scaramouche-第21章

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The　lure　had　drawn　them。　Whether　it　was　to　continue　to　do　so　would
depend　upon　the　manner　in　which　the　canevas　over　which　he　had
laboured　to　the　glory　of　Binet　was　interpreted　by　the　company。　　Of
the　merits　of　the　canevas　itself　he　had　no　doubt。　　The　authors　upon
whom　he　had　drawn　for　the　elements　of　it　were　sound；　and　he　had
taken　of　their　best；　which　he　claimed　to　be　no　more　than　the
justice　due　to　them。

The　company　excelled　itself。　　The　audience　followed　with　relish　the
sly　intriguings　of　Scaramouche；　delighted　in　the　beauty　and
freshness　of　Climene；　was　moved　almost　to　tears　by　the　hard　fate
which　through　four　long　acts　kept　her　from　the　hungering　arms　of
the　so　beautiful　Leandre；　howled　its　delight　over　the　ignominy　of
Pantaloon；　the　buffooneries　of　his　sprightly　lackey　Harlequin；　and
the　thrasonical　strut　and　bellowing　fierceness　of　the　cowardly
Rhodomont。

The　success　of　the　Binet　troupe　in　Guichen　was　assured。　　That　night
the　company　drank　Burgundy　at　M。　Binet's　expense。　　The　takings
reached　the　sum　of　eight　louis；　which　was　as　good　business　as　M。
Binet　had　ever　done　in　all　his　career。　　He　was　very　pleased。
Gratification　rose　like　steam　from　his　fat　body。　　He　even
condescended　so　far　as　to　attribute　a　share　of　the　credit　for　the
success　to　M。　Parvissimus。

〃His　suggestion；〃　he　was　careful　to　say；　by　way　of　properly
delimiting　that　share；　〃was　most　valuable；　as　I　perceived　at　the
time。〃

〃And　his　cutting　of　quills；〃　growled　Polichinelle。　　〃Don't　forget
that。　　It　is　most　important　to　have　by　you　a　man　who　understands　how
to　cut　a　quill；　as　I　shall　remember　when　I　turn　author。〃

But　not　even　that　gibe　could　stir　M。　Binet　out　of　his　lethargy　of
content。

On　Tuesday　the　success　was　repeated　artistically　and　augmented
financially。　　Ten　louis　and　seven　livres　was　the　enormous　sum　that
Andre…Louis；　the　doorkeeper；　counted　over　to　M。　Binet　after　the
performance。　　Never　yet　had　M。　Binet　made　so　much　money　in　one
evening　…　and　a　miserable　little　village　like　Guichen　was　certainly
the　last　place　in　which　he　would　have　expected　this　windfall。

〃Ah；　but　Guichen　in　time　of　fair；〃　Andre…Louis　reminded　him。　〃There
are　people　here　from　as　far　as　Nantes　and　Rennes　to　buy　and　sell。
To…morrow；　being　the　last　day　of　the　fair；　the　crowds　will　be　greater
than　ever。　　We　should　better　this　evening's　receipts。〃

〃Better　them？　　I　shall　be　quite　satisfied　if　we　do　as　well；　my
friend。〃

〃You　can　depend　upon　that；〃　Andre…Louis　assured　him。　　〃Are　we　to
have　Burgundy？〃

And　then　the　tragedy　occurred。　　It　announced　itself　in　a　succession
of　bumps　and　thuds；　culminating　in　a　crash　outside　the　door　that
brought　them　all　to　their　feet　in　alarm。

Pierrot　sprang　to　open；　and　beheld　the　tumbled　body　of　a　man　lying
at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　　It　emitted　groans；　therefore　it　was
alive。　　Pierrot　went　forward　to　turn　it　over；　and　disclosed　the　fact
that　the　body　wore　the　wizened　face　of　Scaramouche；　a　grimacing；
groaning；　twitching　Scaramouche。

The　whole　company；　pressing　after　Pierrot；　abandoned　itself　to
laughter。

〃I　always　said　you　should　change　parts　with　me；〃　cried　Harlequin。
〃You're　such　an　excellent　tumbler。　　Have　you　been　practising？〃

〃Fool！〃　Scaramouche　snapped。　　〃Must　you　be　laughing　when　I've　all
but　broken　my　neck？〃

〃You　are　right。　　We　ought　to　be　weeping　because　you　didn't　break
it。　　Come；　man；　get　up；〃　and　he　held　out　a　hand　to　the　prostrate
rogue。

Scaramouche　took　the　hand；　clutched　it；　heaved　himself　from　the
ground；　then　with　a　scream　dropped　back　again。

〃My　foot！〃　he　complained。

Binet　rolled　through　the　group　of　players；　scattering　them　to　right
and　left。　　Apprehension　had　been　quick　to　seize　him。　　Fate　had
played　him　such　tricks　before。

〃What　ails　your　foot？〃　quoth　he；　sourly。

〃It's　broken；　I　think；〃　Scaramouche　complained。

〃Broken？　　Bah！　　Get　up；　man。〃　　He　caught　him　under　the　armpits　and
hauled　him　up。

