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Croizette came up to me and said, "What's the matter? I hardly recognise you as you are, and you weren't yourself at all just now in the play." In a few words I told her what I had seen and all that I had felt. Frederic Febvre sent at once to get news, and the doctor came hurrying to me. "Your mother had a fainting fit, Mademoiselle," he said, "but they have just taken her home."
"That's impossible, my dear child," he replied; "Croizette is playing it." "Well then, we'll both play it; we'll take it in turns." "But Mademoiselle Croizette wouldn't like that." "I've spoken to her about it, and she would not mind it." "You ought not to have spoken to her about it." "Why not?" "Because the management does the casting, not the artistes."
Among the women, Marie Lloyd and Sophie Croizette, both friends of my childhood; the disagreeable Jouassain, who was nice only to me; and the adorable Marie Brohan, whose kindness delighted the soul, whose wit charmed the mind, and whose indifference rebuffed devotion. M. Perrin decided that I should make my debut in Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle, according to Sarcey's wish.
For the next two days I received no notice of another rehearsal, but through Croizette I heard that they were trying my role of Berthe privately. They had given it to a young woman whom we had nicknamed "the Crocodile," because she followed all the rehearsals just as that animal follows boats she was always hoping to snatch up some role that might happen to be thrown overboard.
The rumour of these little quarrels spread in the world outside the theatre, and the public too began to form clans. Croizette had on her side all the bankers and all the people who were suffering from repletion. I had all the artists, the students, dying folks, and the failures. When once war was declared there was no drawing back from the strife.
Madame Carvalho, Sarah Bernhardt, and Croizette were standing at the head of the long line of women; Faure, Talazac, Delaunay, Coquelin, on the other side. I went first all along the line of women, then came back by the men. I realised instantly after the first word of thanks and interest how easy it is for princes, or any one in high places, to give pleasure.
Got gave us each copies of our parts, and thinking that he had made a mistake, I passed on to Croizette the role of l'Etrangere which he had just given me, saying to her, "Here, Got has made a mistake here is your role." "But he is not making any mistake. It is I who am to play the Duchesse de Septmonts."
I wanted to play Camille in On ne badine pas avec l'amour: the role was given to Croizette. I wanted to play Celimene: that role was Croizette's. Perrin was very partial to Croizette. He admired her, and as she was very ambitious, she was most thoughtful and docile, which charmed the authoritative old man.
In him you have a successor to your Mascarille so perfect, that the ghosts of play-goers of your date might cry, could they see him, that Moliere had come again. But, with all respect to the efforts of the fair, I doubt if Mdlle. Barthet, or Mdme. Croizette herself, would reconcile the town to the loss of the fair De Brie, and Madeleine, and the first, the true Celimene, Armande.
I give you my word that the play shall keep its title of L'Etrangere. And now embrace me with good grace, to show that you are no longer angry with me." I embraced him, and from that day we were good friends. That evening I told the whole tale to Croizette, and I saw that she knew nothing about this wicked scheme. I was very pleased to know that. The play was very successful.
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