Sylvette.  Aminta and her shepherd.

Percinet.  Pyramus and Thisbe.

Sylvette.  And so many others! [They disappear, but their voices are heard outside.]

Voice of Percinet.  Francesca and Paolo.

Voice of Sylvette.  Petrarch and Laura.

[Bergamin and Pasquinot emerge.]

Pasquinot.  See how well your plan has succeeded!  Our children are quite mad, thanks to you!

Bergamin.  Your daughter, with her famous abduction, is most aggravating.

Pasquinot.  Your son thinks he is a hero.  He gets on my nerves.

Bergamin.  But the worst of it all is that they think we are two idiotic old fools whom they have deceived.  I don’t like it at all.

Pasquinot.  Why didn’t you think of it before, wise man?  I’m going to tell them everything.

Bergamin.  No, please don’t do that—­at least not until after the signing of the contract.  Let us not say a word until then.

Pasquinot.  Very well.  But meantime, there we are caught in the net of your own making.

Bergamin.  But my dear friend, you admired the plan!

Pasquinot.  A fine plan, in truth!

[Sylvette enters gaily, with flowers in her hand.  She waves to Percinet in the distance, then comes down-stage.]

Sylvette.  Good-day, Papa.  Good-day, Father-in-law to-be!

Bergamin.  Good-day, daughter-in-law to-be!

Sylvette.  My, my, what a bad humor you are in!

Bergamin.  It’s Pasquinot’s fault—­he—­he—­

Sylvette. [Waving her flowers in BERGAMIN’s face] Sh!  Please don’t quarrel.  Of course, I understand, you can’t behave quite as old friends, and you like to quarrel a little, in a friendly way—­

Bergamin.  Of course, our hatred was so great!

Sylvette.  A mortal hatred, too!  When I think what you’ve said about Papa—­oh, dear!  I used to sit by the wall and hear every word!  And to think you never once suspected that I came there to meet Percinet—­

Pasquinot. [Ironically] Ah, I—­

Sylvette.  We came every day at the same hour. [To Bergamin] Ha, ha, I can still hear Percinet telling you that he was going to marry—­“most romantically”!  And he kept his word!

Bergamin. [Put out] Really?  And do you think that if I had wished—?