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Thus Andre…Louis to himself in his self…contempt。 And whilst he
trifled away his time and played Scaramouche； and centred all his
hopes in presently becoming the rival of such men as Chenier and
Mercier； M。 de La Tour d'Azyr went his proud ways unchallenged
and wrought his will。 It was idle to tell himself that the seed
he had sown was bearing fruit。 That the demands he had voiced in
Nantes for the Third Estate had been granted by M。 Necker； thanks
largely to the commotion which his anonymous speech had made。 That
was not his concern or his mission。 It was no part of his concern
to set about the regeneration of mankind； or even the regeneration
of the social structure of France。 His concern was to see that M。
de La Tour d'Azyr paid to the uttermost liard for the brutal wrong
he had done Philippe de Vilmorin。 And it did not increase his
self…respect to find that the danger in which Aline stood of being
married to the Marquis was the real spur to his rancour and to
remembrance of his vow。 He was … too unjustly； perhaps … disposed
to dismiss as mere sophistries his own arguments that there was
nothing he could do； that； in fact； he had but to show his head to
find himself going to Rennes under arrest and making his final exit
from the world's stage by way of the gallows。
It is impossible to read that part of his 〃Confessions〃 without
feeling a certain pity for him。 You realize what must have been
his state of mind。 You realize what a prey he was to emotions so
conflicting； and if you have the imagination that will enable you
to put yourself in his place； you will also realize how impossible
was any decision save the one to which he says he came； that he
would move； at the first moment that he perceived in what direction
it would serve his real aims to move。
It happened that the first person he saw when he took the stage on
that Thursday evening was Aline； the second was the Marquis de La
Tour d'Azyr。 They occupied a box on the right of； and immediately
above； the stage。 There were others with them … notably a thin；
elderly； resplendent lady whom Andre…Louis supposed to be Madame
la Comtesse de Sautron。 But at the time he had no eyes for any but
those two； who of late had so haunted his thoughts。 The sight of
either of them would have been sufficiently disconcerting。 The
sight of both together very nearly made him forget the purpose for
which he had come upon the stage。 Then he pulled himself together；
and played。 He played； he says； with an unusual nerve； and never
in all that brief but eventful career of his was he more applauded。
That was the evening's first shock。 The next came after the second
act。 Entering the green…room he found it more thronged than usual；
and at the far end with Climene； over whom he was bending from his
fine height； his eyes intent upon her face； what time his smiling
lips moved in talk； M。 de La Tour d'Azyr。 He had her entirely to
himself； a privilege none of the men of fashion who were in the
habit of visiting the coulisse had yet enjoyed。 Those lesser
gentlemen had all withdrawn before the Marquis； as jackals withdraw
before the lion。
Andre…Louis stared a moment； stricken。 Then recovering from his
surprise he became critical in his study of the Marquis。 He
considered the beauty and grace and splendour of him； his courtly
air； his complete and unshakable self…possession。 But more than
all he considered the expression of the dark eyes that were devouring
Climene's lovely face； and his own lips tightened。
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr never heeded him or his stare； nor； had he done
so； would he have known who it was that looked at him from behind
the make…up of Scaramouche； nor； again； had he known； would he have
been in the least troubled or concerned。
Andre…Louis sat down apart； his mind in turmoil。 Presently he found
a mincing young gentleman addressing him； and made shift to answer
as was expected。 Climene having been thus sequestered； and Columbine
being already thickly besieged by gallants； the lesser visitors had
to content themselves with Madame and the male members of the troupe。
M。 Binet； indeed； was the centre of a gay cluster that shook with
laughter at his sallies。 He seemed of a sudden to have emerged from
the gloom of the last two days into high good…humour； and Scaramouche
observed how persistently his eyes kept flickering upon his daughter
and her splendid courtier。
That night there； were high words between Andre…Louis and Climene；
the high words proceeding from Climene。 When Andre…Louis again；
and more insistently； enjoined prudence upon his betrothed； and
begged her to beware how far she encouraged the advances of such
a man as M。 de La Tour d'Azyr； she became roundly abusive。 She
shocked and stunned him by her virulently shrewish tone； and her
still more unexpected force of invective。
He sought to reason with her； and finally she came to certain
terms with him。
〃If you have become betrothed to me simply to stand as an obstacle
in my path； the sooner we make an end the better。〃
〃You do not love me then； Climene？〃
〃Love has nothing to do with it。 I'll not tolerate your insensate
jealousy。 A girl in the theatre must make it her business to accept
homage from all。〃
〃Agreed； and there is no harm； provided she gives nothing in
exchange。〃
White…faced； with flaming eyes she turned on him at that。
〃Now； what exactly do you mean？〃
〃My meaning is clear。 A girl in your position may receive all the
homage that is offered； provided she receives it with a dignified
aloofness implying clearly that she has no favours to bestow in
return beyond the favour of her smile。 If she is wise she will
see to it that the homage is always offered collectively by her
admirers； and that no single one amongst them shall ever have the
privilege of approaching her alone。 If she is wise she will give
no encouragement； nourish no hopes that it may afterwards be beyond
her power to deny realization。〃
〃How？ You dare？〃
〃I know my world。 And I know M。 de La Tour d'Azyr；〃 he answered her。
〃He is a man without charity； without humanity almost； a man who
takes what he wants wherever he finds it and whether it is given
willingly or not； a man who reckons nothing of the misery he
scatters on his self…indulgent way； a man whose only law is force。
Ponder it； Climene； and ask yourself if I do you less than honour in
warning you。〃
He went out on that； feeling a degradation in continuing the subject。
The days that followed were unhappy days for him； and for at least
one other。 That other was Leandre； who was cast into the profoundest
dejection by M。 de La Tour d'Azyr's assiduous attendance upon Climene。
The Marquis was to be seen at every performance； a box was perpetually
reserved for him； and invariably he came either alone or else with his
cousin M。 de Chabrillane。
On Tuesday of the following week； Andre…Louis went out alone early
in the morning。 He was out of temper； fretted by an overwhelming
sense of humiliation； and he hoped to clear his mind by walking。
In turning the corner of the Place du Bouffay he ran into a slightly
built； sallow…complexione