UIS, Charles's Father

THE BRIGADIER of Gendarmerie

THE CURATE

THE NOTARY

A WAITER

ERNESTINE, Goriot's Daughter

ALINE

MAIDS, PEASANTS (_Male and Female_), GENDARMES

The Scene is laid in the Courtyard of the "Auberge des Adrets," on the
frontier of France and Savoy. The time 1820. The Action occupies an
interval of from twelve to fourteen hours; from four in the afternoon
till about five in the morning

NOTE.--_The time between the acts should be as brief as possible, and
the piece played, where it is merely comic, in a vein of patter_

MACAIRE

ACT I

_The Stage represents the courtyard of the "Auberge des Adrets." It is
surrounded by the buildings of the inn, with a gallery on the first
story, approached, C., by a straight flight of stairs. L.C., the
entrance doorway. A little in front of this, a small grated office,
containing business table, brass-bound cabinet, and portable cash-box.
In front, R. and L., tables and benches; one, L., partially laid for a
considerable party_

SCENE I

_ALINE and MAIDS; to whom, FIDDLERS; afterwards DUMONT and CHARLES. As
the curtain rises, the sound of the violins is heard approaching.
ALINE and the inn servants, who are discovered laying the table, dance
up to door L.C., to meet the FIDDLERS, who enter likewise dancing to
their own music. Air: "Haste to the Wedding." The FIDDLERS exeunt
playing into house, R.U.E. ALINE and MAIDS dance back to table, which
they proceed to arrange_

ALINE. Well, give me fiddles: fiddles and a wedding feast. It tickles
your heart till your heels make a runaway match of it. I don't mind
extra work, I don't, so long as there's fun about it. Hand me up that
pile of plates. The quinces there, before the bride. Stick a pink in the
Notary's glass: that's the girl he's courting.

DUMONT (_entering; with CHARLES_). Good girls, good girls! Charles, in
ten minutes from now what happy faces will smile around that board!

CHARLES. Sir, my good fortune is complete; and most of all in this, that
my happiness has made my father happy.

DUMONT. Your father? Ah, well, upon that point we shall have more to
say.

CHARLES. What more remains that has not been said already? For surely,
sir, there are few sons more fortunate in their father: and, since you
approve of this marriage, may I not conceive you to be in that sense
fortunate in your son?

DUMONT. Dear boy, there is always