scaramouche-第23章

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himself　of　the　fact　that　Figaro　was　a　Spaniard。　　He　had　known　a
Spaniard　at　Louis　le　Grand　who　spoke　a　fluent　but　most　extraordinary
French；　with　a　grotesque　excess　of　sibilant　sounds。　　It　was　an　accent
that　he　had　often　imitated；　as　youths　will　imitate　characteristics
that　excite　their　mirth。　　Opportunely　he　had　bethought　him　of　that
Spanish　student；　and　it　was　upon　his　speech　that　to…night　he　modelled
his　own。　　The　audience　of　Guichen　found　it　as　laughable　on　his　lips
as　he　and　his　fellows　had　found　it　formerly　on　the　lips　of　that
derided　Spaniard。

Meanwhile；　behind　the　scenes；　Binet　…　listening　to　that　glib
impromptu　of　which　the　scenario　gave　no　indication　…　had　recovered
from　his　fears。

〃Dieu　de　Dieu！〃　he　whispered；　grinning。　　〃Did　he　do　it；　then；　on
purpose？〃

It　seemed　to　him　impossible　that　a　man　who　had　been　so
terror…stricken　as　he　had　fancied　Andre…Louis；　could　have　recovered
his　wits　so　quickly　and　completely。　　Yet　the　doubt　remained。

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。　　Scaramouche；　a　little　exalted　at　the　moment　by　his
success；　however　trivial　he　might　consider　it　to…morrow；　took　then
a　full　revenge　upon　Climene　for　the　malicious　satisfaction　with
which　she　had　regarded　his　momentary　blank　terror。

〃I　do　not　wonder　that　you　ask；〃　said　he。　　〃Faith；　I　should　have
warned　you　that　I　intended　to　do　my　best　from　the　start　to　put　the
audience　in　a　good　humour　with　me。　　Mademoiselle　very　nearly　ruined
everything　by　refusing　to　reflect　any　of　my　terror。　　She　was　not
even　startled。　　Another　time；　mademoiselle；　I　shall　give　you　full
warning　of　my　every　intention。〃

She　crimsoned　under　her　grease…paint。　　But　before　she　could　find　an
answer　of　sufficient　venom；　her　father　was　rating　her　soundly　for
her　stupidity　…　the　more　soundly　because　himself　he　had　been　deceived
by　Scaramouche's　supreme　acting。

Scaramouche's　success　in　the　first　act　was　more　than　confirmed　as
the　performance　proceeded。　　Completely　master　of　himself　by　now；
and　stimulated　as　only　success　can　stimulate；　he　warmed　to　his　work。
Impudent；　alert；　sly；　graceful；　he　incarnated　the　very　ideal　of
Scaramouche；　and　he　helped　out　his　own　native　wit　by　many　a
remembered　line　from　Beaumarchais；　thereby　persuading　the　better
informed　among　the　audience　that　here　indeed　was　something　of　the
real　Figaro；　and　bringing　them；　as　it　were；　into　touch　with　the
great　world　of　the　capital。

When　at　last　the　curtain　fell　for　the　last　time；　it　was　Scaramouche
who　shared　with　Climene　the　honours　of　the　evening；　his　name　that
was　coupled　with　hers　in　the　calls　that　summoned　them　before　the
curtains。

As　they　stepped　back；　and　the　curtains　screened　them　again　from　the
departing　audience；　M。　Binet　approached　them；　rubbing　his　fat　hands
softly　together。　　This　runagate　young　lawyer；　whom　chance　had　blown
into　his　company；　had　evidently　been　sent　by　Fate　to　make　his　fortune
for　him。　The　sudden　success　at　Guichen；　hitherto　unrivalled；　should
be　repeated　and　augmented　elsewhere。　　There　would　be　no　more　sleeping
under　hedges　and　tightening　of　belts。　　Adversity　was　behind　him。　　He
placed　a　hand　upon　Scaramouche's　shoulder；　and　surveyed　him　with　a
smile　whose　oiliness　not　even　his　red　paint　and　colossal　false　nose
could　dissemble。

〃And　what　have　you　to　say　to　me　now？〃　he　asked　him。　　〃Was　I　wrong
when　I　assured　you　that　you　would　succeed？　　Do　you　think　I　have
followed　my　fortunes　in　the　theatre　for　a　lifetime　without　knowing
a　born　actor　when　I　see　one？　　You　are　my　discovery；　Scaramouche。　　I
have　discovered　you　to　yourself。　　I　have　set　your　feet　upon　the　road
to　fame　and　fortune。　　I　await　your　thanks。〃

