How are you? [No answer.] How are you? How are you? [PASQUINOT
raises his head.] Well?

PASQUINOT. My friend, why ask that? We see each other all the time!

BERGAMIN. Oh, very well. [Seeing BLAISE arranging the plants]
_Will_ you take those plants back?! [BLAISE, not knowing what to
do, takes them back immediately. PASQUINOT raises his eyes, shrugs
his shoulders, and then resumes his reading. BERGAMIN walks back
and forth, and finally sits down near PASQUNOT. There is a pause.]
I used to come here every day, in silence--

PASQUINOT. [Laying aside his paper] I, too--it was most amusing!

BERGAMIN. And our secret!

PASQUINOT. The very danger was amusing.

BERGAMIN. And the things we had to say of each other--!

PASQUINOT. Very amusing.--Bergamin?

BERGAMIN. Pasquinot?

PASQUINOT. Something's lacking now.

BERGAMIN. The idea! [After a moment's reflection] Yes, I agree
with you. Funny--are you losing your sense of the romantic? [He
looks at PASQUINOT and says, aside] His waistcoat often lacks a
button! It's disgusting! [He rises and walks back and forth.]