Part 23 (2/2)
”Yet to-night you would sell me for twenty louis”
”Because--na me a service ithin your powers Don't you think, had I been entirely the rogue you think me, I could have sold you on Saturday last? I want you to understand ize You would beYou neveryou trouble before you're done with life Coiven me your decision”
Andre-Louis looked at him ”I must yield, of course I can't help myself”
M Binet released his arm at last, and slapped him heartily upon the back ”Well declared,of the theatre, I know that you have ht you'll thank ed, and stepped out ahead towards the inn But M
Binet called him back
”M Parvissireat bulk, thedown upon that round fat face of his, and he was holding out his hand
”M Parvissi I do not admit into et all this”
Andre-Louis considered hi this, he conceived himself ridiculous, alhed and took the outstretched hand ”No rancour?” M Binet insisted
”Oh, no rancour,” said Andre-Louis
CHAPTER V ENTER SCARAMOUCHE
Dressed in the close-fitting suit of a bygone age, all black, from flat velvet cap to rosetted shoes, his face whitened and a slight up-curled lued to his upper lip, a s behind him, Scaramouche surveyed himself in a mirror, and was disposed to be sardonic--which was the proper mood for the part
He reflected that his life, which until lately had been of a stagnant, contemplative quality, had suddenly become excessively active In the course of one week he had been lawyer, mob-orator, outlaw, property-ed in er; on this Wednesday he was to move an audience of Guichen to mirth Then he had been concerned to draw tears; to-day it was his business to provoke laughter There was a difference, and yet there was a parallel Then as now he had been a comedian; and the part that he had played then hen you came to think of it, akin to the part he was to play this evening For what had he been at Rennes but a sort of Scarauer, spattering the seed of trouble with a sly hand? The only difference lay in the fact that to-day he went forth under the name that properly described his type, whereas last week he had been disguised as a respectable young provincial attorney
He bowed to his reflection in the mirror
”Buffoon!” he apostrophized it ”At last you have found yourself At last you have coreat success”
Hearing his new name called out by M Binet, he went below to find the co in the entrance corridor of the inn
He was, of course, an object of great interest to all the company Most critically was he conned by M Binet andeyes, by the latter with a curl of scornful lip
”You'll do,” M Binet commended his make-up ”At least you look the part”
”Unfortunately men are not alhat they look,” said Climene, acidly
”That is a truth that does not at present apply to me,” said Andre-Louis ”For it is the first time in my life that I look what I am”
Mademoiselle curled her lip a little further, and turned her shoulder to hiht him very witty--probably because he was obscure Colued hie white teeth, and M Binet swore yet once again that he would be a great success, since he threw hi Then in a voice that for thecaptain, M Binet marshalled them for the short parade across to the market-hall
The new Scara on a crutch, had departed an hour ago to take the place of doorkeeper, vacated of necessity by Andre-Louis So that the exchange between those tas a coreat dru his trumpet, they set out, and were duly passed in review by the ragamuffins drawn up in files to enjoy so