The play proceeded amid general applause and hilarity, until the scene between the child and the robbers who proposed to kill Roderic. The gardener was said to be at his post; and in fact Master Pichet had not forgotten that he was to take his son's place; but instead of remaining sober as he had been urged to do, the gardener had considered, on the other hand, that in order to act with spirit, and to avoid any feeling of timidity before the audience, it would not be a bad idea to get a little tipsy; and what the peasant called getting a little tipsy, was drinking so much that he could hardly stand on his legs. In that condition Monsieur Pichet had gone upon the stage, and had hidden himself behind the trees from which he was supposed to keep an eye upon the robbers.
"Don't forget your lines," said Eolinde: "'Oh! for heaven's sake, messieurs, don't hurt papa!'"
"Oh! I know the lines! Don't you be afraid, mamzelle, I don't know anything else!"
Meanwhile, the famous scene was reached; Détroussandos and two robbers held their swords over Roderic's head, and the child did not appear to prevent them from striking.
"The child! the child! _sapredié!_ send on the child!" exclaimed Astianax in an undertone.
"What on earth is that brute doing?" muttered Fourriette, still holding his sword in the air; "is he going to leave us like this for long?"
The gardener did not appear, because when he was once seated behind the trees, he had instantly fallen asleep; stout Dufournelle, who was prompting and who heard him snore, ran to him and shook him roughly by the arm, shouting:
"It's your turn! it's time for you to go on! wake up, corbleu!"
The gardener, waking with a start, rubbed his eyes, sprang to his feet, ran on the stage, and threw himself into the midst of the robbers, exclaiming:
"Ah! you villains! you loafers! you mean to beat our young master, do you? Just wait a bit, and I'll show all three of you something! You'll see how I do it!"
And with that, falling upon the druggist and the two young men dressed as robbers, the gardener began to distribute fisticuffs and kicks which were not included in the action of the play; the three actors, who did not anticipate that attack, began to shout and yell, and ended by returning the gardener the blows that they received; this combat, which the audience supposed to be feigned, was greeted with unanimous applause, and Monsieur Boutillon cried: