34
A LEGHORN HAT
- Baroness (To Nonancourt). — Take your place at the piano... (She sits upon the tête à tête, beside a lady.)
- Nonancourt. — You wish me to take my place at the piano? (All are seated, at the left, so as not to obstruct the view of the door at the back.)
- Baroness. — Signor Nisnardi, we are ready to applaud you..
- Fadinard (Near the piano at the extreme right, aside). — What a mess! I sing like a well-rope! (Aloud, coughing.) Hum! Hum!
- All— Sh-h!
- Fadinard (Aside). — What shall I sing? (Aloud, coughing.) Hum! Hum!
- Nonancourt. — Must I play? I'll play! (Bangs away at the piano, without striking any chords.)
- Fadinard (Recitative). — "Toi qui connais les hussards de la garde...! (Shouts from within.) Long live the bride! ! ! (General astonishment; sound of an Austrian galop, within. The three doors at the back burst open; and the bridal party rushes into the drawing room, crying, "Partners for the contradanse")
- Nonancourt. — Plague on it, that music! Here's the whole crowd! (To Fadinard.) You're to dance with your wife!
- Fadinard. — Go on with you! (Aside.) Each for himself; and the devil —!
- (The wedding guests snatch the ladies, helter-skelter; and rush them into the dance; shouts; confusion.)
Curtain
ACT IV
- A bedroom in the house of Beauperthuis; at the back, a curtained alcove. A folding screen, at the left. Main entrance, at the right of the alcove. Side doors, a stand, at the right, against the partition.
- Beauperthuis (Alone, as the curtain rises he is seated in front of the screen, taking a foot bath. A napkin conceals his legs. His shoes are placed by his chair. A lamp is upon the stand. The curtains of the alcove stand open). — Strange! Very strange !My wife said, this morning, at seven minutes to nine: "Beauperthuis, I'm going out to buy some suede gloves." And here it is a