Scaramouche　laughed　at　him；　and　his　laugh　was　not　altogether　pleasant。

〃Always　Pantaloon！〃　said　he。

The　great　countenance　became　overcast。　　〃I　see　that　you　do　not　yet
forgive　me　the　little　stratagem　by　which　I　forced　you　to　do　justice
to　yourself。　　Ungrateful　dog！　　As　if　I　could　have　had　any　purpose
but　to　make　you；　and　I　have　done　so。　　Continue　as　you　have　begun；
and　you　will　end　in　Paris。　　You　may　yet　tread　the　stage　of　the
Comedie　Francaise；　the　rival　of　Talma；　Fleury；　and　Dugazon。　　When
that　happens　to　you　perhaps　you　will　feel　the　gratitude　that　is　due
to　old　Binet；　for　you　will　owe　it　all　to　this　soft…hearted　old　fool。〃

〃If　you　were　as　good　an　actor　on　the　stage　as　you　are　in　private；〃
said　Scaramouche；　〃you　would　yourself　have　won　to　the　Comedie
Francaise　long　since。　　But　I　bear　no　rancour；　M。　Binet。〃　　He　laughed；
and　put　out　his　hand。

Binet　fell　upon　it　and　wrung　it　heartily。

〃That；　at　least；　is　something；〃　he　declared。　　〃My　boy；　I　have　great
plans　for　you　…　for　us。　　To…morrow　we　go　to　Maure；　there　is　a　fair
there　to　the　end　of　this　week。　　Then　on　Monday　we　take　our　chances
at　Pipriac；　and　after　that　we　must　consider。　　It　may　be　that　I　am
about　to　realize　the　dream　of　my　life。　　There　must　have　been　upwards
of　fifteen　louis　taken　to…night。　　Where　the　devil　is　that　rascal
Cordemais？〃

Cordemais　was　the　name　of　the　original　Scaramouche；　who　had　so
unfortunately　twisted　his　ankle。　　That　Binet　should　refer　to　him　by
his　secular　designation　was　a　sign　that　in　the　Binet　company　at
least　he　had　fallen　for　ever　from　the　lofty　eminence　of　Scaramouche。

〃Let　us　go　and　find　him；　and　then　we'll　away　to　the　inn　and　crack　a
bottle　of　the　best　Burgundy；　perhaps　two　bottles。〃

But　Cordemais　was　not　readily　to　be　found。　　None　of　the　company　had
seen　him　since　the　close　of　the　performance。　　M。　Binet　went　round
to　the　entrance。　　Cordemais　was　not　there。　　At　first　he　was　annoyed；
then　as　he　continued　in　vain　to　bawl　the　fellow's　name；　he　began　to
grow　uneasy；　lastly；　when　Polichinelle；　who　was　with　them；
discovered　Cordemais'　crutch　standing　discarded　behind　the　door；　M。
Binet　became　alarmed。　　A　dreadful　suspicion　entered　his　mind。　　He
grew　visibly　pale　under　his　paint。

〃But　this　evening　he　couldn't　walk　without　the　crutch！〃　he　exclaimed。
〃How　then　does　he　come　to　leave　it　there　and　take　himself　off？〃

〃Perhaps　he　has　gone　on　to　the　inn；〃　suggested　some　one。

〃But　he　could　n't　walk　without　his　crutch；〃　M。　Binet　insisted。

Nevertheless；　since　clearly　he　was　not　anywhere　about　the　market…hall；
to　the　inn　they　all　trooped；　and　deafened　the　landlady　with　their
inquiries。

〃Oh；　yes；　M。　Cordemais　came　in　some　time　ago。〃

〃Where　is　he　now？〃

〃He　went　away　again　at　once。　　He　just　came　for　his　bag。〃

〃For　his　bag！〃　Binet　was　on　the　point　of　an　apoplexy。　　〃How　long
ago　was　that？〃

She　glanced　at　the　timepiece　on　the　overmantel。　　〃It　would　be　about
half　an　hour　ago。　　It　was　a　few　minutes　before　the　Rennes　diligence
passed　through。〃

〃The　Rennes　diligence！〃　　M。　Binet　was　almost　inarticulate。　　〃Could
he。。。　could　he　walk？〃　he　asked；　on　a　note　of　terrible　anxiety。

〃Walk？　　He　ran　like　a　hare　when　he　left　the　inn。　　I　thought；　myself；
that　his　agility　was　suspicious；　seeing　how　lame　he　had　been　since
he　fell　downstairs　yesterday。　　Is　anything　wrong？〃

M。　Binet　had　collapsed　into　a　chair。　　He　took　his　head　in　his　hands；
and　groaned。

〃The　scoundrel　was　shamming　all　the　time！〃　exclaimed　Climene。　　〃His
fall　downstairs　was　a　trick。　　He　was　playing　for　this。　　He　has
swindled　us。〃

〃Fifteen　louis　at　least　…　perhaps　sixteen！〃　said　M。　Binet。　　〃Oh；　the
heartless　blackguard！　　To　swindle　me　who　have　been　as　a　father　to
him　…　and　to　swindle　me　in　such　a　moment。〃

