CLOTILDE. "Write if you choose. (_Aside._ I will put the letter in a
lamp-post box, so that he will never get it. On second thought I will
keep it. Some day I might want to use it.")

FERNANDE _writes the letter and_ CLOTILDE _confiscates it._ ANDRE,
POMMEROL _and a variety of people come and go and talk of a variety of
things. Finally_ FERNANDE _and_ ANDRE _are led out to marriage, and the
dread ceremony is perpetrated. Curtain._

The fourth act opens with a pleasant family party at the house of the
newly married couple. The company play at that singular game of cards so
popular on the stage, in which everybody plays out of turn, and nobody
ever takes a trick. Finally they all go to bed except ANDRE, who goes to
sleep in his chair, as is doubtless the custom with newly-married
Frenchmen. Presently CLOTILDE enters through a secret door and wakes him
up.

ANDRE. "My dear CLOTILDE, you really mustn't. Think what my wife would
say. So innocent an angel would suspect there was something wrong in
your visiting me at midnight."

CLOTILDE. "Base villain, you have deserted me. Now I am revenged. Your
wife was once a pretty waiter-girl and her name is FERNANDE. Call her
and ask her if I speak the truth." (_He calls her._)

ANDRE. "Is your name FERNANDE? Ah, I see by the disorder of your back
hair that CLOTILDE's story is too true. Wretched girl, why did you not
tell me all before I married you?"