(The rumbling of carriage wheels is heard.)
Mercadet (aside)
At last! (Aloud) Oh, heavens! (He lays his hand upon his heart.)
A Postillion (outside)
A carriage at the door.
Mercadet
Ah! (Falls back on a chair near the table.)
Goulard (looking through the pane of glass above the mantel)
A carriage!
Pierquin (doing the same)
A post-chaise!
Violette (doing the same)
Gentlemen, a post-chaise is at the door.
Mercadet (aside)
My dear De la Brive could not have arrived at a better moment!
Goulard
See how dusty it is!
Violette
And battered to the very hood! It must have come from the heart of the
Indies, to be as battered as that.