"This time you must not expect to enjoy yourself; we are going to
rehearse in good earnest," said Denoisel. "Mlle. Noémi, come and sit
down there--that's it. We are ready now, are we not? One--two--three,"
he continued, clapping his hands, "begin."
"The fact is--the first scene," said Noémi, hesitatingly, "I am not
quite sure of it--I know the other better."
"The second, then? We'll begin with the second--I'll take Henri's part:
'_Good evening, my dear_---- '"
Denoisel was interrupted by a peal of laughter from Renée.
"Oh, dear!" she said to Noémi, "how funnily you are sitting! You look
like a piece of sugar held in the sugar-tongs."
"Do I?" said Noémi, quite confused and trying to find a better pose.
"If only you would be kind enough not to interrupt the actors, Renée,"
said Denoisel. "'_Good evening, my dear_,'" he repeated, continuing his
rôle, "'_do I disturb you_?'"
"Oh! and where are the purses?" exclaimed Renée.
"Why, I thought you were to see to them."
"I?--not at all. You were to see to them. You are a nice one to count on
for the stage properties! I say, Noémi, if you were married, would it
ever dawn upon you to give your husband a purse? It's rather shoppy,
isn't it? Why not a smoking-cap, at once?"
"Are we going to rehearse?" asked Denoisel.
"Oh, Denoisel, you said that just like a man who really wants to go and
have a smoke!"
"I always do want to smoke, Renée," answered Denoisel, "and especially
when I ought not to."
"Why, it's quite a vice, then, with you."
"I should just think it is; and so I keep it."
"Well, but what pleasure can you find in smoking?"
"The pleasure of a bad habit--that is the explanation of many passions.
'_Good evening, my dear_,'" he repeated, once more going back to M. de
Chavigny's arrival on the scene, "'_do I disturb you_?'"
"_Disturb me, Henri--what a question!_" replied Noémi.
And the rehearsal continued.