“How do you suppose I know? You should learn your part.”
“Thanks! Tire out my brain and give myself a fever—I’m no such fool; if I don’t know it, I’ll say the first thing that comes into my head.—But Astianax and Eolinde,—where are they?”
“They are learning their parts, and it isn’t possible to get near them!”
About noon, the actors began to arrive. There were Dufournelle and his wife; the husband carried an enormous bundle, for the ladies all brought their stage costumes and their ball dresses. Next, Mademoiselle Polymnie appeared with her father, Monsieur Camuzard, who also carried a bundle; then Monsieur Mangeot and his sister, each of them with a bundle.
“Why have you brought so many things,” said Glumeau, “since Chambourdin promised the costumes?”
“Oh, yes! catch us relying on Monsieur Chambourdin!” said Madame Dufournelle; “I have made my own costume; I have the part of a cook, and I have borrowed my servant’s cap.”
Monsieur Camuzard, who was annoyed because no part had been given to him, kept repeating:
“You will be very lucky if someone does not fail you when it’s time to begin. On such an occasion as this, accidents always happen, sudden indispositions, just as they do at the theatre. I offered to take part, but they didn’t want me.”
“But you are to prompt, you know, Monsieur Camuzard; you prompt so well!”
“I am willing to prompt one play, but not three; that is too tiresome.”