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their speech。 They seemed； indeed； to belong to a world apart； a
world of unreality which became real only on the planks of their
stage； in the glare of their footlights。 Good…fellowship bound them
one to another； and Andre…Louis reflected cynically that this
harmony amongst them might be the cause of their apparent unreality。
In the real world； greedy striving and the emulation of
acquisitiveness preclude such amity as was present here。
They numbered exactly eleven； three women and eight men； and they
addressed each other by their stage names： names which denoted their
several types； and never … or only very slightly … varied； no matter
what might be the play that they performed。
〃We are；〃 Pantaloon informed him； 〃one of those few remaining
staunch bands of real players； who uphold the traditions of the old
Italian Commedia dell' Arte。 Not for us to vex our memories and
stultify our wit with the stilted phrases that are the fruit of a
wretched author's lucubrations。 Each of us is in detail his own
author in a measure as he develops the part assigned to him。 We are
improvisers … improvisers of the old and noble Italian school。〃
〃I had guessed as much；〃 said Andre…Louis； 〃when I discovered you
rehearsing your improvisations。〃
Pantaloon frowned。
〃I have observed； young sir； that your humour inclines to the
pungent； not to say the acrid。 It is very well。 It is I suppose；
the humour that should go with such a countenance。 But it may lead
you astray； as in this instance。 That rehearsal … a most unusual
thing with us … was necessitated by the histrionic rawness of our
Leandre。 We are seeking to inculcate into him by training an art
with which Nature neglected to endow him against his present needs。
Should he continue to fail in doing justice to our schooling。。。 But
we will not disturb our present harmony with the unpleasant
anticipation of misfortunes which we still hope to avert。 We love
our Leandre； for all his faults。 Let me make you acquainted with our
company。
And he proceeded to introduction in detail。 He pointed out the
long and amiable Rhodomont； whom Andre…Louis already knew。
〃His length of limb and hooked nose were his superficial
qualifications to play roaring captains；〃 Pantaloon explained。
〃His lungs have justified our choice。 You should hear him roar。
At first we called him Spavento or Epouvapte。 But that was unworthy
of so great an artist。 Not since the superb Mondor amazed the world
has so thrasonical a bully been seen upon the stage。 So we
conferred upon him the name of Rhodomont that Mondor made famous；
and I give you my word； as an actor and a gentleman … for I am a
gentleman； monsieur； or was … that he has justified us。〃
His little eyes beamed in his great swollen face as he turned their
gaze upon the object of his encomium。 The terrible Rhodomont；
confused by so much praise； blushed like a schoolgirl as he met the
solemn scrutiny of Andre…Louis。
〃Then here we have Scaramouche； whom also you already know。
Sometimes he is Scapin and sometimes Coviello； but in the main
Scaramouche； to which let me tell you he is best suited … sometimes
too well suited； I think。 For he is Scaramouche not only on the
stage； but also in the world。 He has a gift of sly intrigue； an
art of setting folk by the ears； combined with an impudent
aggressiveness upon occasion when he considers himself safe from
reprisals。 He is Scaramouche； the little skirmisher； to the very
life。 I could say more。 But I am by disposition charitable and
loving to all mankind。〃
〃As the priest said when he kissed the serving…wench；〃 snarled
Scaramouche； and went on eating。
〃His humour； like your own； you will observe； is acrid；〃 said
Pantaloon。 He passed on。 〃Then that rascal with the lumpy nose
and the grinning bucolic countenance is； of course； Pierrot。 Could
he be aught else？〃
〃I could play lovers a deal better；〃 said the rustic cherub。
〃That is the delusion proper to Pierrot；〃 said Pantaloon；
contemptuously。 〃This heavy； beetle…browed ruffian； who has grown
old in sin； and whose appetite increases with his years； is
Polichinelle。 Each one； as you perceive； is designed by Nature
for the part he plays。 This nimble； freckled jackanapes is
Harlequin； not your spangled Harlequin into which modern degeneracy
has debased that first…born of Momus； but the genuine original zany
of the Commedia； ragged and patched； an impudent； cowardly；
blackguardly clown。〃
〃Each one of us； as you perceive；〃 said Harlequin； mimicking the
leader of the troupe； 〃is designed by Nature for the part he plays。〃
〃Physically； my friend； physically only； else we should not have so
much trouble in teaching this beautiful Leandre to become a lover。
Then we have Pasquariel here； who is sometimes an apothecary；
sometimes a notary； sometimes a lackey … an amiable； accommodating
fellow。 He is also an excellent cook； being a child of Italy； that
land of gluttons。 And finally； you have myself； who as the father
of the company very properly play as Pantaloon the roles of father。
Sometimes； it is true； I am a deluded husband； and sometimes an
ignorant； self…sufficient doctor。 But it is rarely that I find it
necessary to call myself other than Pantaloon。 For the rest； I am
the only one who has a name … a real name。 It is Binet； monsieur。
〃And now for the ladies。。。 First in order of seniority we have
Madame there。〃 He waved one of his great hands towards a buxom；
smiling blonde of five…and…forty； who was seated on the lowest of
the steps of the travelling house。 〃She is our Duegne； or Mother；
or Nurse； as the case requires。 She is known quite simply and
royally as Madame。 If she ever had a name in the world； she has
long since forgotten it； which is perhaps as well。 Then we have
this pert jade with the tip…tilted nose and the wide mouth； who
is of course our soubrette Columbine； and lastly； my daughter
Climene； an amoureuse of talents not to be matched outside the
Comedie Francaise； of which she has the bad taste to aspire to
become a member。〃
The lovely Climene … and lovely indeed she was … tossed her
nut…brown curls and laughed as she looked across at Andre…Louis。
Her eyes； he had perceived by now； were not blue； but hazel。
〃Do not believe him； monsieur。 Here I am queen； and I prefer to
be queen here rather than a slave in Paris。〃
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said Andre…Louis； quite solemnly； 〃will be queen
wherever she condescends to reign。〃
Her only answer was a timid … timid and yet alluring … glance from
under fluttering lids。 Meanwhile her father was bawling at the
comely young man who played lovers … 〃You hear； Leandre！ That is
the sort of speech you should practise。〃
Leandre raised languid eyebrows。 〃That？〃 quoth he； and shrugged。
〃The merest commonplace。〃
Andre…Louis laughed approval。 〃M。 Leandre is of a readier wit than
you concede。 There is subtlety in pronouncing it a commonplace to
call Mlle。 Climene a queen。
Some laughed； M。 Binet amongst them； with good…humoured mockery。
〃You think he has the wit to mean it thus？ Bah！ His subtleties are
all unconscious。〃
The conversation