prepare to go out to supper, with the exception of Rudolph who remains
behind to finish a manuscript article.

A pretty young girl soon knocks, carrying a candle and a key. He begs
her to come in and be seated and she swoons while refusing. He revives
her with some wine, and she goes off with her relighted candlestick,
but forgets her key, which she has dropped in her swoon, and for which
she at once comes back. A draught blows out the candle and Rudolph
keeps the key, while pretending to look for it.--Suddenly he clasps the
girl's hand and he and she exchange confidences, while confessing their
love for each other.

{477}

When Rudolph's friends call him he invites Mimi, who is a flower girl,
to accompany him.

The second act takes place before the well known Cafe Momus in the
Quartier Latin, where Rudolph and Mimi join Schaunard and Marcel.

Rudolph has bought her a pink bonnet and introduces her to his friends,
the fourth of whom is Colline the Philosopher.

The party eat and drink amid the noise and bustle of the fair, when
Marcel suddenly sees his old love Musette, gorgeously arrayed and
leaning upon the arm of an old man. Marcel turns pale, while his
friends make fun of the fantastic couple, much to Musette's anger. She
at once begins to make overtures to Marcel, who feigns utter
indifference.--Musette's old admirer orders supper, in the hope of
pacifying her, while she addresses Marcel in fond whispers. The others
watch the scene with amusement, but Rudolph devotes all his attentions
to Mimi. Musette suddenly complains, that her shoes hurt her and sends
her aged lover off for another pair. Then she proceeds to make friends
with Marcel. When the waiter brings the bill, Musette tells him, that
the old gentleman will settle for everything after his return.

The party profits by the approach of the patrol, who causes a turmoil,
in the midst of which they all escape. Alcindor the old admirer finds
only two bills awaiting him, when he returns with the new shoes.
Musette has been carried away shoeless by her old friend.

{478}

The third scene takes place on the outskirts of Paris called "Barriere
de l'Enfer", (The Toll Gate of Hell). To the left there is a tavern,
over which hangs Marcel's picture "The Crossing of the Red Sea", as a
sign board. The day is breaking, the customhouse officials are still
sleeping around the fire, but the scavengers coming from Chantilly soon
awake them.

The gate i