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almost scared by it … as a boy may be scared who has held a match
to a sun…scorched hayrick。 It was a hurricane of furious applause。
Men leapt to their feet； sprang up on to the benches； waving their
hats in the air； deafening him with the terrific uproar of their
acclamations。 And it rolled on and on； nor ceased until the curtain
fell。
Scaramouche stood meditatively smiling with tight lips。 At the
last moment he had caught a glimpse of M。 de La Tour d'Azyr's face
thrust farther forward than usual from the shadows of his box； and
it was a face set in anger； with eyes on fire。
〃Mon Dieu！〃 laughed Rhodomont； recovering from the real scare that
had succeeded his histrionic terror； 〃but you have a great trick
of tickling them in the right place； Scaramouche。〃
Scaramouche looked up at him and smiled。 〃It can be useful upon
occasion；〃 said he； and went off to his dressing…room to change。
But a reprimand awaited him。 He was delayed at the theatre by
matters concerned with the scenery of the new piece they were to
mount upon the morrow。 By the time he was rid of the business the
rest of the company had long since left。 He called a chair and
had himself carried back to the inn in solitary state。 It was one
of many minor luxuries his comparatively affluent present
circumstances permitted。
Coming into that upstairs room that was common to all the troupe；
he found M。 Binet talking loudly and vehemently。 He had caught
sounds of his voice whilst yet upon the stairs。 As he entered Binet
broke off short； and wheeled to face him。
〃You are here at last！〃 It was so odd a greeting that Andre…Louis
did no more than look his mild surprise。 〃I await your explanations
of the disgraceful scene you provoked to…night。〃
〃Disgraceful？ Is it disgraceful that the public should applaud me？〃
〃The public？ The rabble； you mean。 Do you want to deprive us of
the patronage of all gentlefolk by vulgar appeals to the low passions
of the mob。？〃
Andre…Louis stepped past M。 Binet and forward to the table。 He
shrugged contemptuously。 The man offended him； after all。
〃You exaggerate grossly … as usual。〃
〃I do not exaggerate。 And I am the master in my own theatre。 This
is the Binet Troupe； and it shall be conducted in the Binet way。〃
〃Who are the gentlefolk the loss of whose patronage to the Feydau
will be so poignantly felt？〃 asked Andre…Louis。
〃You imply that there are none？ See how wrong you are。 After the
play to…night M。 le Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr came to me； and spoke
to me in the severest terms about your scandalous outburst。 I was
forced to apologize； and。。。 〃
〃The more fool you；〃 said Andre…Louis。 〃A man who respected himself
would have shown that gentleman the door。〃 M。 Binet's face began
to empurple。 〃You call yourself the head of the Binet Troupe； you
boast that you will be master in your own theatre； and you stand
like a lackey to take the orders of the first insolent fellow who
comes to your green…room to tell you that he does not like a line
spoken by one of your company！ I say again that had you really
respected yourself you would have turned him out。〃
There was a murmur of approval from several members of the company；
who； having heard the arrogant tone assumed by the Marquis； were
filled with resentment against the slur cast upon them all。
〃And I say further；〃 Andre…Louis went on； 〃that a man who respects
himself； on quite other grounds； would have been only too glad to
have seized this pretext to show M。 de La Tour d'Azyr the door。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃 There was a rumble of thunder in the
question。
Andre…Louis' eyes swept round the company assembled at the
supper…table。 〃Where is Climene？〃 he asked； sharply。
Leandre leapt up to answer him； white in the face； tense and
quivering with excitement。
〃She left the theatre in the Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr's carriage
immediately after the performance。 We heard him offer to drive
her to this inn。〃
Andre…Louis glanced at the timepiece on the overmantel。 He seemed
unnaturally calm。
〃That would be an hour ago … rather more。 And she has not yet
arrived？〃
His eyes sought M。 Binet's。 M。 Binet's eyes eluded his glance。
Again it was Leandre who answered him。
〃Not yet。〃
〃Ah！〃 Andre…Louis sat down； and poured himself wine。 There was
an oppressive silence in the room。 Leandre watched him expectantly；
Columbine commiseratingly。 Even M。 Binet appeared to be waiting
for a cue from Scaramouche。 But Scaramouche disappointed him。
〃Have you left me anything to eat？〃 he asked。
Platters were pushed towards him。 He helped himself calmly to food；
and ate in silence； apparently with a good appetite。 M。 Binet sat
down； poured himself wine； and drank。 Presently he attempted to
make conversation with one and another。 He was answered curtly； in
monosyllables。 M。 Binet did not appear to be in favour with his
troupe that night。
At long length came a rumble of wheels below and a rattle of halting
hooves。 Then voices； the high； trilling laugh of Climene floating
upwards。 Andre…Louis went on eating unconcernedly。
〃What an actor！〃 said Harlequin under his breath to Polichinelle；
and Polichinelle nodded gloomily。
She came in； a leading lady taking the stage； head high； chin thrust
forward； eyes dancing with laughter； she expressed triumph and
arrogance。 Her cheeks were flushed； and there was some disorder in
the mass of nut…brown hair that crowned her head。 In her left hand
she carried an enormous bouquet of white camellias。 On its middle
finger a diamond of great price drew almost at once by its effulgence
the eyes of all。
Her father sprang to meet her with an unusual display of paternal
tenderness。 〃At last； my child！〃
He conducted her to the table。 She sank into a chair； a little
wearily； a little nervelessly； but the smile did not leave her face；
not even when she glanced across at Scaramouche。 It was only
Leandre； observing her closely； with hungry； scowling stare； who
detected something as of fear in the hazel eyes momentarily seen
between the fluttering of her lids。
Andre…Louis； however； still went on eating stolidly； without so
much as a look in her direction。 Gradually the company came to
realize that just as surely as a scene was brooding； just so
surely would there be no scene as long as they remained。 It was
Polichinelle； at last； who gave the signal by rising and withdrawing；
and within two minutes none remained in the room but M。 Binet； his
daughter； and Andre…Louis。 And then； at last； Andre…Louis set down
knife and fork； washed his throat with a draught of Burgundy； and
sat back in his chair to consider Climene。
〃I trust；〃 said he； 〃that you had a pleasant ride； mademoiselle。〃
〃Most pleasant； monsieur。 Impudently she strove to emulate his
coolness； but did not completely succeed。
〃And not unprofitable； if I may judge that jewel at this distance。
It should be worth at least a couple of hundred louis； and that
is a formidable sum even to so wealthy a nobleman as M。 de La Tour
d'Azyr。 Would it be impertinent in one who has had some notion
of becoming your husband； to ask you； mademoise