tellations of flowers, looking through the
crannies, kissed by the summer sun, makes the bench a throne fit
for kings!

BERGAMIN. Nonsense, you hare-brained youth! Do you mean to tell
me that this wall has eyes?

PERCINET. Ah, what eyes! [Turns toward the wall.] Of soft azure,
yet dazzlingly blue; let but a tear come to dim your brightness,
or a single kiss--

BERGAMIN. But the wall hasn't eyes, you idiot!

PERCINET. See this vine, though! [He plucks part of the vine from
the wall and graciously presents it to his father.]

SYLVETTE. [Aside] How clever!

BERGAMIN. How stupid! But I know now what has turned your silly
head: you come here to read! [SYLVETTE starts as she hears this.
PERCINET also shows signs of fear as his father pulls the book from
the youth's pocket.] Plays! [He drops the book in horror.] And
verse! Verse! That's what has turned your head. Now I see why you
talk about eyes and honeysuckle. I tell you, to be useful, a wall
doesn't have to be beautiful. I am going to have all this green
stuff taken away, and the bricks re-laid and the holes stopped up.
I want a white wall and a high one to keep the neighbors from
looking into our park. I want no vines and honeysuckles. Along
the top I'll sprinkle broken glass--

PERCINET. Pity!

BERGAMIN. No pity! I insist on it! Glass--all along the top of
the wall! [SYLVETTE and PERCINET are in despair. BERGAMIN sits
down on the bench.] And now, I have something to say to you. [He
rises and examines the wall.] If the wall hasn't eyes, it may
possibly have ears? [He is about to stand on the bench, when
PERCINET takes fright and SYLVETTE clings close to her side of the
wall, making herself as small as she can. BERGAMIN decides not
to scale the wall, but motions to his son to do so.] See whether
some curious listener--?

PERCINET. [Climbing to the top and leaning over so that SYLVETTE
can hear him] Till to-night!

SYLVETTE. [Giving him her hand, which he kisses] I'll come as
the clock is striking! I adore you!

BERGAMIN. [To PERCINET] Well?

PERCINET. [Jumping down--to his father] No one!

BERGAMIN. [Re-seating himself] Well, then, my boy, I should like
to see you married.

SYLVETTE. [Aside] Oh!

BERGAMIN. What's that?

PERCINET. Nothing.

BERGAMIN. I thought I heard a cry?

PERCINET. [Looking into the air] Some wounded bird, perhaps.

BERGAMIN. I have given the matter my undivided attention,