A medium-sized underground room. Seven steps lead down to it on the Right (rather far back). The stairs are shut off by a door on top. A second door which is barely visible is in the background on the Left. A number of simple wooden tables with chairs around them fill nearly the whole room. On the Left in the Centre is a bar; behind the bar a number of barrels with pipes. The room is lighted by small oil lamps which hang from the ceiling.
The Host, Prosper. Enter the citizens Lebrêt and Grasset.
Grasset (coming down the steps). Come in, Lebrêt. I know the tap. My old friend and chief has always got a cask of wine smuggled away somewhere or other, even when all the rest of Paris is perishing of thirst.
Host. Good evening, Grasset. So you show your face again, do you? Away with Philosophy! Have you a wish to take an engagement with me again?
Grasset. The idea! Bring some wine rather. I am the guest—you the host.
Host. Wine? Where shall I get wine from, Grasset? They've sacked all the wine-shops in Paris this very night. And I would lieve wager that you had a hand therein.
Grasset. Out with the wine. The mob who are coming an hour after us are bound— (Listening.) Do you hear anything, Labrêt?
Lebrêt. It is like slight thunder.
Grasset. Good!—Citizens of Paris— (To Host. ) You're sure to have another barrel in reserve for the mob—so out with our wine; my friend and admirer, the Citizen Labrêt, tailor of the Rue St. Honoré, will pay for everything.
