Part 21 (1/2)

”You were very close with M Parvissimus over this authorshi+p,” said Polichinelle, with iestiveness

”And what if I was? What do you imply?”

”That you took him to cut quills for you, of course”

”I'll cut your ears for you if you're not civil,” storot up slowly, and stretched himself

”Dieu de Dieu!” said he ”If Pantaloon is to play Rhodo in the part” And he swaggered out before M Binet had recovered from his speechlessness

CHAPTER IV EXIT MONSIEUR PARVISSIMUS

Ar four o'clock on Monday afternoon the curtain rose on ”Figaro-Scaramouche” to an audience that filled three quarters of the ood attendance to the influx of people to Guichen for the fair, and to the h the streets of the townshi+p at the busiest time of the day Andre-Louis attributed it entirely to the title It was the ”Figaro” touch that had fetched in the better-class bourgeoisie, which filled more than half of the twenty-sous places and three quarters of the twelve-sous seats 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 folloith relish the sly intriguings of Scarahted in the beauty and freshness of Clih four long acts kept her fro arnohtly 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 cos reached the suood 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 Parvissiestion,” he was careful to say, by way of properly deli that share, ”was most valuable, as I perceived at the tirowled 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 reibe 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 --and a e 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-reater 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 hiedy occurred It announced itself in a succession of bu in a crash outside the door that brought the to open, and beheld the tu at the foot of the stairs It eroans, therefore it was alive

Pierrot went forward to turn it over, and disclosed the fact that the body wore the wizened face of Scara Scara after Pierrot, abandoned itself to laughter

”I always said you should change parts with me,” cried Harlequin

”You're such an excellent tu?”

”Fool!” Scara when I've all but brokenbecause you didn't break it