SCENE.--Lustucru's _room_. Lustucru _discovered sitting at table in
a happy mood_.
_Lustucru_. At last! at last! I have not waited in vain; fortune has
smiled upon my efforts, and rewarded my patience. The Countess has gone
to her sister, and only stupid Mother Michel remains. No one saw me
seize that wretched Cat last night and put him in the basket; no one saw
my joyful dance around my treasure, and no one saw my look of bliss when
I flung the Cat from the high bridge down, down into the great river.
Mother Michel receive five hundred francs in reward for care of that
Cat! I think not. Wretched, ungrateful beast! I am at rest now, I
breathe freely: Moumouth is dead; revenge is mine. Ah! here comes
Michel, looking, no doubt, for our Cat.
[_Enter_ Michel, _hastily_.]
[Illustration]
_Michel_. Good-morning, Lustucru; but have you seen Moumouth this
morning? In vain have I searched for him.
_Lustucru_. Does your Cat ever come where I am? You know he hates me.
_Michel_. Alas! where is he? I left him last night by the parlor fire,
and now I can not find him.
_Lustucru_ (_slyly_). Can he be lost?
_Michel_. Ah, no, no! it is impossible. He is somewhere in the house.
_Lustucru_. He ought to be found. [_With feigned anxiety._] He ought to
be searched for this instant. Moumouth is a precious animal, whose value
makes it well worth the search. Let us search for him.
[_They proceed to look under furniture and in corners_, Lustucru
_chuckling and dancing whenever_ Michel's _back is turned_.]
[Illustration]
_Michel_. Alas! I left him only an instant.
_Lustucru_. I begin to believe that he is lost. It is a great misfortune
for you. The Countess--what will she say when she returns? She is
capable of turning you out of doors.
_Michel_ (_indignant_). Turn me out of doors! Father Lustucru, do you
know of whom you are speaking?
_Lustucru_ (_politely_). Certainly, madame. To Mother Michel--the Cat
lover--and loser.
_Duo_.--_Lustucru_ and _Michel_.
Tune--"A dairy-maid am I." No. 21, _Haymakers_. George Root.
_Michel_.
Mother Michel am I,
Maid to her Grace;
And I'll have you to know
I mean to keep my place.
_Lustucru_.
Father Lustucru am I,
Steward to her Grace;
And I'll have you to know
I mean to keep my place.
_Michel_.
Oh! will you be quiet,
You hateful old codger!
_Lustucru_.
Oh! will _you_ be quiet,
Cat loser, and dodger!
_Michel_. } _together_ {
_Lustucru_. } _together_ {
Oh, in my life I ne'er saw
Such a bother--oh, bother, oh, bother!
_Michel_. } _together_ { Mother Michel am I, _etc._
_Lustucru_. } _together_ { Father Lustucru am I, _etc._
_Lustucru_ (_at end of song_). Madame, do not be discouraged--
_Michel_. Oh, don't speak to me--don't, don't, I pray of you. [_Weeps
violently._]
[Illustration]
_Solo_.--_Mother Michel_.
Tune--"I can not dance to-night." Mrs. T. H. Bayly.
Oh, who will bring him back to me?
Oh, who will bring me joy once more?
Who will set my heart at rest,
And Moumouth dear restore?
It makes my tears so doleful
As I think upon his charms--
Oh, who will bring him back to me,
Restore him to these arms?
[_Repeat first verse._]
_Lustucru_ (_as her song ends, during which he has been chuckling_).
Mother Michel, I do bethink me, I dreamed of Moumouth last night.
_Michel_ (_groaning_). Alas! alas! how did he look?
_Lustucru_. In good sooth, pale and sad, as if he were not well.
[_Groans also._]
_Michel_. Oh. Lustucru, even _you_ feel his loss, although he never
loved you. I can forgive you everything, when I hear that groan of
anguish. Where did you dream Moumouth was?
_Lustucru_. He seemed to be in the garden, under the lilac bushes, his
favorite resort.
_Michel_. I will go and look there. Oh, Lustucru, this anguish!
[_Exit_ Michel. Lustucru _dances, singing_.]
_Solo_.--_Lustucru_.
Tune--"Lucy Long."
Oh, Moumouth dear, my darling,
I hope you're nicely drowned,
And never more a-kicking
By Michel will be found.
Tra la! la! la! la! _etc._
[_Repeat verse as refrain._]
[_Enter_ Michel. Lustucru _suddenly stops, and becomes doleful_.]
_Lustucru_. Was he there? Dear Mother Michel, _was_ our charming
Moumouth _there_?
_Michel_. Oh no! no! no! What shall I do!
_Lustucru_. Have you looked in the store-room? I imagined I heard a
meowing just now as I passed by the door.
_Michel_. No, but I will go look. Oh, Lustucru, I forgive you
everything, you are so kind. Oh, my Cat, Moumouth!
[_Exit, and is heard calling in the distance._ Lustucru _returns to
his dance_.]
_Solo_.--_Lustucru_.
Tune--"Lucy Long."
Call, my charming Michel,
Call till you are hoarse;
You will not find your Moumouth,
For he is dead, of course.
[_Enter_ Michel, _mournfully_. Lustucru _sober again_.]
_Lustucru_. Alas! my friend, you have not found him?
_Michel_. No, no. Moumouth, Moumouth, you break my heart. Come to my
arms.
_Lustucru_ (_with hidden malice_).
Oh, Mother Michel,
Your cat is not lost;
He's up in the garret
A-hunting the mice
With his little straw gun
And sabre of wood.
[Illustration]
_Michel_ (_eagerly_). He is in the garret? I hasten there on wings of
love. Moumouth! pussy! [_Exit, calling as before._]
_Lustucru_. What a cat-astrophe, and what fe-elin' she has! Whittington,
Lord Mayor of London, miller's son, you are all excelled by this
excellent woman, whose love for her Cat only exceeds her love for--five
hundred francs that she shall not get. Ah! I have a heart for any--
_Michel_ (_heard without, shouting_). Joy! he is found, my charming
Moumouth! my Cat! my friend! Joy!
[_Enter with_ Moumouth _in her arms_.]
_Lustucru_ (_who has stepped back, thunder-struck_). Found!
_Michel_. Yes, yes. Give me joy, Lustucru. I could dance for joy.
_Duo_.--_Lustucru_ and _Michel_.
Tune--"Lucy Long."
_Michel_ (_capering_).
Oh dear, I am so joyful,
I can not help but dance.
_Lustucru_.
I give joy, oh, Michel,
For this most happy (?) chance.
_Michel_.
I'm so glad he's living,
_Lustucru_ (_viciously_).
The darling little pet.
_Michel_.
The joy of my heart.
_Lustucru_ (_aside_).
I'll have my revenge yet.
[_Repeat together the first two verses._]
[_Curtain falls on Act II._]