COL. (_to the clothes dealer, who has been mending a jacket for him_) It's rather shabby, but sound and not expensive.

(_He pays, and then carefully consigns the books to the various pockets of his long coat._)

(_MARCEL alone in the midst of the crowd, with a parcel under his arm, making eyes at the girls who jostle against him in the crowd._)

MAR. I feel somehow as if I fain must shout: Ho! laughing la.s.sies, will you play at love?

Let's play together, let's play the game of buy and sell: Who'll give a penny for my guileless heart?

(_Pushing through the crowd, _RUDOLPH_ and _MIMI_, arm in arm, approach a bonnet shop._)

RUD. Let's go!

MIMI. To buy the bonnet?

RUD. Hold tightly to my arm, love!

(_They enter the bonnet shop._)

(SCHAUNARD _strolls about in front of the Cafe Momus, waiting for his friends, and, armed with his huge pipe and hunting horn, he watches the crowd curiously._)

SCH. Surging onward--eager, breathless-- Moves the madding crowd, As they frolic ever In their wild, insane endeavor.

COL. (_comes up, waving an old book in triumph_) Such a rare copy! well-nigh unique, A grammar of Runic!

SCH. (_who arrives at that moment behind_ COLLINE, _compa.s.sionately_) Honest fellow!

MAR. (_arriving at the Cafe Momus, and finding_ SCHAUNARD _and_ COLLINE) To supper!

SCH. and COL. Ho! Rudolph!

MAR. He's gone to buy a bonnet.

(MARCEL, SCHAUNARD _and_ COLLINE _try to find an empty table outside the cafe, but there is only one, which is occupied by townsfolk. At these latter the three friends glare furiously, and then enter the cafe. The crowd disperses among the adjacent streets. The shops are crowded and the square becomes densely thronged with buyers who come and go. In the cafe there is much animation._ RUDOLPH _and_ MIMI _come out of the shop._)

RUD. (_to_ MIMI) Come along! my friends are waiting.

MIMI. Do you think this rose-trimmed bonnet suits me?

RUD. The color suits your dark complexion.

MIMI. (_looking into the window of a bonnet shop_) O what a pretty necklace!

RUD. I have an aunt a millionaire.

If the good G.o.d wills to take her, Then shall you have a necklace far more fine.

(_suddenly seeing_ MIMI _look round suspiciously_) What is it?

MIMI. Are you jealous?

RUD. The man in love is always jealous, darling.

MIMI. Are you then in love?

RUD. (_squeezing her arm in his_)

Yes, so much in love!

Are you?

MIMI. Yes, deeply.

(_Enter from the cafe,_ COLLINE, SCHAUNARD _and_ MARCEL _carrying a table. A waiter follows with chairs. The townsfolks seated near seem vexed at the noise which the three friends are making, for they soon get up and walk away._)

COL. The vulgar herd I hate, just as I did Horace.

SCH. And I, when I am eating, I can't stand being crowded.

MAR. (to the waiter) Smartly!

SCH. For many!

MAR. We want a supper of the choicest!

(_MIMI and RUDOLPH joining their friends_.)

RUD. (_accompanied by MIMI_) Two places.

COL. Let's have supper.

RUD. So we have come. (_introducing Mimi_) This is Mimi, The merry flower girl; And now she's come to join us.

Our party is completed-- For I shall play the poet, While she's the muse incarnate.

Forth from my brain flow songs of pa.s.sion, As, at her touch the pretty buds blow; As in the soul awaketh beautiful love!

MAR. (_ironically_) My word, what high falutin'!

COL. _Digna est intrari._

SCH. _Ingrediat si necessit._

COL. I'll grant only an _accessit_!

(RUDOLPH _makes_ MIMI _sit down. All being seated, the waiter returns with the menu_.)

COL. (_with an air of great importance_) Some sausage!

PAR. (_faintly in the distance_) Who'll buy some pretty toys from Parpignol?

(_Boys and girls running out from the shops and adjoining streets._)

BOYS and GIRLS. Parpignol! Parpignol!