scaramouche-第24章
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company。
And he proceeded to introduction in detail。 He pointed out the
long and amiable Rhodomont； whom Andre…Louis already knew。
〃His length of limb and hooked nose were his superficial
qualifications to play roaring captains；〃 Pantaloon explained。
〃His lungs have justified our choice。 You should hear him roar。
At first we called him Spavento or Epouvapte。 But that was unworthy
of so great an artist。 Not since the superb Mondor amazed the world
has so thrasonical a bully been seen upon the stage。 So we
conferred upon him the name of Rhodomont that Mondor made famous；
and I give you my word； as an actor and a gentleman … for I am a
gentleman； monsieur； or was … that he has justified us。〃
His little eyes beamed in his great swollen face as he turned their
gaze upon the object of his encomium。 The terrible Rhodomont；
confused by so much praise； blushed like a schoolgirl as he met the
solemn scrutiny of Andre…Louis。
〃Then here we have Scaramouche； whom also you already know。
Sometimes he is Scapin and sometimes Coviello； but in the main
Scaramouche； to which let me tell you he is best suited … sometimes
too well suited； I think。 For he is Scaramouche not only on the
stage； but also in the world。 He has a gift of sly intrigue； an
art of setting folk by the ears； combined with an impudent
aggressiveness upon occasion when he considers himself safe from
reprisals。 He is Scaramouche； the little skirmisher； to the very
life。 I could say more。 But I am by disposition charitable and
loving to all mankind。〃
〃As the priest said when he kissed the serving…wench；〃 snarled
Scaramouche； and went on eating。
〃His humour； like your own； you will observe； is acrid；〃 said
Pantaloon。 He passed on。 〃Then that rascal with the lumpy nose
and the grinning bucolic countenance is； of course； Pierrot。 Could
he be aught else？〃
〃I could play lovers a deal better；〃 said the rustic cherub。
〃That is the delusion proper to Pierrot；〃 said Pantaloon；
contemptuously。 〃This heavy； beetle…browed ruffian； who has grown
old in sin； and whose appetite increases with his years； is
Polichinelle。 Each one； as you perceive； is designed by Nature
for the part he plays。 This nimble； freckled jackanapes is
Harlequin； not your spangled Harlequin into which modern degeneracy
has debased that first…born of Momus； but the genuine original zany
of the Commedia； ragged and patched； an impudent； cowardly；
blackguardly clown。〃
〃Each one of us； as you perceive；〃 said Harlequin； mimicking the
leader of the troupe； 〃is designed by Nature for the part he plays。〃
〃Physically； my friend； physically only； else we should not have so
much trouble in teaching this beautiful Leandre to become a lover。
Then we have Pasquariel here； who is sometimes an apothecary；
sometimes a notary； sometimes a lackey … an amiable； accommodating
fellow。 He is also an excellent cook； being a child of Italy； that
land of gluttons。 And finally； you have myself； who as the father
of the company very properly play as Pantaloon the roles of father。
Sometimes； it is true； I am a deluded husband； and sometimes an
ignorant； self…sufficient doctor。 But it is rarely that I find it
necessary to call myself other than Pantaloon。 For the rest； I am
the only one who has a name … a real name。 It is Binet； monsieur。
〃And now for the ladies。。。 First in order of seniority we have
Madame there。〃 He waved one of his great hands towards a buxom；
smiling blonde of five…and…forty； who was seated on the lowest of
the steps of the travelling house。 〃She is our Duegne； or Mother；
or Nurse； as the case requires。 She is known quite simply and
royally as Madame。 If she ever had a name in the world； she has
long since forgotten it； which is perhaps as well。 Then we have
this pert jade with the tip…tilted nose and the wide mouth； who
is of course our soubrette Columbine； and lastly； my daughter
Climene； an amoureuse of talents not to be matched outside the
Comedie Francaise； of which she has the bad taste to aspire to