Scaramouche　came　howling　to　one　foot；　the　other　doubled　under　him
when　he　attempted　to　set　it　down；　and　he　must　have　collapsed　again
but　that　Binet　supported　him。　　He　filled　the　place　with　his　plaint；
whilst　Binet　swore　amazingly　and　variedly。

〃Must　you　bellow　like　a　calf；　you　fool？　　Be　quiet。　　A　chair　here；
some　one。〃

A　chair　was　thrust　forward。　　He　crushed　Scaramouche　down　into　it。

〃Let　us　look　at　this　foot　of　yours。〃

Heedless　of　Scaramouche's　howls　of　pain；　he　swept　away　shoe　and
stocking。

〃What　ails　it？〃　he　asked；　staring。　　〃Nothing　that　I　can　see。〃　　He
seized　it；　heel　in　one　hand；　instep　in　the　other；　and　gyrated　it。
Scaramouche　screamed　in　agony；　until　Climene　caught　Binet's　arm　and
made　him　stop。

〃My　God；　have　you　no　feelings？〃　she　reproved　her　father。　　〃The　lad
has　hurt　his　foot。　　Must　you　torture　him？　　Will　that　cure　it？〃

〃Hurt　his　foot！〃　said　Binet。　　〃I　can　see　nothing　the　matter　with　his
foot　…　nothing　to　justify　all　this　uproar。　　He　has　bruised　it；
maybe。。。　〃

〃A　man　with　a　bruised　foot　doesn't　scream　like　that；〃　said　Madame
over　Climene's　shoulder。　　〃Perhaps　he　has　dislocated　it。〃

〃That　is　what　I　fear；〃　whimpered　Scaramouche。

Binet　heaved　himself　up　in　disgust。

〃Take　him　to　bed；〃　he　bade　them；　〃and　fetch　a　doctor　to　see　him。〃

It　was　done；　and　the　doctor　came。　　Having　seen　the　patient；　he
reported　that　nothing　very　serious　had　happened；　but　that　in　falling
he　had　evidently　sprained　his　foot　a　little。　　A　few　days'　rest　and
all　would　be　well。

〃A　few　days！〃　cried　Binet。　　〃God　of　God！　　Do　you　mean　that　he　can't
walk？〃

〃It　would　be　unwise；　indeed　impossible　for　more　than　a　few　steps。〃

M。　Binet　paid　the　doctor's　fee；　and　sat　down　to　think。　　He　filled
himself　a　glass　of　Burgundy；　tossed　it　off　without　a　word；　and　sat
thereafter　staring　into　the　empty　glass。

〃It　is　of　course　the　sort　of　thing　that　must　always　be　happening　to
me；〃　he　grumbled　to　no　one　in　particular。　　The　members　of　the　company
were　all　standing　in　silence　before　him；　sharing　his　dismay。　　〃I
might　have　known　that　this　…　or　something　like　it　…　would　occur　to
spoil　the　first　vein　of　luck　that　I　have　found　in　years。　　Ah；　well；
it　is　finished。　　To…morrow　we　pack　and　depart。　　The　best　day　of　the
fair；　on　the　crest　of　the　wave　of　our　success　…　a　good　fifteen　louis
to　be　taken；　and　this　happens！　　God　of　God！〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　abandon　to…morrow's　performance？〃

All　turned　to　stare　with　Binet　at　Andre…Louis。

〃Are　we　to　play　'Figaro…Scaramouche'　without　Scaramouche？〃　asked
Binet；　sneering。

〃Of　course　not。〃　Andre…Louis　came　forward。　　〃But　surely　some
rearrangement　of　the　parts　is　possible。　　For　instance；　there　is　a
fine　actor　in　Polichinelle。〃

Polichinelle　swept　him　a　bow。　　〃Overwhelmed；〃　said　he；　ever　sardonic。

〃But　he　has　a　part　of　his　own；〃　objected　Binet。

〃A　small　part；　which　Pasquariel　could　play。〃

〃And　who　will　play　Pasquariel？〃

〃Nobody。　　We　delete　it。　　The　play　need　not　suffer。〃

〃He　thinks　of　everything；〃　sneered　Polichinelle。　　〃What　a　man！〃

But　Binet　was　far　from　agreement。　　〃Are　you　suggesting　that
Polichinelle　should　play　Scaramouche？〃　he　asked；　incredulously。

〃Why　not？　　He　is　able　enough！〃

〃Overwhelmed　again；〃　interjected　Polichinelle。

〃Play　Scaramouche　with　that　figure？〃　　Binet　heaved　himself　up　to
point　a　denunciatory　finger　at　Polichinelle's　sturdy；　thick…set
shortness。

〃For　lack　of　a　better；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃Overwhelmed　more　than　ever。〃　　Polichinelle's　bow　was　superb　this
time。　　〃Faith；　I　think　I'll　take　the　air　to　cool　me　after　so　much
blushing。〃

