Little by little they had raised their voices.
"Confound it, will you be silent ?" howled Bordenave, raging up and down in his chair.

"I can't hear a word.

Go outside if you want to talk; WE are at work.

Barillot, if there's any more talking I clap on fines all round!" They were silent for a second or two.

They were sitting in a little group on a bench and some rustic chairs in the corner of a scenic garden, which was standing ready to be put in position as it would be used in the opening act the same evening.