ridiculous like the bailiff and Grenicheux, imposing and winsome like
the marquis and Germaine. The audience laughed heartily at the slap
delivered by Gaspard and intended for the coward Grenicheux, which was
received by the grave bailiff, whose wig went flying through the air,
producing disorder and confusion as the curtain dropped.

"Where's the cancan?" inquired Tadeo.

But the curtain rose again immediately, revealing a scene in a servant
market, with three posts on which were affixed signs bearing the
announcements: _servantes_, _cochers_, and _domestiques_. Juanito, to
improve the opportunity, turned to Doña Victorina and said in a loud
voice, so that Paulita might hear and he convinced of his learning:

"_Servantes_ means servants, _domestiques_ domestics."

"And in what way do the _servantes_ differ from the
_domestiques_?" asked Paulita.

Juanito was not found wanting. "_Domestiques_ are those that are
domesticated--haven't you noticed that some of them have the air of
savages? Those are the _servantes_."

"That's right," added Doña Victorina, "some have very bad manners--and
yet I thought that in Europe everybody was cultivated. But as it
happens in France,--well, I see!"

"Ssh! Ssh!"

But what was Juanito's predicament when the time came for the opening