THE FIRST NIGHT
please.” Now he is gradually calming down once more: for on the stage the dialogue is being rattled off in the smoothest of manners as though it had been well oiled and greased. After a time Clara has to sink on to a chair, as though her legs had failed her, but, good God! her stupid partner has put his hat on to the chair instead of on to the table. Now we are really in for it: now, Clara, in her emotional excitement will sit down on her husband’s hat; the whole act will be spoiled; in Heaven’s name! how can it be prevented?
109