He looks ill." The stage rang with gay song: "Red or white liquor, Coarse or fine! What can it matter, So we have wine ?" Students, citizens, soldiers, girls and matrons whirled light-heartedly before the inn with the figure of Bacchus for a sign.

Siebel made her entrance.

Christine Daae looked charming in her boy's clothes; and Carlotta's partisans expected to hear her greeted with an ovation which would have enlightened them as to the intentions of her friends.

But nothing happened.
On the other hand, when Margarita crossed the stage and sang the only two lines allotted her in this second act: "No, my lord, not a lady am I, nor yet a beauty, And do not need an arm to help me on my way," Carlotta was received with enthusiastic applause.

It was so unexpected and so uncalled for that those who knew nothing about the rumors looked at one another and asked what was happening.