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CHAPTER VI
CLIMENE
Diligent search among the many scenarios of the improvisers which
have survived their day； has failed to bring to light the scenario
of 〃Les Fourberies de Scaramouche；〃 upon which we are told the
fortunes of the Binet troupe came to be soundly established。 They
played it for the first time at Maure in the following week； with
Andre…Louis … who was known by now as Scaramouche to all the
company； and to the public alike … in the title…role。 If he had
acquitted himself well as Figaro…Scaramouche； he excelled himself
in the new piece； the scenario of which would appear to be very
much the better of the two。
After Maure came Pipriac； where four performances were given； two
of each of the scenarios that now formed the backbone of the Binet
repertoire。 In both Scaramouche； who was beginning to find himself；
materially improved his performances。 So smoothly now did the two
pieces run that Scaramouche actually suggested to Binet that after
Fougeray； which they were to visit in the following week； they
should tempt fortune in a real theatre in the important town of
Redon。 The notion terrified Binet at first； but coming to think
of it； and his ambition being fanned by Andre…Louis； he ended by
allowing himself to succumb to the temptation。
It seemed to Andre…Louis in those days that he had found his real
metier； and not only was he beginning to like it； but actually to
look forward to a career as actor…author that might indeed lead
him in the end to that Mecca of all comedians； the Comedie
Francaise。 And there were other possibilities。 From the writing
of skeleton scenarios for improvisers； he might presently pass to
writing plays of dialogue； plays in the proper sense of the word；
after the manner of Chenier； Eglantine； and Beaumarchais。
The fact that he dreamed such dreams shows us how very kindly he
had taken to the profession into which Chance and M。 Binet between
them had conspired to thrust him。 That he had real talent both
as author and as actor I do not doubt； and I am persuaded that had
things fallen out differently he would have won for himself a
lasting place among French dramatists； and thus fully have realized
that dream of his。
Now； dream though it was； he did not neglect the practical side
of it。
〃You realize；〃 he told M。 Binet； 〃that I have it in my power to
make your fortune for you。
He and Binet were sitting alone together in the parlour of the inn
at Pipriac； drinking a very excellent bottle of Volnay。 It was on
the night after the fourth and last performance there of 〃Les
Feurberies。〃 The business in Pipriac had been as excellent as in
Maure and Guichen。 You will have gathered this from the fact that
they drank Volnay。
〃I will concede it； my dear Scaramouche； so that I may hear the
sequel。〃
〃I am disposed to exercise this power if the inducement is
sufficient。 You will realize that for fifteen livres a month a
man does not sell such exceptional gifts as mine。
〃There is an alternative；〃 said M。 Binet； darkly。
〃There is no alternative。 Don't be a fool； Binet。〃
Binet sat up as if he had been prodded。 Members of his company
did not take this tone of direct rebuke with him。
〃Anyway； I make you a present of it；〃 Scaramouche pursued； airily。
〃Exercise it if you please。 Step outside and inform the police that
they can lay hands upon one Andre…Louis Moreau。 But that will be
the end of your fine dreams of going to Redon； and for the first
time in your life playing in a real theatre。 Without me； you can't
do it； and you know it； and I am not going to Redon or anywhere
else； in fact I am not even going to Fougeray； until we have an
equitable arrangement。〃
〃But what heat！〃 complained Binet； 〃and all for what？ Why must you
assume that I have the soul of a usurer？ When our little arrangement
was made； I had no idea how could I？ … that you would prove as
valuable to me as you are？ You had but to remind me； my dear
Scaramouche。 I am a just man。 As from to…day you shall have thirty
livres a month。 See； I double it at once。 I am a generous man。〃
〃But you are not ambitious。 Now listen to me； a moment。〃
And he proceeded to unfold a scheme that filled Binet with a
paralyzing terror。
〃After Redon； Nantes；〃 he said。 〃Nantes and the Theatre Feydau。〃
M。 Binet choked in the act of drinking。 The Theatre Feydau was a
sort of provincial Comedie Francaise。 The great Fleury had played
there to an audience as critical as any in France。 The very thought
of Redon； cherished as it had come to be by M。 Binet； gave him at
moments a cramp in the stomach； so dangerously ambitious did it
seem to him。 And Redon was a puppet…show by comparison with Nantes。
Yet this raw lad whom he had picked up by chance three weeks ago；
and who in that time had blossomed from a country attorney into
author and actor； could talk of Nantes and the Theatre Feydau
without changing colour。
〃But why not Paris and the Comedie Francaise？〃 wondered M。 Binet；
with sarcasm； when at last he had got his breath。
〃That may come later；〃 says impudence。
〃Eh？ You've been drinking； my friend。〃
But Andre…Louis detailed the plan that had been forming in his mind。
Fougeray should be a training…ground for Redon； and Redon should be
a training…ground for Nantes。 They would stay in Redon as long as
Redon would pay adequately to come and see them； working hard to
perfect themselves the while。 They would add three or four new
players of talent to the company； he would write three or four fresh
scenarios； and these should be tested and perfected until the troupe
was in possession of at least half a dozen plays upon which they
could depend； they would lay out a portion of their profits on
better dresses and better scenery； and finally in a couple of months'
time； if all went well； they should be ready to make their real bid
for fortune at Nantes。 It was quite true that distinction was
usually demanded of the companies appearing at the Feydau； but on
the other hand Nantes had not seen a troupe of improvisers for a
generation and longer。 They would be supplying a novelty to which
all Nantes should flock provided that the work were really well done；
and Scaramouche undertook … pledged himself … that if matters were
left in his own hands； his projected revival of the Commedia dell'
Arte in all its glories would exceed whatever expectations the
public of Nantes might bring to the theatre。
〃We'll talk of Paris after Nantes；〃 he finished； supremely
matter…of…fact； 〃just as we will definitely decide on Nantes
after Redon。〃
The persuasiveness that could sway a mob ended by sweeping M。 Binet
off his feet。 The prospect which Scaramouche unfolded； if
terrifying； was also intoxicating； and as Scaramouche delivered a
crushing answer to each weakening objection in a measure as it was
advanced； Binet ended by promising to think the matter over。
〃Redon will point the way；〃 said Andre…Louis； 〃and I don't doubt
which way Redon will point。〃
Thus the great adventure of Redon dwindled to insignificance。
Instead of a terrifying undertaking in itself； it became merely a
rehearsal for something greate