Mrs. Ritter. [Turning away to the right] I don’t want to see it till I go on.

Florence. [As Hossefrosse comes towards her] You’d better keep away from that door, Mr. Hossefrosse. [She and Mrs. Ritter laugh.]

Hossefrosse and Mrs. Pampinelli, together.

Hossefrosse. Yes, I think I had.

Mrs. Pampinelli. [Up at the left, addressing the stage manager] Are you ready, Mr. Stage Manager? [He continues to read.]

Hossefrosse and Mrs. Pampinelli, together.

Hossefrosse. [Brushing his clothes] I don’t think a whisk-broom’d be out of place on this stage, either.

Mrs. Pampinelli. [Turning to Spindler, who is still occupied with the stage-screw] Mr. Spindler, will you come here, please? [Turning back to the stage manager] Mr. Stage Manager! [Spindler goes towards her, and Hossefrosse goes through the left door.]

Stage Manager. [Looking up from his paper, very peevishly] Yes?

Mrs. Pampinelli. Are you all ready?

Stage Manager and Twiller, together.

Stage Manager. Yes, sure, I’m all ready. [He resumes his newspaper.]

Twiller. [Turning sharply to Spindler, who has stopped on his way to Mrs. Pampinelli to call Mrs. Fell’s attention to the stage-screw, and to warn her to be careful of it] Oh, go away! Can’t you see we’re busy.