VALET. It is the only one that gets you there in time, sir. The next train does not reach Brussels until ten o'clock.
GERARDO. Well, then, we must catch this one. I will just have time to go over the second act. Unless I go over that.... Now don't let anybody.... I am out to everybody.
VALET. All right, sir. There are some letters for you, sir.
GERARDO. Yes. all right. [_He takes the letters from the tray and throws them on a chair before the piano. Then he opens the letters, glances over them with beaming eyes, crumples them up and throws them under the chair._] Remember! I am out to everybody.
VALET. I know, sir. [_He locks the trunks._]
VALET. You needn't worry, sir. [_Giving him the trunk keys._] Here are the keys, sir.
GERARDO [_pocketing the keys_]. To everybody!
VALET. The trunks will be taken down at once. [_He goes out._]
GERARDO [_looking at his watch_]. Forty minutes. [_He pulls the score of "Tristan" from underneath the flowers on the piano and walks up and down humming._] "_Isolde! Geliebte! Bist du mein? Hab' ich dich wieder? Darf ich dich fassen?_" [_He clears his throat, strikes a chord on the piano and starts again._] "_Isolde! Geliebte! Bist du mein? Hab' ich dich wieder?..._" [_He clears his throat._] The air is dead here. [_He sings._] "_Isolde! Geliebte...._" It's oppressive here. Let's have a little fresh air. [_He goes to the window at the left and fumbles for the curtain cord._] Where is the thing? On the other side! Here! [_He pulls the cord and throws his head back with an annoyed expression when he sees Miss Coeurne._]
MISS COEURNE [_in three-quarter length skirt, her blonde hair down her back, holding a bunch of red roses; she speaks with an English accent and looks straight at Gerardo_]. Oh, please don't send me away.
GERARDO. What else can I do? God knows, I haven't asked you to come here. Do not take it badly, dear young lady, but I have to sing to-morrow night in Brussels. I must confess, I hoped I would have this half-hour to myself. I had just given positive orders not to let any one, whoever it might be, come up to my rooms.
MISS COEURNE [_coming down stage_]. Don't send me away. I heard you yesterday in "Tannhäuser," and I was just bringing you these roses, and--