"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.