AMIN. 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
clash 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!

BERGAMIN. [Scratching his head--aside to PASQUINOT] Well, what
do you think?

PASQUINOT. Hm, what do you?

BERGAMIN. I think that we should do everything in the best possible
way, no expense spared. Let us give our young romancers something
they'll not soon forget. Let's have it with masks, dark mantles,
torches, music, and a sedan-chair!

STRAFOREL. [Taking notes] A first-class, then, with all extras.

BERGAMIN. That's it.

STRAFOREL. I shall return soon. [To PASQUINOT] Remember,
Monsieur, to leave open the door of your park to-night.

BERGAMIN. Very well, it shall be done.

STRAFOREL. [Bowing] My c