Volume IV Part 17 (1/2)
I pleased everybody by asking them all to dinner for the day after the morrow, after dinner the piece to be rehearsed for the first time
The banker Belloni askedreat politeness, in the invitation; and M Grilad to take ot to M Belloni's, I was greatly surprised to see the i not to know ht to have done, caht be put down to a feeling of respect, although my coldness and scant ceremony would have convinced any observant eye of the contrary He ell dressed, but seeood deal, and to some purpose, especially on politics The conversation turned on the Court of Russia, where Elizabeth Petrovna reigned; and he said nothing, but sighed and turned away pretending to wipe the tears fro of Mada, as if to recall the circuether there:
”I believe she is quite well,” I answered
His servant, in yellow and red livery, waited on him at table After dinner he contrived to tell reatest importance he wanted to discuss with me
”My only desire sir, is to avoid all appearance of knowing anything about you”
”One word froain me a hundred thousand crowns, and you shall have half”
I turned ot back to the inn I found M de Griiven me an exquisite dinner,” said he, ”you must be very happy with her”
In spite of his honest face, M Gri to fear Before he went she invited him to come to the rehearsal next day
When the actors caRossi told me he was the prompter
”I won't have any proet on without him”
”You'll have to; I will be the prompter”
The proan to complain
”If we knew our parts as well as the 'pater noster' we should be certain to come to a dead stop if the proood,” said I to the actress, as to play Lindane, ”I will occupy the box myself, but I shall see your drawers”
”You would have so that,” said the first actor, ”she doesn't wear any”
”Soabout it,” said the actress
These reh spirits, and thethat they would dispense with a prompter I was pleased with the way the piece was read, and they said they would be letter-perfect in three days But so happened
On the day fixed for the rehearsal they came without the Lindane and Murray They were not well, but Rossi said they would not fail us eventually I took the part of Murray, and asked Rosalie to be the Lindane
”I don't read Italian well enough,” she whispered, ”and I don't wish to have the actors laughing at me; but Veronique could do it”
”Ask if she will read the part”
However, Veronique said that she could repeat it by heart
”All the better,” said I to her, laughing internally, as I thought of Soleure, for I saw that I should thus be obliged to ht she had been with us