〃Go　to　the　devil；〃　Binet　flung　at　him。

〃Better　and　better。〃　　Polichinelle　made　for　the　door。　　On　the
threshold　he　halted　and　struck　an　attitude。　　〃Understand　me；　Binet。
I　do　not　now　play　Scaramouche　in　any　circumstances　whatever。〃　　And
he　went　out。　　On　the　whole；　it　was　a　very　dignified　exit。

Andre…Louis　shrugged；　threw　out　his　arms；　and　let　them　fall　to　his
sides　again。　　〃You　have　ruined　everything；〃　he　told　M。　Binet。　　〃The
matter　could　easily　have　been　arranged。　　Well；　well；　it　is　you　are
master　here；　and　since　you　want　us　to　pack　and　be　off；　that　is　what
we　will　do；　I　suppose。〃

He　went　out；　too。　　M。　Binet　stood　in　thought　a　moment；　then　followed
him；　his　little　eyes　very　cunning。　　He　caught　him　up　in　the　doorway。
〃Let　us　take　a　walk　together；　M。　Parvissimus；〃　said　he；　very　affably。

He　thrust　his　arm　through　Andre…Louis'；　and　led　him　out　into　the
street；　where　there　was　still　considerable　movement。　　Past　the　booths
that　ranged　about　the　market　they　went；　and　down　the　hill　towards　the
bridge。　　〃I　don't　think　we　shall　pack　to…morrow；〃　said　M。　Binet；
presently。　　〃In　fact；　we　shall　play　to…morrow　night。〃

〃Not　if　I　know　Polichinelle。　　You　have。。。　〃

〃I　am　not　thinking　of　Polichinelle。〃

〃Of　whom；　then？〃

〃Of　yourself。〃

〃I　am　flattered；　sir。　　And　in　what　capacity　are　you　thinking　of　me？〃
There　was　something　too　sleek　and　oily　in　Binet's　voice　for
Andre…Louis'　taste。

〃I　am　thinking　of　you　in　the　part　of　Scaramouche。〃

〃Day…dreams；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃You　are　amusing　yourself；　of
course。〃

〃Not　in　the　least。　　I　am　quite　serious。〃

〃But　I　am　not　an　actor。〃

〃You　told　me　that　you　could　be。〃

〃Oh；　upon　occasion。。。　a　small　part；　perhaps。。。　〃

〃Well；　here　is　a　big　part　…　the　chance　to　arrive　at　a　single　stride。
How　many　men　have　had　such　a　chance？〃

〃It　is　a　chance　I　do　not　covet；　M。　Binet。　　Shall　we　change　the
subject？〃　　He　was　very　frosty；　as　much　perhaps　because　he　scented
in　M。　Binet's　manner　something　that　was　vaguely　menacing　as　for　any
other　reason。

〃We'll　change　the　subject　when　I　please；〃　said　M。　Binet；　allowing　a
glimpse　of　steel　to　glimmer　through　the　silk　of　him。　　〃To…morrow
night　you　play　Scaramouche。　　You　are　ready　enough　in　your　wits；　your
figure　is　ideal；　and　you　have　just　the　kind　of　mordant　humour　for
the　part。　　You　should　be　a　great　success。〃

〃It　is　much　more　likely　that　I　should　be　an　egregious　failure。〃

〃That　won't　matter；〃　said　Binet；　cynically；　and　explained　himself。
〃The　failure　will　be　personal　to　yourself。　　The　receipts　will　be
safe　by　then。〃

〃Much　obliged；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃We　should　take　fifteen　louis　to…morrow　night。〃

〃It　is　unfortunate　that　you　are　without　a　Scaramouche；〃　said
Andre…Louis。

〃It　is　fortunate　that　I　have　one；　M。　Parvissimus。〃　　Andre…Louis
disengaged　his　arm。　〃I　begin　to　find　you　tiresome；〃　said　he。　　〃I
think　I　will　return。〃

〃A　moment；　M。　Parvissimus。　　If　I　am　to　lose　that　fifteen　louis。。。
　　you'll　not　take　it　amiss　that　I　compensate　myself　in　other　ways？〃

〃That　is　your　own　concern；　M。　Binet。〃

〃Pardon；　M。　Parvissimus。　　It　may　possibly　be　also　yours。〃　　Binet
took　his　arm　again。　　〃Do　me　the　kindness　to　step　across　the　street
with　me。　　Just　as　far　as　the　post…office　there。　　I　have　something
to　show　you。〃

Andre…Louis　went。　　Before　they　reached　that　sheet　of　paper　nailed
upon　the　door；　he　knew　exactly　what　it　would　say。　　And　in　effect　it
was；　as　he　had　supposed；　that　twenty　louis　would　be　paid　for
information　leading　to　the　apprehension　of　one　Andre…Louis　Moreau；
lawyer　of　Gavrillac；　who　was　wanted　by　the　King's　Lieutenant　in
Rennes　upon　a　charge　of　sedition。

M。　Binet　watched　him　whilst　he　read。　　Their　arms　were　linked；　and
Binet's　grip　was　firm　and　powerful。

〃Now；　my