The dressing-room of the tennis players had to serve as green-room, and
dressing-room as well for the comedians, large folding screens being
disposed round the toilet tables of the actresses, so as to shut them
off as much as possible from the gentlemen visitors always lounging
there. Not a very agreeable arrangement for the former, but the best
that could be done, and highly approved by the latter, of course.
"What a pity it is," said the tyrant to Blazius, as they were arranging
what pieces they could play, seated at a window looking into the
interior court of the Armes de France, "what a great pity it is that
Zerbine is not with us here. She is almost worth her weight in gold,
that little minx; a real treasure, so full of fun and deviltry that
nobody can resist her acting; she would make any piece go off well--a
pearl of soubrettes is Zerbine."
"Yes, she is a rare one," Blazius replied, with a deep sigh, "and I
regret more and more every day our having lost her. The devil fly away
with that naughty marquis who must needs go and rob us of our paragon of
waiting-maids."
Just at this point they were interrupted by the noise of an arrival, and
leaning out of the window saw three fine mules, richly caparisoned in
the gay Spanish fashion, entering the court, with a great jingling of
bells and clattering of hoofs.
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