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exchange between those two was a complete one。
Headed by Polichinelle banging his great drum and Pierrot blowing
his trumpet； they set out； and were duly passed in review by the
ragamuffins drawn up in files to enjoy so much of the spectacle as
was to be obtained for nothing。
Ten minutes later the three knocks sounded； and the curtains were
drawn aside to reveal a battered set that was partly garden； partly
forest； in which Climene feverishly looked for the coming of Leandre。
In the wings stood the beautiful； melancholy lover； awaiting his cue；
and immediately behind him the unfledged Scaramouche； who was anon
to follow him。
Andre…Louis was assailed with nausea in that dread moment。 He
attempted to take a lightning mental review of the first act of this
scenario of which he was himself the author…in…chief； but found his
mind a complete blank。 With the perspiration starting from his skin；
he stepped back to the wall； where above a dim lantern was pasted a
sheet bearing the brief outline of the piece。 He was still studying
it； when his arm was clutched； and he was pulled violently towards
the wings。 He had a glimpse of Pantaloon's grotesque face； its eyes
blazing； and he caught a raucous growl：
〃Climene has spoken your cue three times already。〃
Before he realized it； he had been bundled on to the stage； and
stood there foolishly； blinking in the glare of the footlights； with
their tin reflectors。 So utterly foolish and bewildered did he look
that volley upon volley of laughter welcomed him from the audience；
which this evening packed the hall from end to end。 Trembling a
little； his bewilderment at first increasing； he stood there to
receive that rolling tribute to his absurdity。 Climene was eyeing
him with expectant mockery； savouring in advance his humiliation；
Leandre regarded him in consternation； whilst behind the scenes； M。
Binet was dancing in fury。
〃Name of a name；〃 he… groaned to the rather scared members of the
company assembled there； 〃what will happen when they discover that
he isn't acting？〃
But they never did discover it。 Scaramouche's bewildered paralysis
lasted but a few seconds。 He realized that he was being laughed at；
and remembered that his Scaramouche was a creature to be laughed
with； and not at。 He must save the situation； twist it to his own
advantage as best he could。 And now his real bewilderment and terror
was succeeded by acted bewilderment and terror far more marked； but
not quite so funny。 He contrived to make it clearly appear that his
terror was of some one off the stage。 He took cover behind a painted
shrub； and thence； the laughter at last beginning to subside； he
addressed himself to Climene and Leandre。
〃Forgive me； beautiful lady； if the abrupt manner of my entrance
startled you。 The truth is that I have never been the same since
that last affair of mine with Almaviva。 My heart is not what it
used to be。 Down there at the end of the lane I came face to face
with an elderly gentleman carrying a heavy cudgel； and the horrible
thought entered my mind that it might be your father； and that our
little stratagem to get you safely married might already have been
betrayed to him。 I think it was the cudgel put such notion in my
head。 Not that I am afraid。 I am not really afraid of anything。
But I could not help reflecting that； if it should really have been
your father； and he had broken my head with his cudgel； your hopes
would have perished with me。 For without me； what should you have
done； my poor children？〃
A ripple of laughter from the audience had been steadily enheartening
him； and helping him to recover his natural impudence。 It was clear
they found him comical。 They were to find him far more comical than
ever he had intended； and this was largely due to a fortuitous
circumstance upon which he had insufficiently reckoned。 The fear of
recognition by some one from Gavrillac or Rennes had been strong
upon him。 His face was sufficiently made up to baffle recognition；
but there remained his voice。 To dissemble this he had availed
himself of the fact that Figaro was a Spaniard。 He had known a
Spaniard at Louis le Grand who spoke a fluent but most extraordinary
French； with a grotesque excess of sibilant sounds。 It was an accent
that he had often imitated； as youths will imitate characteristics
that excite their mirth。 Opportunely he had bethought him of that
Spanish student； and it was upon his speech that to…night he modelled
his own。 The audience of Guichen found it as laughable on his lips
as he and his fellows had found it formerly on the lips of that
derided Spaniard。
Meanwhile； behind the scenes； Binet … listening to that glib
impromptu of which the scenario gave no indication … had recovered
from his fears。
〃Dieu de Dieu！〃 he whispered； grinning。 〃Did he do it； then； on
purpose？〃
It seemed to him impossible that a man who had been so
terror…stricken as he had fancied Andre…Louis； could have recovered
his wits so quickly and completely。 Yet the doubt remained。
To resolve it after the curtain had fallen upon a first act that
had gone with a verve unrivalled until this hour in the annals of
the company； borne almost entirely upon the slim shoulders of the
new Scaramouche； M。 Binet bluntly questioned him。
They were standing in the space that did duty as green…room； the
company all assembled there； showering congratulations upon their
new recruit。 Scaramouche； a little exalted at the moment by his
success； however trivial he might consider it to…morrow； took then
a full revenge upon Climene for the malicious satisfaction with
which she had regarded his momentary blank terror。
〃I do not wonder that you ask；〃 said he。 〃Faith； I should have
warned you that I intended to do my best from the start to put the
audience in a good humour with me。 Mademoiselle very nearly ruined
everything by refusing to reflect any of my terror。 She was not
even startled。 Another time； mademoiselle； I shall give you full
warning of my every intention。〃
She crimsoned under her grease…paint。 But before she could find an
answer of sufficient venom； her father was rating her soundly for
her stupidity … the more soundly because himself he had been deceived
by Scaramouche's supreme acting。
Scaramouche's success in the first act was more than confirmed as
the performance proceeded。 Completely master of himself by now；
and stimulated as only success can stimulate； he warmed to his work。
Impudent； alert； sly； graceful； he incarnated the very ideal of
Scaramouche； and he helped out his own native wit by many a
remembered line from Beaumarchais； thereby persuading the better
informed among the audience that here indeed was something of the
real Figaro； and bringing them； as it were； into touch with the
great world of the capital。
When at last the curtain fell for the last time； it was Scaramouche
who shared with Climene the honours of the evening； his name that
was coupled with hers in the calls that summoned them before the
curtains。
As they stepped back； and the curtains screened them again from the
departing audience； M。 Binet approached them； ru