scaramouche-第24章

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should　tempt　fortune　in　a　real　theatre　in　the　important　town　of
Redon。　　The　notion　terrified　Binet　at　first；　but　coming　to　think
of　it；　and　his　ambition　being　fanned　by　Andre…Louis；　he　ended　by
allowing　himself　to　succumb　to　the　temptation。

It　seemed　to　Andre…Louis　in　those　days　that　he　had　found　his　real
metier；　and　not　only　was　he　beginning　to　like　it；　but　actually　to
look　forward　to　a　career　as　actor…author　that　might　indeed　lead
him　in　the　end　to　that　Mecca　of　all　comedians；　the　Comedie
Francaise。　　And　there　were　other　possibilities。　　From　the　writing
of　skeleton　scenarios　for　improvisers；　he　might　presently　pass　to
writing　plays　of　dialogue；　plays　in　the　proper　sense　of　the　word；
after　the　manner　of　Chenier；　Eglantine；　and　Beaumarchais。

The　fact　that　he　dreamed　such　dreams　shows　us　how　very　kindly　he
had　taken　to　the　profession　into　which　Chance　and　M。　Binet　between
them　had　conspired　to　thrust　him。　　That　he　had　real　talent　both
as　author　and　as　actor　I　do　not　doubt；　and　I　am　persuaded　that　had
things　fallen　out　differently　he　would　have　won　for　himself　a
lasting　place　among　French　dramatists；　and　thus　fully　have　realized
that　dream　of　his。

Now；　dream　though　it　was；　he　did　not　neglect　the　practical　side
of　it。

〃You　realize；〃　he　told　M。　Binet；　〃that　I　have　it　in　my　power　to
make　your　fortune　for　you。

He　and　Binet　were　sitting　alone　together　in　the　parlour　of　the　inn
at　Pipriac；　drinking　a　very　excellent　bottle　of　Volnay。　　It　was　on
the　night　after　the　fourth　and　last　performance　there　of　〃Les
Feurberies。〃　　The　business　in　Pipriac　had　been　as　excellent　as　in
Maure　and　Guichen。　　You　will　have　gathered　this　from　the　fact　that
they　drank　Volnay。

〃I　will　concede　it；　my　dear　Scaramouche；　so　that　I　may　hear　the
sequel。〃

〃I　am　disposed　to　exercise　this　power　if　the　inducement　is
sufficient。　　You　will　realize　that　for　fifteen　livres　a　month　a
man　does　not　sell　such　exceptional　gifts　as　mine。

〃There　is　an　alternative；〃　said　M。　Binet；　darkly。

〃There　is　no　alternative。　　Don't　be　a　fool；　Binet。〃

Binet　sat　up　as　if　he　had　been　prodded。　　Members　of　his　company
did　not　take　this　tone　of　direct　rebuke　with　him。

〃Anyway；　I　make　you　a　present　of　it；〃　Scaramouche　pursued；　airily。
〃Exercise　it　if　you　please。　　Step　outside　and　inform　the　police　that
they　can　lay　hands　upon　one　Andre…Louis　Moreau。　　But　that　will　be
the　end　of　your　fine　dreams　of　going　to　Redon；　and　for　the　first
time　in　your　life　playing　in　a　real　theatre。　　Without　me；　you　can't
do　it；　and　you　know　it；　and　I　am　not　going　to　Redon　or　anywhere
else；　in　fact　I　am　not　even　going　to　Fougeray；　until　we　have　an
equitable　arrangement。〃

〃But　what　heat！〃　complained　Binet；　〃and　all　for　what？　　Why　must　you
assume　that　I　have　the　soul　of　a　usurer？　　When　our　little　arrangement
was　made；　I　had　no　idea　how　could　I？　　…　that　you　would　prove　as
valuable　to　me　as　you　are？　　You　had　but　to　remind　me；　my　dear
Scaramouche。　　I　am　a　just　man。　　As　from　to…day　you　shall　have　thirty
livres　a　month。　　See；　I　double　it　at　once。　　I　am　a　generous　man。〃

〃But　you　are　not　ambitious。　　Now　listen　to　me；　a　moment。〃

And　he　proceeded　to　unfold　a　scheme　that　filled　Binet　with　a
paralyzing　terror。

〃After　Redon；　Nantes；〃　he　said。　　〃Nantes　and　the　Theatre　Feydau。〃

M。　Binet　choked　in　the　act　of　drinking。　　The　Theatre　Feydau　was　a
sort　of　provincial　Comedie　Francaise。　　The　great　Fleury　had　played
there　to　an　audience　as　critical　as　any　in　France。　　The　very　thought
of　Redon；　cherished　as　it　had　come　to　be　by　M。　Binet；　gave　him　at
moments　a　cramp　in　the　stomach；　so　dangerously　ambitious　did　it
seem　to　him。　And　Redon　was　a　puppet…show　by　comparison　with　Nantes。
Yet　this　raw　lad　whom　he　had　picked　up　by　chance　three　weeks　ago；
and　who　in　that　time　had　blossomed　from　a　country　attorney　into
author　and　actor；　could　talk　of　Nantes　and　the　Theatre　Feydau
without　changing　colour。

