the aisles. Their expression is stamped with deep thought as if
pondering over the play. But their step is as that of leopards on the
march, and no one is deceived as to their purpose.

The music continues. The discussion goes on.

* * * * *

The leopards come stealing back. The orchestra boils over in a cadence
and stops. The theater is darkened again. The footlights come on with a
flash. The curtain silently lifts, and it is--

_Act II.--Six Months Later_

THE programs rustle. The people look to see where it is. And they find
that it is "An Apartment in Paris." Notice that this place which is used
in every problem play is just called _An Apartment_. It is not called
Mr. Harding's Apartment, or an Apartment for which Mr. Harding pays the
Rent. Not a bit. It is just an Apartment. Even if it were "A Apartment"
it would feel easier. But "_An Apartment_"!! The very words give the
audience a delicious shiver of uncomfortableness.

When the curtain rises it discloses a French maid moving about the stage
in four-dollar silk stockings. She is setting things on a little table,
evidently for supper. She explains this in French as she does it, so as
to make it clear.

[Illustration: Their expression is stamped with deep thought.]

"_Bon! la serviette de monsieur! bon! la serviette de madame, bien--du
champagne, bon! langouste aux champignons, bien, bon._--" This is all
the French she knows, poor little thing, but _langouste aux
champignons_ beats the audience, so she is all right.

Anyway, this supper scene has to come in. It is symbolical. You can't
really show Amalfi and Fiesole and the orange trees, so this kind of
supper takes their place.

As the maid moves about there is a loud knock at the cardboard door of
the apartment. A man in official clothes sticks his head in. He is
evidently a postal special messenger because he is all in postal attire
with a postal glazed hat.

"Monsieur Arrding?" he says.

"_Oui._"

"_Bon! Une lettre._"

"_Merci, monsieur._" He goes out. The audience feel a thrill of pride at
having learned French and being able to follow the intense realism of
this dialogue. The maid lays the letter on the supper table.

Just as she does it the door opens and there enter Mr. Harding and Lady
Cicely. Yes, them. Both of them. The audience catches it like a flash.
They _live_ here.

Lady Cicely throws aside her cloak. There is great gaiety in her manner.