Pretentiously furnished room in a hotel. Entrance from the corridor in
the centre; also side doors. In front to the right a window with heavy
closed curtains. To the left a grand piano. Behind the piano a Japanese
screen covering the fireplace. Big open trunks are standing around.
Enormous laurel wreaths on several upholstered armchairs. A mass of
bouquets are distributed about the room, some of them being piled up on
the piano.

SCENE I

Valet de chambre. Immediately afterward an elevator boy.

VALET (enters with an armful of clothes from the adjoining room, puts
them into one of the big trunks. Knocks on the door; he straightens
up). Well?--Come in!

Enter an elevator boy.

BOY. There's a woman downstairs wants to know if Mr. Gerardo is in.

VALET. No, he isn't in. (Exit elevator boy. Valet goes into the
adjoining room, returns with another armful of clothes. Knock on the
door. He lays the clothes aside and walks to the door.) Well, who's
this now? (Opens the door, receives three or four large bouquets, comes
forward with them and lays them carefully on the piano, then resumes
packing. Another knock, he goes to the door, opens it, receives a batch
of letters in all varieties of colors, comes forward and examines the
addresses.) "Mr. Gerardo."--"Courtsinger Gerardo."--"Monsieur
Gerardo."--"Gerardo Esq."--"To the Most Honorable Courtsinger
Gerardo"--that's from the chambermaid, sure!--"Mr. Gerardo, Imperial
and royal Courtsinger." (Puts the letters on a tray, then continues
packing.)

Scene II

GERARDO, valet, later the elevator Boy.

GERARDO. What, aren't you through with packing yet?--How long does it
take you to pack?

VALET. I'll be through in a minute, Sir.

GERARDO. Be quick about it. I have some work left to do before I go.
Come, let me have a look at things. (He reaches into one of the
trunks.) Great Heavens, man! Don't you know how to fold a pair of
trousers? (Takes out the garment in question.) Do you call that
packing? Well I _do_ believe, I might teach you a thing or two, though,
surely, you ought to be better at this than I! Look here, that's the
way to take hold of a pair of trousers. Then hook them here. Next, turn
to these two buttons. Watch closely now, it all depends on these two
buttons; and then--pull--the trousers straight. There you are! Now
finish up by folding them once--like this. That