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I vill not meet a Jew, I tell you.
PAPPELMEISTER But you vill vant to talk to your fader, and all _I_ vant is Mr.
Quixano's address. De Irish maiden at de house says de bird is flown.
VERA [_Gravely_]
I don't know if I ought to tell you where the new nest is----
PAPPELMEISTER [_Disappointed_]
_Ach!_
VERA [_Smiling_]
But I will produce the bird.
PAPPELMEISTER [_Looks round_]
You vill broduce Mr. Quixano?
VERA [_Merrily_]
By clapping my hands.
[_Mysteriously_]
I am a magician.
BARON [_Whose eyes have been glued on VERA_]
You are, indeed! I don't know how you have bewitched me.
[_The BARONESS glares at him._]
VERA Dear little father!
[_She crosses to him and strokes his hair._]
Herr Pappelmeister, tell father about Mr. Quixano's music.
PAPPELMEISTER [_Shaking his head_]
Music cannot be talked about.
VERA [_Smiling_]
That's a nasty one for the critics. But tell father what a genius Da--Mr. Quixano is.
BARONESS [_Desperately intervening_]
Good-bye, Vera.
[_She thrusts out her hand, which VERA takes._]
I have a headache. You muz excuse me. Herr Pappelmeister, _au plaisir de vous revoir_.
[_PAPPELMEISTER hastens to the door, which he holds open. The BARONESS turns and glares at the BARON._]
BARON [_Agitated_]
Let me see you to the auto----
BARONESS You could see me to ze hotel almost as quick.
BARON [_To VERA_]
I won't say good-bye, _Verotschka_--I shall be back.
[_He goes toward the hall, then turns._]
You will keep your Rubinstein waiting?
[_VERA smiles lovingly._]
BARONESS You are keeping _me_ vaiting.
[_He turns quickly. Exeunt BARON and BARONESS._]
PAPPELMEISTER And now broduce Mr. Quixano!
VERA Not so fast. What are you going to do with him?
PAPPELMEISTER Put him in my orchestra!
VERA [_Ecstatic_]
Oh, you dear!
[_Then her tone changes to disappointment._]
But he won't go into Mr. Davenport's orchestra.
PAPPELMEISTER It is no more Mr. Davenport's orchestra. He fired me, don't you remember? Now I boss--how say you in American?
VERA [_Smiling_]
Your own show.
PAPPELMEISTER _Ja_, my own band. Ven I left dat comic opera millionaire, dey all shtick to me almost to von man.
VERA How nice of them!
PAPPELMEISTER All egsept de Christian--he vas de von man. He shtick to de millionaire.
So I lose my brinc.i.p.al first violin.
VERA And Mr. Quixano is to--oh, how delightful!
[_She claps her hands girlishly._]
PAPPELMEISTER [_Looks round mischievously_]
_Ach_, de magic failed.
VERA [_Puzzled_]
Eh!
PAPPELMEISTER You do not broduce him. You clap de hands--but you do not broduce him.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
[_He breaks into a great roar of genial laughter._]
VERA [_Chiming in merrily_]
Ha! Ha! Ha! But I said I have to know everything first. Will he get a good salary?
PAPPELMEISTER Enough to keep a vife and eight children!
VERA [_Blus.h.i.+ng_]
But he hasn't a----
