BERGAMIN. Good. In that case, I shall fear nothing.

PASQUINOT. [Aside to BERGAMIN] Ask him the price?

BERGAMIN. For an abduction, Maestro, how much do you charge?

STRAFOREL. That depends, Monsieur, on the kind you wish; we have
them at all prices. In an affair of this kind however, nothing
should be spared. If I were in your place, I should have a
first-class abduction.

BERGAMIN. [Surprised] Then you have many classes?

STRAFOREL. Indeed I have. I have the ordinary vulgar abduction
in a cab, with two men dressed in black--that's rarely used; the
daylight abduction, the midnight abduction; the pompous abduction
in a court carriage, with powdered servants--wigs are extra--with
mutes, negroes, brigands, musketeers, anything you like! The
abduction in a post-chaise, with two, three, four, five, horses,
ad lib.; the discreet and quiet abduction, in a small carriage--
that one's rather lugubrious; the rollicking abduction, in which
the victim is carried away in a sack; the romantic abduction in a
boat--but a lake is necessary!--the Venetian abduction, in a
gondola--ah, you have no lagoon! Moonlight abduction, or the
abduction on a dark and starless night--those moonlight abductions
are quite the style, though they are a little dear!--Besides these,
there is the abduction by torch-light, with cries and screams, and
class and shock of arms; the brutal abduction, the polite
abduction; the classical one with masks; the gallant abduction to