ACT IV

Music in the ring. More disorder in the room than usual. All kinds of actors' costumes hanging on pegs and lying in the corners. On the table a bouquet of fiery-red roses, put there by some careless hand. At the entrance, near the arch, three bareback riders are smoking and chattering; they are all minor actors. All part their hair the same way; two wear small moustaches; the third one is clean-shaven with a face like a bull-dog.

The Clean-shaven One

Go on, Henry! Ten thousand francs! It's too much even for the Baron.

The Second

How much are roses now?

The Shaven

I don't know. In winter they are certainly more expensive, but still Henry talks nonsense. Ten thousand!

The Second

The Baron has his own hothouse. They don't cost him anything.