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Updated: June 16, 2025
Lord Monmouth was sitting in the same dressing-room in which he was first introduced to the reader; on the table were several packets of papers that were open and in course of reference; and he dictated his observations to Monsieur Villebecque, who was writing at his left hand. Thus were they occupied when Coningsby was ushered into the room.
Lord Eskdale had a plan for putting Villebecque, as he termed it, 'on his legs again. It was to establish him with a French Company in London at some pretty theatre; Lord Eskdale to take a private box and to make all his friends do the same. Villebecque, who was as sanguine as he was good-tempered, was ravished by this friendly scheme.
Flora was sitting at a table, with her face resting on her hands. Villebecque was there, resting on the edge of the tall fender, and still in the dress in which he had performed in the last piece. 'I took the liberty, said Coningsby, 'of inquiring after Mlle.
M. Villebecque can have no other thought or object but your happiness; and, believe me, 'tis not I only, but all, who appreciate, and, if they were here, must respect you. 'I prefer respect to admiration, said Flora; 'but I fear that respect is not the appanage of such as I am. 'All must respect those who respect themselves, said Coningsby.
Villebecque, who had betted, was so extremely excited by the whole affair, especially during the last three minutes, that he quite forgot his quiet companion, and when he looked round he found Flora fainting. 'You rode well, said Sidonia to Coningsby; 'but your horse was more strong than swift. After all, this thing is a race; and, notwithstanding Solomon, in a race speed must win.
'Mademoiselle has too much sensibility, said Villebecque, making an observation by way of diversion. 'And yet that must be the soul of fine acting, said Coningsby; 'I look forward, all look forward, with great interest to the next occasion on which you will favour us. 'Never! said La Petite, in a plaintive tone; 'oh, I hope, never!
You will meet him, I doubt not, like a man of sense, added Lord Monmouth, looking at Coningsby with a glance such as he had never before encountered, 'who is not prepared to sacrifice all the objects of life for the pursuit of some fantastical puerilities. His Lordship rang a bell on his table for Villebecque; and to prevent any further conversation, resumed his papers.
Resolute and reckless, nothing deterred Villebecque. One season all the opera-houses in Europe obeyed his nod, and at the end of it he was ruined. The crash was utter, universal, overwhelming; and under ordinary circumstances a French bed and a brasier of charcoal alone remained for Villebecque, who was equal to the occasion.
There was nothing which Villebecque did not know, nothing which he could not do, especially at Paris. He was master of his subject; in all things the secret of success, and without which, however they may from accident dazzle the world, the statesman, the orator, the author, all alike feel the damning consciousness of being charlatans.
He was himself, as we have intimated, a man of enterprise, a restless spirit, not content to move for ever in the sphere in which he was born. Vicissitudes are the lot of such aspirants. Villebecque became manager of a small theatre, and made money. If Villebecque without a sou had been a schemer, Villebecque with a small capital was the very Chevalier Law of theatrical managers.
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