〃But　why　not　Paris　and　the　Comedie　Francaise？〃　wondered　M。　Binet；
with　sarcasm；　when　at　last　he　had　got　his　breath。

〃That　may　come　later；〃　says　impudence。

〃Eh？　　You've　been　drinking；　my　friend。〃

But　Andre…Louis　detailed　the　plan　that　had　been　forming　in　his　mind。
Fougeray　should　be　a　training…ground　for　Redon；　and　Redon　should　be
a　training…ground　for　Nantes。　　They　would　stay　in　Redon　as　long　as
Redon　would　pay　adequately　to　come　and　see　them；　working　hard　to
perfect　themselves　the　while。　　They　would　add　three　or　four　new
players　of　talent　to　the　company；　he　would　write　three　or　four　fresh
scenarios；　and　these　should　be　tested　and　perfected　until　the　troupe
was　in　possession　of　at　least　half　a　dozen　plays　upon　which　they
could　depend；　they　would　lay　out　a　portion　of　their　profits　on
better　dresses　and　better　scenery；　and　finally　in　a　couple　of　months'
time；　if　all　went　well；　they　should　be　ready　to　make　their　real　bid
for　fortune　at　Nantes。　　It　was　quite　true　that　distinction　was
usually　demanded　of　the　companies　appearing　at　the　Feydau；　but　on
the　other　hand　Nantes　had　not　seen　a　troupe　of　improvisers　for　a
generation　and　longer。　　They　would　be　supplying　a　novelty　to　which
all　Nantes　should　flock　provided　that　the　work　were　really　well　done；
and　Scaramouche　undertook　…　pledged　himself　…　that　if　matters　were
left　in　his　own　hands；　his　projected　revival　of　the　Commedia　dell'
Arte　in　all　its　glories　would　exceed　whatever　expectations　the
public　of　Nantes　might　bring　to　the　theatre。

〃We'll　talk　of　Paris　after　Nantes；〃　he　finished；　supremely
matter…of…fact；　〃just　as　we　will　definitely　decide　on　Nantes
after　Redon。〃

The　persuasiveness　that　could　sway　a　mob　ended　by　sweeping　M。　Binet
off　his　feet。　　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。
Instead　of　a　terrifying　undertaking　in　itself；　it　became　merely　a
rehearsal　for　something　greater。　　In　his　momentary　exaltation　Binet
proposed　another　bottle　of　Volnay。　　Scaramouche　waited　until　the
cork　was　drawn　before　he　continued。

〃The　thing　remains　possible；〃　said　he　then；　holding　his　glass　to
the　light；　and　speaking　casually；　〃as　long　as　I　am　with　you。〃

〃Agreed；　my　dear　Scaramouche；　agreed。　　Our　chance　meeting　was　a
fortunate　thing　for　both　of　us。〃

〃For　both　of　us；〃　said　Scaramouche；　with　stress。　　〃That　is　as　I
would　have　it。　　So　that　I　do　not　think　you　will　surrender　me　just
yet　to　the　police。〃

〃As　if　I　could　think　of　such　a　thing！　　My　dear　Scaramouche；　you
amuse　yourself。　　I　beg　that　you　will　never；　never　allude　to　that
little　joke　of　mine　again。〃

〃It　is　forgotten；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃And　now　for　the　remainder　of
my　proposal。　　If　I　am　to　become　the　architect　of　your　fortunes；　if
I　am　to　build　them　as　I　have　planned　them；　I　must　also　and　in　the
same　degree　become　the　architect　of　my　own。〃

〃In　the　same　degree？〃　M。　Binet　frowned。

〃In　the　same　degree。　　From　to…day；　if　you　please；　we　will　conduct
the　affairs　of　this　company　in　a　proper　manner；　and　we　will　keep
account…books。〃

〃I　am　an　artist；〃　said　M。　Binet；　with　pride。　　〃I　am　not　a　merchant。〃

〃There　is　a　business　side　to　your　art；　and　that　shall　be　conducted
in　the　business　manner。　　I　have　thought　it　all　out　for　you。　　You
shall　not　be　troubled　with　details　that　might　hinder　the　due
exercise　of　your　art。　　All　that　you　have　to　do　is　to　say　yes　or　no
to　my　proposal。〃

