SYLVETTE. What?

BERGAMIN. Nothing!

SYLVETTE. [To BERGAMIN] You seem changed. What do you mean?

BERGAMIN. I mean--

PASQUINOT. Why, with one word, we could-- [Aside] I can't tell
her! [He walks up-stage two or three steps.]

SYLVETTE. Well, if you have nothing to say, why not keep still?

PASQUINOT. [Angrily] Keep still? Nothing to say? Do you
imagine that everything just happened? How do you think people
could come into my park through the iron gates?

BERGAMIN. Do you imagine for one instant that young ladies are
carried off like that nowadays?

SYLVETTE. Do I--? What are you saying?

BERGAMIN. That will do! It is high time you knew the truth. I
tell you, the victory was on the side of the old men!

SYLVETTE. But--

PASQUINOT. In old plays the father was always the dupe. Nowadays,
we do the duping! Would either of you have loved the other if you