human
It amuses you? she asked.
gpt
This thing? And she read out the title of one of Piron's latest productions, the comic opera,
human
Arlequin Deucalion.
gpt
One must do something--to pass the time. If we cannot see a play, the next best thing is to read one.
human
Alas, his companion exclaimed,
gpt
she broke off.
human
Look at that! And just as we speak, too, of plays and playwriters. Behold, Papa de Crébillon. Mon Dieu! What is the matter with him. He jabbers like a monkey. Yet still he bows with grace--the grace of a gentleman.
gpt
He suffers from gout atrociously,
human
Electra,
gpt
Atreus, and
human
Idomeneus.
gpt
Good morning, Monsieur de Crébillon, cried the bright and joyous Diane--bright and joyous as she assumed to be!--while the dramatist drew near to where she and her companion were seated beneath the acacias.
human
You are most welcome. 'Tis but now we were talking of plays and dramas--lamenting, too----
gpt
Ah! Madame la Marquise! exclaimed the dramatist at the word
human
while his face twitched worse than before, since assumed horror was added to it now.
gpt
Lamenting; no! no! madame! lament nothing. At least there is, I trust, nothing to lament in our modern drama.
human
Ay, but there is though! the Marquise said. Then assuming an air of playful reproof, she went on:
gpt
How is it that you all miss plot in your productions now? Why have you no secrets reserved for the end--for the dénouement, for the last moment ere they make ready to extinguish the lights. Eh! Answer me that. Hardy was the last. Since then it is all pompous declamation, heavy versification, dull pomp, and thunder. Hardy belonged to a past day, but at least he excited his listeners, kept them awake for what was to come--what they knew would come--what they knew must come.
human
Madame has said it---- the dramatist bowed at this moment to three ladies of the aristocracy who passed by, while Desparre rose from his seat to greet them with stiff courtesy, and Diane Grignan de Poissy smiled affectionately.
gpt
Hardy did belong to a past day. We have changed all that, Corneille changed it. At the name of Corneille he bowed again solemnly.
human
Yet, he said,
gpt
Monsieur de Crébillon, Desparre exclaimed here, he not having spoken a word before or acknowledged the dramatist's presence, except by a glance,