“CHENIER!” BALDINI cried from behind the counter where for hours he had stood rigid as a pillar, staring at the door. “Put on your wig!” And out from among the kegs of olive oil and dangling Bayonne hams appeared Chenier-Baldini’s assistant, somewhat younger than the latter, but already an old man himself-and moved toward the elegant front of the shop. He pulled his wig from his coat pocket and shoved it on his head. “Are you going out, Monsieur Baldini?”

“No,” said Baldini. “I shall retire to my study for a few hours, and I do not wish to be disturbed under any circumstances.”

“Ah, I see! You are creating a new perfume.”

BALDSNI:    Correct. With which to impregnate a Spanish hide for Count Verhamont. He wants something like... like ... I think he said it’s called Amor and Psyche, and comes he says from that... that bungler in the rue Saint-Andre-des-Arts, that... that...

CHENIER:  Pelissier.

BALDINI:    Yes. Indeed. That’s the bungler’s name. Amor and Psyche, by Pelissier.-Do you know it?”

CHENIER:   Yes, yes. I do indeed. You can smell it everywhere these days. Smell it on every street corner. But if you ask me-nothing special! It most certainly can’t be compared in any way with what you will create, Monsieur Baldini.

BALDSNI:    Naturally not.

CHENIER:   It’s a terribly common scent, this Amor and Psyche.

BALDINI:    Vulgar?

CHENIER:   Totally vulgar, like everything from Pelissier. I believe it contains lime oil.

BALDINI:    Really? What else?

CHENIER:   Essence of orange blossom perhaps. And maybe tincture of rosemary. But I can’t say for sure.

BALDINI:    It’s of no consequence at all to me in any case.

CHENIER:   Naturally not.

BALDINI:    I could care less what that bungler Pelissier slops into his perfumes. I certainly would not take my inspiration from him, I assure you.

CHENIER:   You’re absolutely right, monsieur.

BALDINI:    As you know, I take my inspiration from no one. As you know,! create my own perfumes.

CHENIER:   I do know, monsieur.

BALDINI:    I alone give birth to them.

CHENIER:   I know.

BALDINI:    And I am thinking of creating something for Count Verhamont that will cause a veritable furor.

CHENIER:   I am s............