of usurpation of authority because its every step had been attended
by his own greater profit； deep down in him the resentment abode to
stifle every spark of that gratitude due from him to his partner。
To…night his nerves had been on the rack； and he had suffered agonies
of apprehension； for all of which he blamed Scaramouche so bitterly
that not even the ultimate success … almost miraculous when all the
elements are considered … could justify his partner in his eyes。
And now； to find himself； in addition； ignored by this company … his
own company； which he had so laboriously and slowly assembled and
selected among the men of ability whom he had found here and there
in the dregs of cities was something that stirred his bile； and
aroused the malevolence that never did more than slumber in him。 But
deeply though his rage was moved； it did not blind him to the folly
of betraying it。 Yet that he should assert himself in this hour was
imperative unless he were for ever to become a thing of no account
in this troupe over which he had lorded it for long months before
this interloper came amongst them to fill his purse and destroy his
authority。
So he stepped forward now when Polichinelle had done。 His make…up
assisting him to mask his bitter feelings； he professed to add his
own to Polichinelle's acclamations of his dear partner。 But he did
it in such a manner as to make it clear that what Scaramouche had
done； he had done by M。 Binet's favour； and that in all M。 Binet's
had been the guiding hand。 In associating himself with Polichinelle；
he desired to thank Scaramouche； much in the manner of a lord
rendering thanks to his steward for services diligently rendered and
orders scrupulously carried out。
It neither deceived the troupe nor mollified himself。 Indeed； his
consciousness of the mockery of it but increased his bitterness。
But at least it saved his face and rescued him from nullity … he who
was their chief。
To say； as I have said； that it did not deceive them； is perhaps to
say too much； for it deceived them at least on the score of his
feelings。 They believed； after discounting the insinuations in
which he took all credit to himself； that at heart he was filled
with gratitude； as they were。 That belief was shared by Andre…Louis
himself； who in his brief； grateful answer was very generous to M。
Binet； more than endorsing the claims that M。 Binet had made。
And then followed from him the announcement that their success in
Nantes was the sweeter to him because it rendered almost immediately
attainable the dearest wish of his heart； which was to make Climene
his wife。 It was a felicity of which he was the first to acknowledge
his utter unworthiness。 It was to bring him into still closer
relations with his good friend M。 Binet； to whom he owed all that he
had achieved for himself and for them。 The announcement was joyously
received； for the world of the theatre loves a lover as dearly as
does the greater world。 So they acclaimed the happy pair； with the
exception of poor Leandre； whose eyes were more melancholy than ever。
They were a happy family that night in the upstairs room of their
inn on the Quai La Fosse … the same inn from which Andre…Louis had
set out some weeks ago to play a vastly different role before an
audience of Nantes。 Yet was it so different； he wondered？ Had he
not then been a sort of Scaramouche … an intriguer； glib and
specious； deceiving folk； cynically misleading them with opinions
that were not really his own？ Was it at all surprising that he
should have made so rapid and signal a success as a mime？ Was not
this really all that he had ever been； the thing for which Nature
had designed him？
On the following night they played 〃The Shy Lover〃 to a full house；
the fame of their debut having gone abroad； and the success of
Monday was confirmed。 On Wednesday they gave 〃Figaro…Scaramouche；〃
and on Thursday morning the 〃Courrier Nantais〃 came out with an
article of more than a column of praise of these brilliant
improvisers； for whom it claimed that they utterly put to shame the
mere reciters of memorized parts。
Andre…Louis； reading the sheet at breakfast； and having no delusions
on the score of the falseness of that statement； laughed inwardly。
The novelty of the thing； and the pretentiousness in which he had
swaddled it； had deceived them finely。 He turned to greet Binet and
Climene； who entered at that moment。 He waved the sheet above his
head。
〃It is settled；〃 he announced； 〃we stay in Nantes until Easter。〃
〃Do we？〃 said Binet； sourly。 〃You settle everything； my friend。〃
〃Read for yourself。〃 And he handed him the paper。
Moodily M。 Binet read。 He set the sheet down in silence； and turned
his attention to his breakfast。
〃Was I justified or not？〃 quoth Andre…Louis； who found M。 Binet's
behaviour a thought intriguing。
〃In what？〃
〃In coming to Nantes？〃
〃If I had not thought so； we should not have come；〃 said Binet； and
