Everything. A student had been giving her lessons, but I threw him out yesterday. He had the nerve to fall in love with Consuelo and stood there miaowing at the door like a cat. Everything, Briquet, that you don't know—literature, mythology, orthography——
[Two young actresses appear, with small fur coats thrown over their light dresses. They are tired and sit down in the corner.]
Mancini
I do not wish my daughter——
Zinida
Artful!
Briquet
You are stupid, Mancini. What do you do it for? [In a didactic tone] You are fearfully stupid, Mancini. Why does she need to learn? Since she is here she need never know anything about that life. Don't you understand? What is geography? If I were the government I would forbid artists to read books. Let them read the posters, that's enough.
[During Briquet's speech, the two clowns and another actor enter. They sit down wearily.]
Briquet