ction of the torches is seen at the back of the stage,
through the underbrush. Enter the musicians.] Musicians? There--
at the back. Now, a little distinction and life! Vary your poses
from time to time. Stand straight, mandolin! Sit down, alto!
There. [Severely to a swordsman] You, first mask, don't look so
harmless--I want a villainous slouch! Good! Now, instruments,
play softly--tune up! Good--tra la la! [He puts on his mask.]

[PERCINET enters slowly from the other side of the stage. As he
speaks the following lines, the stage becomes darker, until at the
end, it is night.]

PERCINET. My father is calmer now. The day is dying, and the
intoxicating odor of the elders is wafted to me; the flowers close
their petals in the gray of the evening--

STRAFOREL. [Aside to the violins] Music!

[The musicians play softly until the end of the act.]

PERCINET. I tremble like a reed. She is coming!

STRAFOREL. [To the musicians] Amoroso!

PERCINET. My first evening meeting--I can scarcely stand! The
evening breeze sounds like the fluttering of her dress. Now I
can't see the flowers, but I can smell them. Ah, this great tree,
with a star above it--Music? Who--? [A pause.] Night has come.
[After another pause, a clock strikes eight in the distance.
SYLVETTE appears at the back of her park.]

SYLVETTE. The hour has struck. He must be waiting.

[A whistle is heard. STRAFOREL rises in front of SYLVETTE, and
torch-bearers appear in the background. SYLVETTE screams. The
swordsmen seize and put her into the sedan-chair.]

SYLVETTE. Help! Help!

PERCINET. Great Heavens!

SYLVETTE. Percinet, they are carrying me off!

PERCINET. [Leaping to the wall] I come! [When he reaches the
top of the wall, he draws his sword, jumps down on the other side,
and engages four or five swordsmen in combat. They flee before
him.] There, and there, and there!

STRAFOREL. [To the musicians] Tremolo!

[The violins now play a dramatic tremolo.]

STRAFOREL. Per Bacco, he's the devil, that child! [PERCINET now
engages STRAFOREL in a duel. STRAFOREL, after a few thrusts, puts
his hand to his breast.] I--I'm mortally wounded! [He falls.]

PERCINET. [Running to SYLVETTE, who sits in the sedan-chair]
Sylvette! [He kneels to her.]

SYLVETTE. My savior!

PASQUINOT. [Entering] Bergamin's son! Your savior? Your
savior? I give you to him!

SYLVETTE and PERCINET. Heavens!

[BERGAMIN now