》From　the　ranks　of　the　silent；　awe…stricken　company；　each　member　of
which　was　wondering　by　how　much　of　the　loss　his　own　meagre　pay　would
be　mulcted；　there　came　a　splutter　of　laughter。

M。　Binet　glared　with　blood…injected　eyes。

〃Who　laughs？〃　he　roared。　　〃What　heartless　wretch　has　the　audacity
to　laugh　at　my　misfortune？〃

Andre…Louis；　still　in　the　sable　glories　of　Scaramouche；　stood
forward。　　He　was　laughing　still。

〃It　is　you；　is　it？　　You　may　laugh　on　another　note；　my　friend；　if　I
choose　a　way　to　recoup　myself　that　I　know　of。〃

〃Dullard！〃　Scaramouche　scorned　him。　〃Rabbit…brained　elephant！　　What
if　Cordemais　has　gone　with　fifteen　louis？　　Hasn't　he　left　you
something　worth　twenty　times　as　much？〃

M。　Binet　gaped　uncomprehending。

〃You　are　between　two　wines；　I　think。　　You've　been　drinking；〃　he
concluded。

〃So　I　have　…　at　the　fountain　of　Thalia。　　Oh；　don't　you　see？　　Don't
you　see　the　treasure　that　Cordemais　has　left　behind　him？〃

〃What　has　he　left？〃

〃A　unique　idea　for　the　groundwork　of　a　scenario。　　It　unfolds　itself
all　before　me。　　I'll　borrow　part　of　the　title　from　Moliere。　　We'll
call　it　'Les　Fourberies　de　Scaramouche；'　and　if　we　don't　leave　the
audiences　of　Maure　and　Pipriac　with　sides　aching　from　laughter　I'll
play　the　dullard　Pantaloon　in　future。〃

Polichinelle　smacked　fist　into　palm。　〃Superb！〃　he　said；　fiercely。
〃To　cull　fortune　from　misfortune；　to　turn　loss　into　profit；　that
is　to　have　genius。

Scaramouche　made　a　leg。　　〃Polichinelle；　you　are　a　fellow　after　my
own　heart。　　I　love　a　man　who　can　discern　my　merit。　　If　Pantaloon　had
half　your　wit；　we　should　have　Burgundy　to…night　in　spite　of　the
flight　of　Cordemais。〃

〃Burgundy？〃　roared　M。　Binet；　and　before　he　could　get　farther
Harlequin　had　clapped　his　hands　together。

〃That　is　the　spirit；　M。　Binet。　　You　heard　him；　landlady。　　He　called
for　Burgundy。〃

〃I　called　for　nothing　of　the　kind。〃

〃But　you　heard　him；　dear　madame。　　We　all　heard　him。〃

The　others　made　chorus；　whilst　Scaramouche　smiled　at　him；　and　patted
his　shoulder。

〃Up；　man；　a　little　courage。　　Did　you　not　say　that　fortune　awaits　us？
And　have　we　not　now　the　wherewithal　to　constrain　fortune？　　Burgundy；
then；　to。。。　to　toast　'Les　Fourberies　de　Scaramouche。'〃

And　M。　Binet；　who　was　not　blind　to　the　force　of　the　idea；　yielded；
took　courage；　and　got　drunk　with　the　rest。



CHAPTER　VI

CLIMENE


Diligent　search　among　the　many　scenarios　of　the　improvisers　which
have　survived　their　day；　has　failed　to　bring　to　light　the　scenario
of　〃Les　Fourberies　de　Scaramouche；〃　upon　which　we　are　told　the
fortunes　of　the　Binet　troupe　came　to　be　soundly　established。　　They
played　it　for　the　first　time　at　Maure　in　the　following　week；　with
Andre…Louis　…　who　was　known　by　now　as　Scaramouche　to　all　the
company；　and　to　the　public　alike　…　in　the　title…role。　　If　he　had
acquitted　himself　well　as　Figaro…Scaramouche；　he　excelled　himself
in　the　new　piece；　the　scenario　of　which　would　appear　to　be　very
much　the　better　of　the　two。

After　Maure　came　Pipriac；　where　four　performances　were　given；　two
of　each　of　the　scenarios　that　now　formed　the　backbone　of　the　Binet
repertoire。　　In　both　Scaramouche；　who　was　beginning　to　find　himself；
materially　improved　his　performances。　　So　smoothly　now　did　the　two
pieces　run　that　Scaramouche　actually　suggested　to　Binet　that　after
Fougeray；　which　they　were　to　visit　in　the　following　week；　they
should　tempt　fortune　in　a　real　theatre　in　the　important　town　of
Redon。　　The　notion　terrified　Binet　at　f