and have
chosen a wife for you. [PERCINET whistles and walks away.] I tell
you, I am in earnest and I intend to force you, if necessary.
[PERCINET continues whistling.] _Will_ you stop that confounded
whistling! The young woman is rich--she's a jewel!

PERCINET. I want none of your jewels!

BERGAMIN. I'll show you, you young insolent!

PERCINET. [Grasping his father's cane, which is raised as if to
strike him] Spring has filled the bushes with the songs of birds;
the brooklets accompany the love-notes of wild birds.

BERGAMIN. Rascal!

PERCINET. [Still holding the cane] The whole world laughs and
sings farewell to April. The butterflies--

BERGAMIN. Ruffian!

PERCINET. [As before] Wing their way across the meadows, to make
love to the adored flowers! Love--

BERGAMIN. Villain!

PERCINET. Love opens wide the heart of all nature. And you ask
me to consent to a marriage of reason!

BERGAMIN. Of course I do!

PERCINET. [Passionately] No, no, no, Father. I swear by this
wall--which hears me, I hope--that my marriage will be more
romantic than any dreamed of in the most poetic of the world's love
stories! [He runs out.]

BERGAMIN. [Pursuing him] Ah, let me catch you--!

SYLVETTE. I can really understand now why Papa hates that odious
old man!

[Enter PASQUINOT, left.]

PASQUINOT. Well, Mademoiselle, what are you doing here?

SYLVETTE. Nothing. Taking the air.

PASQUINOT. Alone? But, you silly girl, are you not afraid?

SYLVETTE. Not in the least.

PASQUINOT. Near this wall? I forbade you to come near it! You
see that park over there? That belongs to my mortal enemy!

SYLVETTE. I know it, Father dear.

PASQUINOT. Why, here you are exposed to any insult, any--if those
rascals knew that my daughter were walking alone in this park--
Brr! It makes me shiver to think of! I'm going to have the wall
repaired, and erect a huge iron grill on top of it.

SYLVETTE. [Aside] He'll never do it--it would cost too much!

PASQUINOT. Now go into the house--quick! [She goes out, PASQUINOT
glowering at her.]

BERGAMIN. [Heard from the other side of the wall, as he enters]
Take this note at once to Monsieur Straforel.

PASQUINOT. [Running to the wall and climbing to the top of it]
Bergamin!

BERGAMIN. [Doing likewise] Pasquinot! [They embrace.]

PASQUINOT. How are you?

BERGAMIN. Pretty well.

PASQUINOT. How's your gout?

BERGAMIN. Better. And how is