Maurice.  That’s why I had to be called in to entertain you—­Hush!  There is somebody outside—­It must be he.

Henriette.  No, don’t you know these are the hours when ghosts walk, and then you can see so many things, and hear them also.  To keep awake at night, when you ought to be sleeping, has for me the same charm as a crime:  it is to place oneself above and beyond the laws of nature.

Maurice.  But the punishment is fearful—­I am shivering or quivering, with cold or with fear.

Henriette. [Wraps her opera cloak about him] Put this on.  It will make you warm.

Maurice.  That’s nice.  It is as if I were inside of your skin, as if my body had been melted up by lack of sleep and were being remoulded in your shape.  I can feel the moulding process going on.  But I am also growing a new soul, new thoughts, and here, where your bosom has left an impression, I can feel my own beginning to bulge.

(During this entire scene, the pianist in the next room has been practicing the Sonata in D-minor, sometimes pianissimo, sometimes wildly fortissimo; now and then he has kept silent for a little while, and at other times nothing has been heard but a part of the finale:  bars 96 to 107.)

Maurice.  What a monster, to sit there all night practicing on the piano.  It gives me a sick feeling.  Do you know what I propose?  Let us drive out to the Bois de Boulogne and take breakfast in the Pavilion, and see the sun rise over the lakes.

Henriette.  Bully!

Maurice.  But first of all I must arrange to have my mail and the morning papers sent out by messenger to the Pavilion.  Tell me, Henriette:  shall we invite Adolphe?

Henriette.  Oh, that’s going too far!  But why not?  The ass can also be harnessed to the triumphal chariot.  Let him come. [They get up.]

Maurice. [Taking off the cloak] Then I’ll ring.

Henriette.  Wait a moment! [Throws herself into his arms.]

(Curtain.)

SECOND SCENE

(A large, splendidly furnished restaurant room in the Bois de Boulogne.  It is richly carpeted and full of mirrors, easy-chairs, and divans.  There are glass doors in the background, and beside them windows overlooking the lakes.  In the foreground a table is spread, with flowers in the centre, bowls full of fruit, wine in decanters, oysters on platters, many different kinds of wine glasses, and two lighted candelabra.  On the right there is a round table full of newspapers and telegrams.)

(Maurice and Henriette are sitting opposite each other at this small table.)

(The sun is just rising outside.)

Maurice.  There is no longer any doubt about it.  The newspapers tell me it is so, and these telegrams congratulate me on my success.  This is the beginning of a new life, and my fate is wedded to yours by this night, when you were the only one to share my hopes and my triumph.  From your hand I received the laurel, and it seems to me as if everything had come from you.