he isn't acting？〃
But they never did discover it。 Scaramouche's bewildered paralysis
lasted but a few seconds。 He realized that he was being laughed at；
and remembered that his Scaramouche was a creature to be laughed
with； and not at。 He must save the situation； twist it to his own
advantage as best he could。 And now his real bewilderment and terror
was succeeded by acted bewilderment and terror far more marked； but
not quite so funny。 He contrived to make it clearly appear that his
terror was of some one off the stage。 He took cover behind a painted
shrub； and thence； the laughter at last beginning to subside； he
addressed himself to Climene and Leandre。
〃Forgive me； beautiful lady； if the abrupt manner of my entrance
startled you。 The truth is that I have never been the same since
that last affair of mine with Almaviva。 My heart is not what it
used to be。 Down there at the end of the lane I came face to face
with an elderly gentleman carrying a heavy cudgel； and the horrible
thought entered my mind that it might be your father； and that our
little stratagem to get you safely married might already have been
betrayed to him。 I think it was the cudgel put such notion in my
head。 Not that I am afraid。 I am not really afraid of anything。
But I could not help reflecting that； if it should really have been
your father； and he had broken my head with his cudgel； your hopes
would have perished with me。 For without me； what should you have
done； my poor children？〃
A ripple of laughter from the audience had been steadily enheartening
him； and helping him to recover his natural impudence。 It was clear
they found him comical。 They were to find him far more comical than
ever he had intended； and this was largely due to a fortuitous
circumstance upon which he had insufficiently reckoned。 The fear of
recognition by some one from Gavrillac or Rennes had been strong
upon him。 His face was sufficiently made up to baffle recognition；
but there remained his voice。 To dissemble this he had availed
himself of the fact that Figaro was a Spaniard。 He had known a
Spaniard at Louis le Grand who spoke a fluent but most extraordinary
French； with a grotesque excess of sibilant sounds。 It was an accent
that he had often imitated； as youths will imitate characteristics
that excite their mirth。 Opportunely he had bethought him of that
Spanish student； and it was upon his speech that to…night he modelled
his own。 The audience of Guichen found it as laughable on his lips
as he and his fellows had found it formerly on the lips of that
derided Spaniard。
Meanwhile； behind the scenes； Binet … listening to that glib
impromptu of which the scenario gave no indication … had recovered
from his fears。
〃Dieu de Dieu！〃 he whispered； grinning。 〃Did he do it； then； on
purpose？〃
It seemed to him impossible that a man who had been so
terror…stricken as he had fancied Andre…Louis； could have recovered
his wits so quickly and completely。 Yet the doubt remained。
To resolve it after the curtain had fallen upon a first act that
had gone with a verve unrivalled until this hour in the annals of
the company； borne almost entirely upon the slim shoulders of the
new Scaramouche； M。 Binet bluntly questioned him。
They were standing in the space that did duty as green…room； the
company all assembled there； showering congratulations upon their
new recruit。 Scaramouche； a little exalted at the moment by his
success； however trivial he might consider it to…morrow； took then
a full revenge upon Climene for the malicious satisfaction with
which she had regarded his momentary blank terror。
〃I do not wonder that you ask；〃 said he。 〃Faith； I should have
warned you that I intended to do my best from the start to put the
audience in a good humour with me。 Mademoiselle very nearly ruined
everything by refusing to reflect any of my terror。 She was not
even startled。 Another time； mademoiselle； I shall give you full
warning of my every intention。〃
She crimsoned under her grease…paint。 But before she could find an
answer of sufficient venom； her father was rating her soundly for
her stupidity … the more soundly because himself he had been deceived
by Scaramouche's supreme acting。
Scaramouche's success in the first act was more than confirmed as
the performance proceeded。 Completely master of himself by now；
and stimulated as only success can stimulate； he warmed to his work。
Impudent； alert； sly； graceful； he incarnated the very ideal of
Scaramouche； and he helped out his own native wit by many a
remembered line from Beaumarchais； thereby persuading the better
informed among the audience that here indeed was something of the
real Figaro； and bringing them； as it were； into touch with the
great world of the capital。
When at last the curtain fell for the last time； it was Scaramouche
who shared with Climene the honours of the evening； his name that
was coupled with hers in the calls that summoned them before the
curtains。
As they stepped back； and the curtains screened them again from the
