"What fancy is this that has taken hold of him?"
"Oh! he can do nothing like any one else."
"Ah!—bah! Is his comedy really something so extraordinarily good?"
"No, no, I meant to say that the stylish people of the present day do riot write plays. He had nothing to do but follow their example, and keep himself quiet."
"I thought you had been present at a full rehearsal."
"So I have."
"Well, I came in at the third act, and, ma foi, I found myself beside Mademoiselle ***, whom I had never seen off the stage: I talked with her for a long while, and heard nothing at all of De Gercourt's piece. She is a very nice person is Mademoiselle ***."
"Then you know nothing of the play?"
"Saint-Clair has seen two rehearsals, and says it is very weak. As for me I hope the thing may succeed most decidedly; but as to applauding like a claqueur, why, you see——"
"Heaven defend us from that!"