“Ah, it lacked but that. You ought to understand at last, that when one rehearses for a play one does not have the nosebleed. It is not decent.”

Miss Gretry retired precipitately, and Laura came forward to say that she would read Marion’s lines.

“No, no!” cried Monsieur Gerardy. “You⁠—ah, if they were all like you! You are obliging, but it does not suffice. I am insulted.”

The others, astonished, gathered about the coach. They laboured to explain. Miss Gretry had intended no slight. In fact she was often taken that way; she was excited, nervous. But Monsieur Gerardy was not to be placated. Ah, no! He knew what was due a gentleman. He closed his eyes and raised his eyebrows to his very hair, murmuring superbly that he was offended. He had but one phrase in answer to all their explanations:

“One does not permit one’s self to bleed at the nose during rehearsal.”