Part 38 (2/2)
”You'll see” He put a paper on Polichinelle's table arease-paints ”Cast your eye over that It's a sort of last will and testament in favour of the troupe I was a lawyer once; the document is in order I relinquish to all of you the share produced by my partnershi+p in the co us?” cried Polichinelle in alarm, whilst Rhodomont's sudden stare asked the sa was eloquent Polichinelle ran on gloomily: ”Of course it was to have been foreseen But why should you be the one to go? It is you who have made us; and it is you who are the real head and brains of the troupe; it is you who have raised it into a real theatrical coo, let it be Binet--Binet and his infernal daughter Or if you go, nao with you!”
”Aye,” added Rhodoh of that fat scoundrel”
”I had thought of it, of course,” said Andre-Louis ”It was not vanity, for once; it was trust in your friendshi+p After to-night we ain, if I survive”
”If you survive?” both cried
Polichinelle got up ”NohatI think I a an old quarrel”
The three knocks sounded as he spoke
”There, I o Keep that paper, Polichinelle After all, it one Rhodomont stared at Polichinelle Polichinelle stared at Rhodo of?” quoth the latter
”That isto see,” replied Polichinelle He co in haste, and despite what Scaramouche had said; and then folloith Rhodos a roar of applausefro else; applause on an unusual note As it faded away they heard the voice of Scara clear as a bell:
”And so you see, my dear M Leandre, that when you speak of the Third Estate, it is necessary to be more explicit What precisely is the Third Estate?”
”Nothing,” said Leandre
There was a gasp fros, and then swiftly followed Scaramouche's next question:
”True Alas! But what should it be?”
”Everything,” said Leandre
The audience roared its acclamations, the more violent because of the unexpectedness of that reply
”True again,” said Scaramouche ”And what is more, that is what it will be; that is what it already is Do you doubt it?”
”I hope it,” said the schooled Leandre
”You ain the acclamations rolled into thunder
Polichinelle and Rhodolances: indeed, the forrowled a voice behind theain?”