scaramouche-第28章
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were again in close communion throughout the whole of Sunday morning。
After dinner M。 Binet read to the assembled company the amended and
amplified canevas of 〃The Heartless Father；〃 which； acting upon the
advice of M。 Parvissimus； he had been at great pains to prepare。
The company had few doubts as to the real authorship before he began
to read； none at all when he had read。 There was a verve； a grip
about this story； and； what was more； those of them who knew their
Moliere realized that far from approaching the original more closely；
this canevas had drawn farther away from it。 Moliere's original
part … the title role … had dwindled into insignificance； to the
great disgust of Polichinelle； to whom it fell。 But the other parts
had all been built up into importance； with the exception of Leandre；
who remained as before。 The two great roles were now Scaramouche；
in the character of the intriguing Sbrigandini； and Pantaloon the
father。 There was； too； a comical part for Rhodomont； as the
roaring bully hired by Polichinelle to cut Leandre into ribbons。
And in view of the importance now of Scaramouche； the play had been
rechristened 〃Figaro…Scaramouche。〃
This last had not been without a deal of opposition from M。 Binet。
But his relentless collaborator； who was in reality the real author
… drawing shamelessly； but practically at last upon his great store
of reading … had overborne him。
〃You must move with the times； monsieur。 In Paris Beaumarchais is
the rage。 'Figaro' is known to…day throughout the world。 Let us
borrow a little of his glory。 It will draw the people in。 They
will come to see half a 'Figaro' when they will not come to see a
dozen 'Heartless Fathers。' Therefore let us cast the mantle of
Figaro upon some one； and proclaim it in our title。〃
〃But as I am the head of the company。。。 〃 began M。 Binet； weakly。
〃If you will be blind to your interests； you will presently be a
head without a body。 And what use is that？ Can the shoulders of
Pantaloon carry the mantle of Figaro？ You laugh。 Of course you
laugh。 The notion is absurd。 The proper person for the mantle of
Figaro is Scaramouche； who is naturally Figaro's twin…brother。〃
Thus tyrannized； the tyrant Binet gave way； comforted by the
reflection that if he understood anything at all about the theatre；
he had for fifteen livres a month acquired something that would
presently be earning him as many louis。
The company's reception of the canevas now confirmed him； if we
except Polichinelle； who； annoyed at having lost half his part in
the alterations； declared the new scenario fatuous。
〃Ah！ You call my work fatuous； do you？〃 M。 Binet hectored him。
〃Your work？〃 said Polichinelle； to add with his tongue in his cheek：
〃Ah； pardon。 I had not realized that you were the author。〃
〃Then realize it now。〃
〃You were very close with M。 Parvissimus over this authorship；〃 said
Polichinelle； with impudent suggestiveness。
〃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；〃 stormed the
infuriated Binet。
Polichinelle got up slowly； and stretched himself。
〃Dieu de Dieu！〃 said he。 〃If Pantaloon is to play Rhodomont； I
think I'll leave you。 He is not amusing 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 market…hall。 M。 Binet attributed this good attendance to the
influx of people to Guichen for the fair； and to the magnificent
parade of his company through the streets of the township 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 followed with relish the
sly intriguings of Scaramouche； delighted in the beauty and
freshness of Climene； was moved almost to tears by the hard fate
which through four long acts kept her from the hungering arms of
the so beautiful Leandre； howled its delight over the ignominy of
Pantaloon； the buffooneries of his sprightly 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 company drank Burgundy at M。 Binet's expense。 The takings
reached the sum of eight louis； which was as good 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。 Parvissimus。
〃His suggestion；〃 he was careful to say； by way of properly
delimiting that share； 〃was most valuable； as I perceived at the
time。〃
〃And his cutting of quills；〃 growled 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 remember when I turn author。〃
But not even that gibe 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 made so much money in one
evening … and a miserable little village 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…morrow； being the last day of the fair； the crowds will be greater
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 him。 〃Are we to
have Burgundy？〃
And then the tragedy occurred。 It announced itself in a succession
of bumps and thuds； culminating in a crash outside the door that
brought them all to their feet in alarm。
Pierrot sprang to open； and beheld the tumbled body of a man lying
at the foot of the stairs。 It emitted groans； therefore it was
alive。 Pierrot went forward to turn it over； and disclosed the fact
that the body wore the wizened face of Scaramouche； a grimacing；
groaning； twitching Scaramouche。
The whole company； pressing after Pierrot； abandoned itself to
laughter。
〃I always said you should change parts with me；〃 cried Harlequin。
〃You're such an excellent tumbler。 Have you been practising？〃
〃Fool！〃 Scaramouche snapped。 〃Must you be laughing when I've all
but broken my neck？〃
〃You are right。 We ought to be weeping because you didn't break
it。 Come； man； get up；〃 and he held out a hand to the prostrate
rogue。
Scaramouche took the hand； clutched it； heaved himself from the
ground； then with a scream dropped back again。
〃My foot！〃 he complained。
Binet rolled through the group of players； scattering them to right
and left。 Apprehension had been quick to seize him。 Fate had
played him such tricks before。
〃What ails your foot？〃 quoth he； sourly。
〃It's broken； I think；〃 Scaramouche complained。
〃Broken？ Bah！ Get up； man。〃 He caught him under the armpits and
hauled him up。
Scaramouche came howling to one foot； the other doubled under him
when he attempted to set it down； and he must have collapsed again
but that Binet supported him。 He filled the place with his plaint；
whilst Binet swore amazingly and variedly。
〃Must you be
