Pasquinot.  A stroke of genius.

Bergamin. [Modestly] Yes—­I think it really is.  Look—­see that man coming?  It’s Straforel, the bravado whom I wrote to a few minutes ago.  He is to superintend the abduction.

[Straforel, in an elaborate swordsman’s costume, appears at the back of BERGAMIN’s park, and swaggers down-stage.]

Bergamin. [Descending from the wall and bowing low to Straforel] Allow me to introduce you to my friend Pasquinot.

Straforel. [Bowing] Monsieur! [He raises his head and sees no Pasquinot.]

Bergamin. [Pointing to Pasquinot on the crest of the wall] There, on the wall!—­Now, my dear master, does my plan meet with your approval?

Straforel.  It does.  It is most simple.

Bergamin.  You must act quickly, you understand?

Straforel.  And say nothing!

Bergamin.  A make-believe abduction and stage-fight with swords.

Straforel.  I understand perfectly.

Bergamin.  You must have skilful swordsmen—­I can’t have my boy hurt.  He is my only child!

Straforel.  I will see to that myself.

Bergamin.  Good.  In that case, I shall fear nothing.

Pasquinot. [Aside to Bergamin] Ask him the price?

Bergamin.  For an abduction, Maestro, how much do you charge?

Straforel.  That depends, Monsieur, on the kind you wish; we have them at all prices.  In an affair of this kind however, nothing should be spared.  If I were in your place, I should have a first-class abduction.

Bergamin. [Surprised] Then you have many classes?

Straforel.  Indeed I have.  I have the ordinary vulgar abduction in a cab, with two men dressed in black—­that’s rarely used; the daylight abduction, the midnight abduction; the pompous abduction in a court carriage, with powdered servants—­wigs are extra—­with mutes, negroes, brigands, musketeers, anything you like!  The abduction in a post-chaise, with two, three, four, five, horses, ad lib.; the discreet and quiet abduction, in a small carriage—­ that one’s rather lugubrious; the rollicking abduction, in which the victim is carried away in a sack; the romantic abduction in a boat—­but a lake is necessary!—­the Venetian abduction, in a gondola—­ah, you have no lagoon!  Moonlight abduction, or the abduction on a dark and starless night—­those moonlight abductions are quite the style, though they are a little dear!—­Besides these, there is the abduction by torch-light, with cries and screams, and class and shock of arms; the brutal abduction, the polite abduction; the classical one with masks; the gallant abduction to the accompaniment of music; but the latest, most stylish, gayest of all, is the sedan-chair abduction!