At rehearsal , they act at first as if they have never met before .
Nicolai begins to suspect the truth when Archipenco ( Herman Bing ) , Paul 's singing teacher , talks about meeting Marcia in Paris many years before .
At rehearsal , they act at first as if they have never met before , but Nicolai begins to suspect the truth when Archipenco ( Herman Bing ) , Paul 's singing teacher , talks about meeting Marcia in Paris many years before .