It was Fontan, dressed for the second act.
He was a young dandy, and his habiliments, even to his gloves, were entirely yellow.
"Now say you don't know!" he shouted, gesticulating.

"Today's my patron saint's day!" "What ?" asked Simonne, coming up smilingly, as though attracted by the huge nose and the vast, comic mouth of the man.

"D'you answer to the name of Achille ?" "Exactly so! And I'm going to get 'em to tell Madame Bron to send up champagne after the second act." For some seconds a bell had been ringing in the distance.

The long-drawn sound grew fainter, then louder, and when the bell ceased a shout ran up the stair and down it till it was lost along the passages.

"All on the stage for the second act! All on the stage for the second act!" The sound drew near, and a little pale-faced man passed by the greenroom doors, outside each of which he yelled at the top of his shrill voice, "On the stage for the second act!" "The deuce, it's champagne!" said Prulliere without appearing to hear the din.