!...
The boyth!... Yeth!... Yeth!... ha, ha, ha, ha!... thankth....
goo'bye!

[_He replaces the receiver and stands looking at the door for a
moment. Then, with his head bent and his hands clasped behind him, he
goes slowly out._

END OF THE FIRST ACT.

THE SECOND ACT

_The scene is an artistically decorated refreshment-saloon-- or
"foyer"-- on the first-circle floor of a theatre. The wall facing the
spectator is panelled partly in glass, and through the glazed panels
the corridor behind the circle, and the doors admitting to the circle,
are seen. The right-hand wall is panelled in a similar way, showing
the landing at the top of the principal staircase and an entrance to
the corridor. Some music-stands and stools are on the landing,
arranged for a small orchestra._

_In the right-hand wall there is a double swing-door giving on to the
landing; and in the wall at the back, opening on to, and from, the
corridor, there is a single swing-door on the left and another on the
right. The left-hand door is fastened back into the saloon by a hook.
Between the two doors in the back wall runs the refreshment-counter._

_In one of the further corners of the saloon there is a plaster statue
representing the Muse of Comedy, in the opposite corner a companion
figure of Dancing. In the wall on the left, the grate hidden by
flowers, is a fireplace with a fender-stool before it, and on either
side of the fireplace there is a capacious and richly upholstered
arm-chair. A settee of like design stands against the wall on the
right between the double-door and the spectator._

_The counter is decked-out as a sideboard, and at equal distances from
each other there are four round tables laid for a supper-party of
twenty-six persons. There are eight chairs at one table and six at
each of the others, the chairs being of the sort usually supplied by
ball-caterers._

_The saloon and the landing without are brilliantly lighted, the
corridor less brightly._

[_LUIGI and four waiters-- one of whom has a curly head and a fair
beard ending in two flamboyant points-- are putting the finishing
touches to the laying of the tables, while MORRIS COOLING, a person of
imposing presence displaying a vast expanse of shirt-front, is engaged
in placing upon each of the serviettes a card bearing the name of a
guest._

COOLING.

[_Referring to a plan of the tables which he has in his hand._] Miss
Connify-- Miss Connif