THE COUNT, MR. BOBINET, CRIQUET.
CRI. The actors send me to tell you that they are ready.
COUN. Let us take our seats. (_Showing_ JULIA.) Mr. Thibaudier,
take this lady under your care.
CRIQUET _places all the chairs on one side of the stage. The_
COUNTESS, JULIA, _and the_ VISCOUNT _sit down, and_ MR. THIBAUDIER
_sits down at the_ COUNTESS'S _feet_.
VISC. It is important for you to observe that this comedy was made
only to unite the different pieces of music and dancing which compose
the entertainment, and that ...
COUN. Ah! never mind, let us see it; we have enough good sense to
understand things.
VISC. Begin then at once, and see that no troublesome intruder comes
to disturb our pleasure.
(_The violins begin an overture._)