--Man'll be thankful to us for it.

--Ho-ho!

_[They shout at Man's Enemies, mingling their shouts with laughter.

The Enemies huddle closer together and cast sharp, timid, sideward glances._

--They're going! They're going!

--What an honor!

--They're going!

--Ho-ho! Ha-ha!

--They're gone! They're gone! They're gone!

_[The procession disappears through the door on the left. A pause of silence. The music plays less loudly, and the dancers begin gradually to fill the hall._

--Where did they go?

--I believe they went to the dining-room, where supper is being served.

--I suppose they'll soon invite us in. Do you see anybody looking for us?

--Yes, it's time for supper. If you eat too late, you can't sleep well.

--I always serve supper early.

--A late supper lies heavy on your stomach.

--And the music is still playing.

--And they're still dancing.

--I wonder they don't get tired.

--How rich!

--How magnificent!

--Do you know for how many guests they have prepared the supper?

--I didn't get a chance to count all the covers. The caterer came in, and I had to get out.

--Could they possibly have forgotten us?

--Man is so proud, and we are so unimportant.

--Don't say that. My husband says we do him an honor by accepting his invitation. We are rich, too.

--When you consider the reputation of his wife--

--Do you see anyone looking for us? Maybe he's looking for us in the other rooms.

--How rich!

--If you are not careful with other people's money, it's easy to get rich, I think.

--Oh, now, it's only his enemies who say that.

--Well, after all, there are some very respectable people among them.

I must admit that my husband--

--It is late, though.

--It's clear there must be a mistake somewhere. I can't believe we've simply been forgotten.

--Evidently you know people and life very little if you think so.

--I am surprised. We are rich enough ourselves.

--It seems to me someone called us.

--You're mistaken, no one called us. I don't understand it. To be quite frank--why did we come to a house like this, with such a reputation? One should be very careful of the friends one chooses.

A LIVERIED LACKEY _(appears at the door)_

Man and his Wife beg the honored guests to step into the dining-room.

GUESTS _(rising quickly)_

--What a livery!

--He asked us to come in!

--I said there must be a mistake somewhere.

--Man is so good. I'm sure he hasn't had a chance to sit down at table himself.

--Didn't I say someone was looking for us?

--What a livery!

--They say the supper is grand.

--Everything at Man's is done in a grand style.

--What music! What an honor to be at Man's ball!