head drops again._]

BARONESS
Then drive me home--I vill not meet him.... Alexis!
[_She taps him on the shoulder with her parasol. He does not
move._]
Alexis Ivanovitch! Do you not listen!...
[_She stamps her foot._]
Zen I go to ze hotel alone.
[_She walks angrily toward the hall. Just before she reaches the
door, it opens, and the servant ushers in HERR PAPPELMEISTER with
his umbrella. The BARONESS'S tone changes instantly to a sugared
society accent._]
How do you do, Herr Pappelmeister?
[_She extends her hand, which he takes limply._]
You don't remember me? _Non?_
[_Exit servant._]
Ve vere with Mr. Quincy Davenport at Wiesbaden---ze Baroness Revendal.

PAPPELMEISTER
_So!_
[_He drops her hand._]

BARONESS
Yes, it vas ze Baron's entousiasm for you zat got you your present
position.

PAPPELMEISTER [_Arching his eyebrows_]
_So!_

BARONESS
Yes--zere he is!
[_She turns toward the BARON._]
Alexis, rouse yourself!
[_She taps him with her parasol._]
Zis American air makes ze Baron so sleepy.

BARON [_Rises dazedly and bows_]
Charmed to meet you, Herr----

BARONESS
Pappelmeister! You remember ze great Pappelmeister.

BARON [_Waking up, becomes keen_]
Ah, yes, yes, charmed--why do you never bring your orchestra to Russia,
Herr Pappelmeister?

PAPPELMEISTER [_Surprised_]
Russia? It never occurred to me to go to Russia--she seems so
uncivilised.

BARONESS [_Angry_]
Uncivilised! Vy, ve have ze finest restaurants in ze vorld! And ze best
telephones!

PAPPELMEISTER
_So?_

BARONESS
Yes, and the most beautiful ballets--Russia is affrightfully
misunderstood.
[_She sweeps away in burning indignation. PAPPELMEISTER murmurs
in deprecation. Re-enter VERA from the hall. She is gay and
happy._]

VERA
He is coming round at once----
[_She utters a cry of pleased surprise._]
Herr Pappelmeister! This is indeed a pleasure!
[_She gives PAPPELMEISTER her hand, which he kisses._]

BARONESS [_Sotto voce to the BARON_]
Let us go before he comes.
[_The BARON ignores her, his eyes hungrily on VERA._]

PAPPELMEISTER [_To VERA_]
But I come again--you have visitors.

VERA [_Smiling_]
Only my father and----

PAPPELMEISTER [_Surprised_]
Your fader? _Ach so!_
[_He taps his forehead._]
Revendal!

BARONESS [_Sotto voce to the BARON_]
I vill not meet a Jew, I tell you.

PAPPELMEISTER
But you vill vant to talk to your