Look you, now that things are being cut down all round, has not a letter been economised in the description of your office? and instead of being responsible for the department, are you not really responsible for the departure of the Fine Arts? Moreover, I have something to relate that passed between us, three months ago. Do you remember I had the honour of paying you a visit, three months ago? I came to give you notice, on behalf of the manager of the Cirque, that while we were waiting for the Barrière de Clichy we were going to put the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge in rehearsal.
"The Chevalier de Maison-Rouge!" you exclaimed.
"Yes."
"But is not the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge a drama written by yourself?"
"Yes."
"Is it not in the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge that the famous chorus occurs—
'Mourir pour la patrie'?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, we will not allow the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge to be played."
"You will not allow the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge to be played?"