按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
week。 He wrote three in addition to those two with which he had
already supplied the company； these were 〃The Marriage of Pantaloon；〃
〃The Shy Lover；〃 and 〃The Terrible Captain。〃 Of these the last was
the greatest success。 It was based upon the 〃Miles Gloriosus〃 of
Plautus； with great opportunities for Rhodomont； and a good part
for Scaramouche as the roaring captain's sly lieutenant。 Its
success was largely due to the fact that Andre…Louis amplified the
scenario to the extent of indicating very fully in places the
lines which the dialogue should follow； whilst here and there he
had gone so far as to supply some of the actual dialogue to be
spoken； without； however； making it obligatory upon the actors
to keep to the letter of it。
And meanwhile as the business prospered； he became busy with
tailors； improving the wardrobe of the company； which was sorely
in need of improvement。 He ran to earth a couple of needy artists；
lured them into the company to play small parts … apothecaries and
notaries … and set them to beguile their leisure in painting new
scenery； so as to be ready for what he called the conquest of Nantes；
which was to come in the new year。 Never in his life had he worked
so hard； never in his life had he worked at all by comparison with
his activities now。 His fund of energy and enthusiasm was
inexhaustible； like that of his good humour。 He came and went；
acted； wrote； conceived； directed； planned； and executed； what time
M。 Binet took his ease at last in comparative affluence； drank
Burgundy every night； ate white bread and other delicacies； and
began to congratulate himself upon his astuteness in having made
this industrious； tireless fellow his partner。 Having discovered
how idle had been his fears of performing at Redon； he now began to
dismiss the terrors with which the notion of Nantes had haunted him。
And his happiness was reflected throughout the ranks of his company；
with the single exception always of Climene。 She had ceased to
sneer at Scaramouche； haying realized at last that her sneers left
him untouched and recoiled upon herself。 Thus her almost indefinable
resentment of him was increased by being stifled； until； at all costs；
an outlet for it must be found。
One day she threw herself in his way as he was leaving the theatre
after the performance。 The others had already gone； and she had
returned upon pretence of having forgotten something。
〃Will you tell me what I have done to you？〃 she asked him；
point…blank。
〃Done to me； mademoiselle？〃 He did not understand。 She made a
gesture of impatience。 〃Why do you hate me？〃
〃Hate you； mademoiselle？ I do not hate anybody。 It is the most
stupid of all the emotions。 I have never hated … not even my
enemies。〃
〃What Christian resignation！〃
〃As for hating you； of all people！ Why。。。 I consider you adorable。
I envy Leandre every day of my life。 I have seriously thought of
setting him to play Scaramouche； and playing lovers myself。〃
〃I don't think you would be a success；〃 said she。
〃That is the only consideration that restrains me。 And yet； given
the inspiration that is given Leandre； it is possible that I might
be convincing。〃
〃Why； what inspiration do you mean？〃
〃The inspiration of playing to so adorable a Climene。〃
Her lazy eyes were now alert to search that lean face of his。
〃You are laughing at me；〃 said she； and swept past him into the
theatre on her pretended quest。 There was nothing to be done with
such a fellow。 He was utterly without feeling。 He was not a man
at all。
Yet when she came forth again at the end of some five minutes； she
found him still lingering at the door。
〃Not gone yet？〃 she asked him； superciliously。
〃I was waiting for you； mademoiselle。 You will be walking to the
inn。 If I might escort you。。。 〃
〃But what gallantry！ What condescension！〃
〃Perhaps you would prefer that I did not？〃
〃How could I prefer that； M。 Scaramouche？ Besides； we are both
going the same way； and the streets are common to all。 It is that
I am overwhelmed by the unusual honour。〃
He looked into her piquant little face； and noted how obscured it
was by its cloud of dignity。 He laughed。
〃Perhaps I feared that the honour was not sought。〃
〃Ah； now I understand；〃 she cried。 〃It is for me to seek these
honours。 I am to woo a man before he will pay me the homage of
civility。 It must be so； since you； who clearly know everything；
have said so。 It remains for me to beg your pardon for my ignorance。〃
〃It amuses you to be cruel；〃 said Scaramouche。 〃No matter。 Shall
we walk？〃
They set out together； stepping briskly to warm their blood against
the wintry evening air。 Awhile they went in silence； yet each
furtively observing the other。
〃And so； you find me cruel？〃 she challenged him at length； thereby
betraying the fact that the accusation had struck home。
He looked at her with a half smile。 〃Will you deny it？〃
〃You are the first man that ever accused me of that。〃
〃I dare not suppose myself the first man to whom you have been cruel。
That were an assumption too flattering to myself。 I must prefer to
think that the others suffered in silence。〃
〃Mon Dieu！ Have you suffered？〃 She was between seriousness and
raillery。
〃I place the confession as an offering on the altar of your vanity。〃
〃I should never have suspected it。〃
〃How could you？ Am I not what your father calls a natural actor？
I was an actor long before I became Scaramouche。 Therefore I have
laughed。 I often do when I am hurt。 When you were pleased to be
disdainful； I acted disdain in my turn。〃
〃You acted very well；〃 said she； without reflecting。
〃Of course。 I am an excellent actor。〃
〃And why this sudden change？〃
〃In response to the change in you。 You have grown weary of your
part of cruel madam … a dull part； believe me； and unworthy of your
talents。； Were I a woman and had I your loveliness and your grace；
Climene； I should disdain to use them as weapons of offence。〃
〃Loveliness and grace！〃 she echoed； feigning amused surprise。 But
the vain baggage was mollified。 〃When was it that you discovered
this beauty and this grace； M。 Scaramouche？〃
He looked at her a moment； considering the sprightly beauty of her；
the adorable femininity that from the first had so irresistibly
attracted him。
〃One morning when I beheld you rehearsing a love…scene with Leandre。〃
He caught the surprise that leapt to her eyes； before she veiled
them under drooping lids from his too questing gaze。
〃Why； that was the first time you saw me。〃
〃I had no earlier occasion to remark your charms。〃
〃You ask me to believe too much；〃 said she； but her tone was softer
than he had ever known it yet。
〃Then you'll refuse to believe me if I confess that it was this
grace and beauty that determined my destiny that day by urging me
to join your father's troupe。〃
At that she became a little out of breath。 There was no longer any
question of finding an outlet for resentment。 Resentment was all
forgotten。
〃But why？ With what object？〃
〃With the object of asking you one day to be my wife。〃
She halted under the shock of t