departing audience； M。 Binet approached them； rubbing his fat hands
softly together。 This runagate young lawyer； whom chance had blown
into his company； had evidently been sent by Fate to make his fortune
for him。 The sudden success at Guichen； hitherto unrivalled； should
be repeated and augmented elsewhere。 There would be no more sleeping
under hedges and tightening of belts。 Adversity was behind him。 He
placed a hand upon Scaramouche's shoulder； and surveyed him with a
smile whose oiliness not even his red paint and colossal false nose
could dissemble。
〃And what have you to say to me now？〃 he asked him。 〃Was I wrong
when I assured you that you would succeed？ Do you think I have
followed my fortunes in the theatre for a lifetime without knowing
a born actor when I see one？ You are my discovery； Scaramouche。 I
have discovered you to yourself。 I have set your feet upon the road
to fame and fortune。 I await your thanks。〃
Scaramouche laughed at him； and his laugh was not altogether pleasant。
〃Always Pantaloon！〃 said he。
The great countenance became overcast。 〃I see that you do not yet
forgive me the little stratagem by which I forced you to do justice
to yourself。 Ungrateful dog！ As if I could have had any purpose
but to make you； and I have done so。 Continue as you have begun；
and you will end in Paris。 You may yet tread the stage of the
Comedie Francaise； the rival of Talma； Fleury； and Dugazon。 When
that happens to you perhaps you will feel the gratitude that is due
to old Binet； for you will owe it all to this soft…hearted old fool。〃
〃If you were as good an actor on the stage as you are in private；〃
said Scaramouche； 〃you would yourself have won to the Comedie
Francaise long since。 But I bear no rancour； M。 Binet。〃 He laughed；
and put out his hand。
Binet fell upon it and wrung it heartily。
〃That； at least； is something；〃 he declared。 〃My boy； I have great
plans for you … for us。 To…morrow we go to Maure； there is a fair
there to the end of this week。 Then on Monday we take our chances
at Pipriac； and after that we must consider。 It may be that I am
about to realize the dream of my life。 There must have been upwards
of fifteen louis taken to…night。 Where the devil is that rascal
Cordemais？〃
Cordemais was the name of the original Scaramouche； who had so
unfortunately twisted his ankle。 That Binet should refer to him by
his secular designation was a sign that in the Binet company at
least he had fallen for ever from the lofty eminence of Scaramouche。
〃Let us go and find him； and then we'll away to the inn and crack a
bottle of the best Burgundy； perhaps two bottles。〃
But Cordemais was not readily to be found。 None of the company had
seen him since the close of the performance。 M。 Binet went round
to the entrance。 Cordemais was not there。 At first he was annoyed；
then as he continued in vain to bawl the fellow's name； he began to
grow uneasy； lastly； when Polichinelle； who was with them；
discovered Cordemais' crutch standing discarded behind the door； M。
Binet became alarmed。 A dreadful suspicion entered his mind。 He
grew visibly pale under his paint。
〃But this evening he couldn't walk without the crutch！〃 he exclaimed。
〃How then does he come to leave it there and take himself off？〃
〃Perhaps he has gone on to the inn；〃 suggested some one。
〃But he could n't walk without his crutch；〃 M。 Binet insisted。
Nevertheless； since clearly he was not anywhere about the market…hall；
to the inn they all trooped； and deafened the landlady with their
inquiries。
〃Oh； yes； M。 Cordemais came in some time ago。〃
〃Where is he now？〃
〃He went away again at once。 He just came for his bag。〃
〃For his bag！〃 Binet was on the point of an apoplexy。 〃How long
ago was that？〃
She glanced at the timepiece on the overmantel。 〃It would be about
half an hour ago。 It was a few minutes before the Rennes diligence
passed through。〃
〃The Rennes diligence！〃 M。 Binet was almost inarticulate。 〃Could
he。。。 could he walk？〃 he asked； on a note of terrible anxiety。
〃Walk？ He ran like a hare when he left the inn。 I thought； myself；
that his agility was suspicious； seeing how lame he had been since
he fell downstairs yesterday。 Is anything wrong？〃
M。 Binet had collapsed into a chair。 He took his head in his hands；
and groaned。
〃The scoundrel was shamming all the time！〃 exclaimed Climene。 〃His
fall downstairs was a trick。 He was playing for this。 He has
swindled us。〃
〃Fifteen louis at least … perhaps sixteen！〃 said M。 Binet。 〃Oh； the
heartless blackguard！ To swindle me who have been as a father to
him … and to swindle me in such a moment。〃
》From the ranks of the silent； awe…stricken company； each member of
which was wondering by how much of the loss his own meagre pay would
be mulcted； there came a splutter of laughter。
M。 Binet glared with blood…injected eyes。
〃Who laughs？〃 he roared。 〃What heartless wretch has the audacity
to laugh at my misfortune？〃
Andre…Louis； still in the sable glories of Scaramouche； stood
forward。 He was laughing still。
〃It is you； is i