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quite seriously。 〃It had never occurred to me。 Yet is it true。
Sir； it is a truth that dignifies our art。 You are a man of parts；
that is clear to me。 It has been clear since first I met you。 I
can read a man。 I knew you from the moment that you said
'good…morning。' Tell me； now： Do you think you could assist me
upon occasion in the preparation of a scenario？ My mind； fully
engaged as it is with a thousand details of organization； is not
always as clear as I would have it for such work。 Could you assist
me there； do you think？〃
〃I am quite sure I could。〃
〃Hum； yes。 I was sure you would be。 The other duties that were
Felicien's you would soon learn。 Well； well； if you are willing；
you may come along with us。 You'd want some salary； I suppose？〃
〃If it is usual；〃 said Andre…Louis。
〃What should you say to ten livres a month？〃
〃I should say that it isn't exactly the riches of Peru。〃
〃I might go as far as fifteen；〃 said Binet； reluctantly。 〃But times
are bad。〃
〃I'll make them better for you。〃
〃I've no doubt you believe it。 Then we understand each other？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 said Andre…Louis； dryly； and was thus committed to the
service of Thespis。
CHAPTER II
THE COMIC MUSE
The company's entrance into the township of Guichen； if not exactly
triumphal； as Binet had expressed the desire that it should be； was
at least sufficiently startling and cacophonous to set the rustics
gaping。 To them these fantastic creatures appeared … as indeed they
were … beings from another world。
First went the great travelling chaise； creaking and groaning on its
way； drawn by two of the Flemish horses。 It was Pantaloon who drove
it； an obese and massive Pantaloon in a tight…fitting suit of scarlet
under a long brown bed…gown； his countenance adorned by a colossal
cardboard nose。 Beside him on the box sat Pierrot in a white smock；
with sleeves that completely covered his hands； loose white trousers；
and a black skull…cap。 He had whitened his face with flour； and he
made hideous noises with a trumpet。
On the roof of the coach were assembled Polichinelle； Scaramouche；
Harlequin； and Pasquariel。 Polichinelle in black and white； his
doublet cut in the fashion of a century ago； with humps before and
behind； a white frill round his neck and a black mask upon the upper
half of his face； stood in the middle； his feet planted wide to
steady him； solemnly and viciously banging a big drum。 The other
three were seated each at one of the corners of the roof； their legs
dangling over。 Scaramouche； all in black in the Spanish fashion of
the seventeenth century； his face adorned with a pair of mostachios；
jangled a guitar discordantly。 Harlequin； ragged and patched in
every colour of the rainbow； with his leather girdle and sword of
lath； the upper half of his face smeared in soot； clashed a pair of
cymbals intermittently。 Pasquariel； as an apothecary in skull…cap
and white apron； excited the hilarity of the onlookers by his
enormous tin clyster； which emitted when pumped a dolorous squeak。
Within the chaise itself； but showing themselves freely at the
windows； and exchanging quips with the townsfolk； sat the three
ladies of the company。 Climene； the amoureuse； beautifully gowned
in flowered satin； her own clustering ringlets concealed under a
pumpkin…shaped wig； looked so much the lady of fashion that you
might have wondered what she was dong in that fantastic rabble。
Madame； as the mother； was also dressed with splendour； but
exaggerated to achieve the ridiculous。 Her headdress was a
monstrous structure adorned with flowers； and superimposed by little
ostrich plumes。 Columbine sat facing them； her back to the horses；
falsely demure； in milkmaid bonnet of white muslin； and a striped
gown of green and blue。
The marvel was that the old chaise； which in its halcyon days may
have served to carry some dignitary of the Church； did not founder
instead of merely groaning under that excessive and ribald load。
Next came the house on wheels； led by the long； lean Rhodomont； who
had daubed his face red； and increased the terror of it by a pair
of formidable mostachios。 He was in long thigh…boots and leather
jerkin； trailing an enormous sword from a crimson baldrick。 He wore
a broad felt hat with a draggled feather； and as he advanced he
raised his great voice and roared out defiance； and threats of
blood…curdling butchery to be performed upon all and sundry。 On
the roof of this vehicle sat Leandre alone。 He was in blue satin；
with ruffles； small sword； powdered hair； patches and spy…glass； and
red…heeled shoes： the complete courtier； looking very handsome。 The
women of Guichen ogled him coquettishly。 He took the ogling as a
proper tribute to his personal endowments； and returned it with
interest。 Like Climene； he looked out of place amid the bandits who
composed the remainder of the company。
Bringing up the rear came Andre…Louis leading the two donkeys that
dragged the property…cart。 He had insisted upon assuming a false
nose； representing as for embellishment that which he intended for
disguise。 For the rest； he had retained his own garments。 No one
paid any attention to him as he trudged along beside his donkeys；
an insignificant rear guard； which he was well content to be。
They made the tour of the town； in which the activity was already
above the normal in preparation for next week's fair。 At intervals
they halted； the cacophony would cease abruptly； and Polichinelle
would announce in a stentorian voice that at five o'clock that
evening in the old market； M。 Binet's famous company of improvisers
would perform a new comedy in four acts entitled； 〃The Heartless
Father。〃
Thus at last they came to the old market； which was the groundfloor
of the town hall； and open to the four winds by two archways on each
side of its length； and one archway on each side of its breadth。
These archways； with two exceptions； had been boarded up。 Through
those two； which gave admission to what presently would be the
theatre； the ragamuffins of the town； and the niggards who were
reluctant to spend the necessary sous to obtain proper admission；
might catch furtive glimpses of the performance。
That afternoon was the most strenuous of Andre…Louis' life；
unaccustomed as he was to any sort of manual labour。 It was spent
in erecting and preparing the stage at one end of the market…hall；
and he began to realize how hard…earned were to be his monthly
fifteen livres。 At first there were four of them to the task … or
really three； for Pantaloon did no more than bawl directions。
Stripped of their finery； Rhodomont and Leandre assisted Andre…Louis
in that carpentering。 Meanwhile the other four were at dinner with
the ladies。 When a half…hour or so later they came to carry on the
work； Andre…Louis and his companions went to dine in their turn；
leaving Polichinelle to direct the operations as well as assist in
them。
They crossed the square to the cheap little inn where they had
taken up their quarters。 In the narrow passage Andre…Louis came
face to face with Climene； her fine feathers cast； and restored by
now to her no