Madame Nérisse. Go along and send me in Mademoiselle Grégoire and Madame Chanteuil. They'll bother you, and I want them here.

Caroline Legrand. To write about "Soap of the Sylphs." I know.

She goes out to the right.

Madame Nérisse. She's a little mad, but she really has good ideas sometimes.

The page boy comes in.

Boy [to Madame Nérisse] The gentlemen are there, Monsieur Cazarès and another gentleman.

Madame Nérisse. Are they with Monsieur Nérisse?

Boy. Yes, Madame.

Madame Nérisse. Very well, I'll go. [The boy goes out. She speaks to the others] Divide the work between you. [To Madame Chanteuil and Mademoiselle Grégoire, who come in from the right] There's lots of work to be done. [She goes out to the left]

Mademoiselle de Meuriot. We'd better sit down. [She sits down and says what follows whilst they are taking their places round the table. She takes up the first letter] This is for the advertising department. Is Mademoiselle Baron here?