COCHENILLE.

Here comes the round dance.

HOFFMAN.

'Tis the waltz that calls us.

SPALANZANI (to Olympia).

Take the hand of the gentleman, my child.

(Touching her shoulder.)

Come.

OLYMPIA.

Yes.

(Hoffman takes Olympia and they waltz. They disappear on left.)

CHORUS.

She dances!

In cadence.

'Tis marvelous, Prodigious, Room, room, She pa.s.ses Through the air Like lightning.

THE VOICE OF HOFFMAN (outside).

Olympia!

SPALANZANI.

Stop them!

THE CHORUS.

Who of us will do it?

NICKLAUSSE.

She will break his head.

(Hoffman and Olympia re-appear. Nicklausse rushes to stop them.)

A thousand devils!

(He is violently struck and falls in an arm chair.)

THE CHORUS.

Patatra!...

SPALANZANI (jumping in).

Halt!

(He touches Olympia on the shoulder. She stops suddenly. Hoffman, exhausted, falls on a sofa).

There!

(To Olympia) Enough, enough, my child.

OLYMPIA.

Yes.

SPALANZANI.

No more waltzing.

OLYMPIA.

Yes.

SPALANZANI (to Cochenille).

You, Cochenille, Take her back.

(He touches Olympia.)

COCHENILLE (pushing Olympia).