〃Ah？　　And　the　proposal？〃

〃Is　that　you　constitute　me　your　partner；　with　an　equal　share　in　the
profits　of　your　company。〃

Pantaloon's　great　countenance　grew　pale；　his　little　eyes　widened　to
their　fullest　extent　as　he　conned　the　face　of　his　companion。　　Then
he　exploded。

〃You　are　mad；　of　course；　to　make　me　a　proposal　so　monstrous。〃

〃It　has　its　injustices；　I　admit。　　But　I　have　provided　for　them。　It
would　not；　for　instance；　be　fair　that　in　addition　to　all　that　I　am　
proposing　to　do　for　you；　I　should　also　play　Scaramouche　and　write
your　scenarios　without　any　reward　outside　of　the　half…profit　which
would　come　to　me　as　a　partner。　　Thus　before　the　profits　come　to　be
divided；　there　is　a　salary　to　be　paid　me　as　actor；　and　a　small　sum
for　each　scenario　with　which　I　provide　the　company；　that　is　a　matter
for　mutual　agreement。　　Similarly；　you　shall　be　paid　a　salary　as
Pantaloon。　　After　those　expenses　are　cleared　up；　as　well　as　all　the
other　salaries　and　disbursements；　the　residue　is　the　profit　to　be
divided　equally　between　us。〃

It　was　not；　as　you　can　imagine；　a　proposal　that　M。　Binet　would
swallow　at　a　draught。　　He　began　with　a　point…blank　refusal　to
consider　it。

〃In　that　case；　my　friend；〃　said　Scaramouche；　〃we　part　company　at
once。　　To…morrow　I　shall　bid　you　a　reluctant　farewell。〃

Binet　fell　to　raging。　　He　spoke　of　ingratitude　in　feeling　terms；　he
even　permitted　himself　another　sly　allusion　to　that　little　jest　of
his　concerning　the　police；　which　he　had　promised　never　again　to
mention。

〃As　to　that；　you　may　do　as　you　please。　　Play　the　informer；　by　all
means。　　But　consider　that　you　will　just　as　definitely　be　deprived
of　my　services；　and　that　without　me　you　are　nothing　…　as　you　were
before　I　joined　your　company。〃

M。　Binet　did　not　care　what　the　consequences　might　be。　　A　fig　for
the　consequences！　　He　would　teach　this　impudent　young　country
attorney　that　M。　Binet　was　not　the　man　to　be　imposed　upon。

Scaramouche　rose。　　〃Very　well；〃　said　he；　between　indifference　and
resignation。　　〃As　you　wish。　　But　before　you　act；　sleep　on　the　matter。
In　the　cold　light　of　morning　you　may　see　our　two　proposals　in　their
proper　proportions。　　Mine　spells　fortune　for　both　of　us。　　Yours
spells　ruin　for　both　of　us。　　Good…night；　M。　Binet。　　Heaven　help　you
to　a　wise　decision。

The　decision　to　which　M。　Binet　finally　came　was；　naturally；　the　only
one　possible　in　the　face　of　so　firm　a　resolve　as　that　of　Andre…Louis；
who　held　the　trumps。　　Of　course　there　were　further　discussions；
before　all　was　settled；　and　M。　Binet　was　brought　to　an　agreement
only　after　an　infinity　of　haggling　surprising　in　one　who　was　an
artist　and　not　a　man　of　business。　　One　or　two　concessions　were　made
by　Andre…Louis；　he　consented；　for　instance；　to　waive　his　claim　to
be　paid　for　scenarios；　and　he　also　consented　that　M。　Binet　should
appoint　himself　a　salary　that　was　out　of　all　proportion　to　his
deserts。

Thus　in　the　end　the　matter　was　settled；　and　the　announcement　duly
made　to　the　assembled　company。　　There　were；　of　course；　jealousies
and　resentments。　　But　these　were　not　deep…seated；　and　they　were
readily　swallowed　when　it　was　discovered　that　under　the　new
arrangement　the　lot　of　the　entire　company　was　to　be　materially
improved　from　the　point　of　view　of　salaries。　　This　was　a　matter
that　had　met　with　considerable　opposition　from　M。　Binet。　　But　the
irresistible　Scaramouche　swept　away　all　objections。

〃If　we　are　to　play　at　the　Feydau；　you　want　a　company　of
self…respecting　comedians；　and　not　a　pack　of　cringing　starvelings。
The　better　we　pay　them　in　reason；　the　more　they　will　earn　for　us。〃

Thus　was　conqu