[_Interrupting the march_]: Stop, you're out again! Now, listen--[_He stands close to Tilly and plays into his face. Tilly absent-mindedly listens, scratching his nose._] There! Come on now! [_They resume their music and marching. As they reach the door they meet the manager and_ MANCINI; _the latter walks behind the manager, and is gnawing at the knob of his goldmounted cane_. COUNT MANCINI _is tall and slight. The seams of his clothes are worn and he keeps his coat buttoned tight. He assumes extremely graceful manners, takes affected poses, and has a special fondness for toying with his cane, with aristocratic stylishness. When he laughs, which happens often, his thin sharp face takes on a marked resemblance to a satyr. The manager_, "PAPA" BRIQUET, _is a stout quiet man of average height_. _His bearing is hesitant. The clowns make room for the gentlemen. The manager looks questioningly at the older man._]
[_With an affected accent_]: Our moosic for the pantomime! The March of the Ants!
[_The gentlemen walk in. The clowns resume their music_, POLLY _marching on, then turning, the younger following._]
Papa Briquet, Jack is working very badly to-day.
He has a sore throat. You'd better take a look at him.
All right. Come on, Jack. Open your mouth! Wider--wider. [_Turns clown's face to the light near the window and examines him closely and seriously._] Just smear it with iodine.
I told him so. I said it was nothing! Oh! Come on. [_They go away playing, marching, practising their funny mincing steps. The manager sits down._ MANCINI _strikes a pose by the wall, smiling ironically._]
So. You give them medical treatment, too! Look out, Papa Briquet, you have no licence.
Just a little advice. They're all so afraid for their lives.
His throat is simply burnt with whiskey. These two fellows get drunk every night. I am amazed, Papa Briquet, to see you pay so little attention to their morals. [_He laughs._]
You make me sick, Count Mancini. You poke your nose into everything, you disturb the artists in their work. Some day you'll get a thrashing, and I warn you that I shan't interfere.
As a man of superior associations and education I cannot be expected to treat your actors as my equals! What more can you ask, Briquet? You see that I do you the honour of speaking with you quite familiarly, quite simply.