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complete solemnity； speaking his lines drily； as if unconscious of
the humour with which he intended to invest them。 Thus； though it
might take the audience longer to understand and discover him； they
would like him all the better in the end。
True to that resolve； he now played his part as the friend and hired
ally of the lovesick Leandre； on whose behalf he came for news of
Climene； seizing the opportunity to further his own amour with
Columbine and his designs upon the money…bags of Pantaloon。 Also he
had taken certain liberties with the traditional costume of
Scaramouche； he had caused the black doublet and breeches to be
slashed with red； and the doublet to be cut more to a peak； a la
Henri III。 The conventional black velvet cap he had replaced by a
conical hat with a turned…up brim； and a tuft of feathers on the
left； and he had discarded the guitar。
M。 Binet listened desperately for the roar of laughter that usually
greeted the entrance of Scaramouche； and his dismay increased when
it did not come。 And then he became conscious of something
alarmingly unusual in Scaramouche's manner。 The sibilant foreign
accent was there； but none of the broad boisterousness their
audiences had loved。
He wrung his hands in despair。 〃It is all over！〃 he said。 〃The
fellow has ruined us！ It serves me right for being a fool； and
allowing him to take control of everything！〃
But he was profoundly mistaken。 He began to have an inkling of this
when presently himself he took the stage； and found the public
attentive； remarked a grin of quiet appreciation on every upturned
face。 It was not； however； until the thunders of applause greeted
the fall of the curtain on the first act that he felt quite sure
they would be allowed to escape with their lives。
Had the part of Pantaloon in 〃Les Fourberies〃 been other than that
of a blundering； timid old idiot； Binet would have ruined it by his
apprehensions。 As it was； those very apprehensions； magnifying as
they did the hesitancy and bewilderment that were the essence of
his part； contributed to the success。 And a success it proved that
more than justified all the heralding of which Scaramouche had been
guilty。
For Scaramouche himself this success was not confined to the public。
At the end of the play a great reception awaited him from his
companions assembled in the green…room of the theatre。 His talent；
resource； and energy had raised them in a few weeks from a pack of
vagrant mountebanks to a self…respecting company of first…rate
players。 They acknowledged it generously in a speech entrusted to
Polichinelle； adding the tribute to his genius that； as they had
conquered Nantes； so would they conquer the world under his guidance。
In their enthusiasm they were a little neglectful of the feelings
of M。 Binet。 Irritated enough had he been already by the overriding
of his every wish； by the consciousness of his weakness when opposed
to Scaramouche。 And； although he had suffered the gradual process
of usurpation of authority because its every step had been attended
by his own greater profit； deep down in him the resentment abode to
stifle every spark of that gratitude due from him to his partner。
To…night his nerves had been on the rack； and he had suffered agonies
of apprehension； for all of which he blamed Scaramouche so bitterly
that not even the ultimate success … almost miraculous when all the
elements are considered … could justify his partner in his eyes。
And now； to find himself； in addition； ignored by this company … his
own company； which he had so laboriously and slowly assembled and
selected among the men of ability whom he had found here and there
in the dregs of cities was something that stirred his bile； and
aroused the malevolence that never did more than slumber in him。 But
deeply though his rage was moved； it did not blind him to the folly
of betraying it。 Yet that he should assert himself in this hour was
imperative unless he were for ever to become a thing of no account
in this troupe over which he had lorded it for long months before
this interloper came amongst them to fill his purse and destroy his
authority。
So he stepped forward now when Polichinelle had done。 His make…up
assisting him to mask his bitter feelings； he professed to add his
own to Polichinelle's acclamations of his dear partner。 But he did
it in such a manner as to make it clear that what Scaramouche had
done； he had done by M。 Binet's favour； and that in all M。 Binet's
had been the guiding hand。 In associating himself with Polichinelle；
he desired to thank Scaramouche； much in the manner of a lord
rendering thanks to his steward for services diligently rendered and
orders scrupulously carried out。
It neither deceived the troupe nor mollified himself。 Indeed； his
consciousness of the mockery of it but increased his bitterness。
But at least it saved his face and rescued him from nullity … he who
was their chief。
To say； as I have said； that it did not deceive them； is perhaps to
say too much； for it deceived them at least on the score of his
feelings。 They believed； after discounting the insinuations in
which he took all credit to himself； that at heart he was filled
with gratitude； as they were。 That belief was shared by Andre…Louis
himself； who in his brief； grateful answer was very generous to M。
Binet； more than endorsing the claims that M。 Binet had made。
And then followed from him the announcement that their success in
Nantes was the sweeter to him because it rendered almost immediately
attainable the dearest wish of his heart； which was to make Climene
his wife。 It was a felicity of which he was the first to acknowledge
his utter unworthiness。 It was to bring him into still closer
relations with his good friend M。 Binet； to whom he owed all that he
had achieved for himself and for them。 The announcement was joyously
received； for the world of the theatre loves a lover as dearly as
does the greater world。 So they acclaimed the happy pair； with the
exception of poor Leandre； whose eyes were more melancholy than ever。
They were a happy family that night in the upstairs room of their
inn on the Quai La Fosse … the same inn from which Andre…Louis had
set out some weeks ago to play a vastly different role before an
audience of Nantes。 Yet was it so different； he wondered？ Had he
not then been a sort of Scaramouche … an intriguer； glib and
specious； deceiving folk； cynically misleading them with opinions
that were not really his own？ Was it at all surprising that he
should have made so rapid and signal a success as a mime？ Was not
this really all that he had ever been； the thing for which Nature
had designed him？
On the following night they played 〃The Shy Lover〃 to a full house；
the fame of their debut having gone abroad； and the success of
Monday was confirmed。 On Wednesday they gave 〃Figaro…Scaramouche；〃
and on Thursday morning the 〃Courrier Nantais〃 came out with an
article of more than a column of praise of these brilliant
improvisers； for whom it claimed that they utterly put to shame the
mere reciters of memorized parts。
Andre…Louis； reading the sheet