become a member。〃
The lovely Climene … and lovely indeed she was … tossed her
nut…brown curls and laughed as she looked across at Andre…Louis。
Her eyes； he had perceived by now； were not blue； but hazel。
〃Do not believe him； monsieur。 Here I am queen； and I prefer to
be queen here rather than a slave in Paris。〃
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said Andre…Louis； quite solemnly； 〃will be queen
wherever she condescends to reign。〃
Her only answer was a timid … timid and yet alluring … glance from
under fluttering lids。 Meanwhile her father was bawling at the
comely young man who played lovers … 〃You hear； Leandre！ That is
the sort of speech you should practise。〃
Leandre raised languid eyebrows。 〃That？〃 quoth he； and shrugged。
〃The merest commonplace。〃
Andre…Louis laughed approval。 〃M。 Leandre is of a readier wit than
you concede。 There is subtlety in pronouncing it a commonplace to
call Mlle。 Climene a queen。
Some laughed； M。 Binet amongst them； with good…humoured mockery。
〃You think he has the wit to mean it thus？ Bah！ His subtleties are
all unconscious。〃
The conversation becoming general； Andre…Louis soon learnt what yet
there was to learn of this strolling band。 They were on their way
to Guichen； where they hoped to prosper at the fair that was to open
on Monday next。 They would make their triumphal entry into the town
at noon； and setting up their stage in the old market； they would
give their first performance that same Saturday night； in a new
canevas … or scenario … of M。 Binet's own； which should set the
rustics gaping。 And then M。 Binet fetched a sigh； and addressed
himself to the elderly； swarthy； beetle…browed Polichinelle； who sat
on his left。
〃But we shall miss Felicien；〃 said he。 〃Indeed； I do not know what
we shall do without him。〃
〃Oh； we shall contrive；〃 said Polichinelle； with his mouth full。
〃So you always say； whatever happens； knowing that in any case the
contriving will not fall upon yourself。〃
〃He should not be difficult to replace；〃 said Harlequin。
〃True； if we were in a civilized land。 But where among the rustics
of Brittany are we to find a fellow of even his poor parts？〃 M。
Binet turned to Andre…Louis。 〃He was our property…man； our machinist；
our stage…carpenter； our man of affairs； and occasionally he acted。〃
〃The part of Figaro； I presume；〃 said Andre…Louis； which elicited a
laugh。
〃So you are acquainted with Beaumarchais！〃 Binet eyed the young
man with fresh interest。
〃He is tolerably well known； I think。〃
〃In Paris； to be sure。 But I had not dreamt his fame had reached
the wilds of Brittany。〃
〃But then I was some years in Paris … at the Lycee of Louis le
Grand。 It was there I made acquaintance with his work。〃
〃A dangerous man；〃 said Polichinelle； sententiously。
〃Indeed； and you are right；〃 Pantaloon agreed。 〃Clever … I do not
deny him that； although myself I find little use for authors。 But
of a sinister cleverness responsible for the dissemination of many
of these subversive new ideas。 I think such writers should be
suppressed。〃
〃M。 de La Tour d'Azyr would probably agree with you … the gentleman
who by the simple exertion of his will turns this communal land into
his own property。〃 And Andre…Louis drained his cup； which had been
filled with the poor vin gris that was the players' drink。
It was a remark that might have precipitated an argument had it not
also reminded M。 Binet of the terms on which they were encamped
there； and of the fact that the half…hour was more than past。 In a
moment he was on his feet； leaping up with an agility surprising in
so corpulent a man； issuing his commands like a marshal on a field
of battle。
〃Come； come； my lads！ Are we to sit guzzling here all day？ Time
flees； and there's a deal to be done if we are to make our entry
into Guichen at noon。 Go； get you dressed。 We strike camp in twenty
minutes。 Bestir； ladies！ To your chaise； and see that you contrive
to look your best。 Soon the eyes of Guichen will be upon you； and
the condition of your interior to…morrow will depend upon the
impression made by your exterior
