United States or Haiti ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
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.
And in view of the importance now of Scaramouche, the play had been rechristened "Figaro-Scaramouche." This last had not been without a deal of opposition from M. Binet. But his relentless collaborator, who was in reality the real author drawing shamelessly, but practically at last upon his great store of reading had overborne him. "You must move with the times, monsieur.
To resolve it after the curtain had fallen upon a first act that had gone with a verve unrivalled until this hour in the annals of the company, borne almost entirely upon the slim shoulders of the new Scaramouche, M. Binet bluntly questioned him. They were standing in the space that did duty as green-room, the company all assembled there, showering congratulations upon their new recruit.
Their arms were linked, and Binet's grip was firm and powerful. "Now, my friend," said he, "will you be M. Parvissimus and play Scaramouche to-morrow, or will you be Andre-Louis Moreau of Gavrillac and go to Rennes to satisfy the King's Lieutenant?" "And if it should happen that you are mistaken?" quoth Andre-Louis, his face a mask. "I'll take the risk of that," leered M. Binet.
Climene may even have come to consider that it would have paid her better to have run a straight course with Scaramouche and by marrying him to have trusted to his undoubted talents to place her on the summit to which her ambition urged her, and to which it was now futile for her to aspire. If so, that reflection must have been her sufficient punishment.
For he is Scaramouche not only on the stage, but also in the world. He has a gift of sly intrigue, an art of setting folk by the ears, combined with an impudent aggressiveness upon occasion when he considers himself safe from reprisals. He is Scaramouche, the little skirmisher, to the very life. I could say more. But I am by disposition charitable and loving to all mankind."
The new Scaramouche fell into place beside Rhodomont. The old one, hobbling on a crutch, had departed an hour ago to take the place of doorkeeper, vacated of necessity by Andre-Louis. So that the exchange between those two was a complete one.
Cheerfully now with one exception they accepted the dominance of Scaramouche, a dominance soon to be so firmly established that M. Binet himself came under it. The one exception was Climene.
And to heighten the irritation, Andre-Louis the actor, Scaramouche always produced his snuffbox, and proffered it with a steady hand to Le Chapelier before helping himself. Chabrillane, it seemed, after all that he had suffered, was not even to be allowed to make a good exit. "Very well, monsieur," he said. "Nine o'clock, then; and we'll see if you'll talk as pertly afterwards."
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?
Word Of The Day