he began to eat。
Andre…Louis dropped the subject； wondering。
After breakfast he and Climene sallied forth to take the air upon
the quays。 It was a day of brilliant sunshine and less cold than
it had lately been。 Columbine tactlessly joined them as they were
setting out； though in this respect matters were improved a little
when Harlequin came running after them； and attached himself to
Columbine。
Andre…Louis； stepping out ahead with Climene； spoke of the thing
that was uppermost in his mind at the moment。
〃Your father is behaving very oddly towards me；〃 said he。 〃It is
almost as if he had suddenly become hostile。〃
〃You imagine it；〃 said she。 〃My father is very grateful to you；
as we all are。〃
〃He is anything but grateful。 He is infuriated against me； and I
think I know the reason。 Don't you？ Can't you guess？〃
〃I can't； indeed。〃
〃If you were my daughter； Climene； which God be thanked you are
not； I should feel aggrieved against the man who carried you away
from me。 Poor old Pantaloon！ He called me a corsair when I told
him that I intend to marry you。〃
〃He was right。 You are a bold robber； Scaramouche。〃
〃It is in the character；〃 said he。 〃Your father believes in having
his mimes play upon the stage the parts that suit their natural
temperaments。〃
〃Yes； you take everything you want； don't you？〃 She looked up at
him； half adoringly； half shyly。
〃If it is possible；〃 said he。 〃I took his consent to our marriage
by main force from him。 I never waited for him to give it。 When； in
fact； he refused it； I just snatched it from him； and I'll defy him
now to win it back from me。 I think that is what he most resents。〃
She laughed； and launched upon an animated answer。 But he did not
hear a word of it。 Through the bustle of traffic on the quay a
cabriolet； the upper half of which was almost entirely made of glass；
had approached them。 It was drawn by two magnificent bay horses and
driven by a superbly livened coachman。
In the cabriolet alone sat a slight young girl wrapped in a lynx…fur
pelisse； her face of a delicate loveliness。 She was leaning forward；
her lips parted； her eyes devouring Scaramouche until they drew his
gaze。 When that happened； the shock of it brought him abruptly to a
dumfounded halt。
Climene； checking in the middle of a sentence； arrested by his own
sudden stopping； plucked at his sleeve。
〃What is it； Scaramouche？〃
But he made no attempt to answer her； and at that moment the
coachman； to whom the little lady had already signalled； brought
the carriage to a standstill beside them。 Seen in the gorgeous
setting of that coach with its escutcheoned panels； its portly
coachman and its white…stockinged footman … who swung instantly
to earth as the vehicle stopped … its dainty occupant seemed to
Climene a princess out of a fairy…tale。 And this princess leaned
forward； with eyes aglow and cheeks aflush； stretching out a
choicely gloved hand to Scaramouche。
〃Andre…Louis！〃 she called him。
And Scaramouche took the hand of that exalted being； just as he
might have taken the hand of Climene herself； and with eyes that
reflected the gladness of her own； in a voice that echoed the joyous
surprise of hers； he addressed her familiarly by name； just as she
had addressed him。
〃Aline！〃
CHAPTER VIII
THE DREAM
〃The door；〃 Aline commanded her footman； and 〃Mount here beside me；〃
she commanded Andre…Louis； in the same breath。
〃A moment； Aline。〃
He turned to his companion； who was all amazement； and to Harlequin
and Columbine； who had that moment come up to share it。 〃You permit
me； Climene？〃 said he； breathlessly。 But it was more a statement
than a question。 〃Fortunately you are not alone。 Harlequin will
take care of you。 Au revoir； at dinner。〃
With that he sprang into the cabriolet without waiting for a reply。
The footman dosed the door； the coachman cracked his whip； and the
regal equipage rolled away along the quay； leaving the three
comedians staring after it； open…mouthed。。。 Then Harlequin laughed。
〃A prince in disguise； our Scaramouche！〃 said he。
Columbine clapped her hands and flashed her strong teeth。 〃But what
a romance for you； Climene！ How wonderful！〃
The frown melted from Climene's brow。 Resentment changed to
bewilderment。
〃But who is she？〃
〃His sister； of course；〃 said Harlequin； quite definitely。
〃His sister？ How do you know？〃
〃I know what he will tell you on his return。〃
〃But why？〃
〃Because you wouldn't believe him if he said she was his mother。〃
Following the carriage with their glance； they wandered on in the
direction it had taken。 And in the carriage Aline was considering
Andre…Louis with grave eyes； lips slightly compressed； and a tiny
frown between her finely drawn eyebrows。
〃You have taken to queer company； Andre；〃 was the first thing she
said to him。 〃Or else I am mistaken in thinking that your companion
was Mlle。 Binet of the Theatre Feydau。〃
〃You are not mistaken。 But I had not imagined Mlle。 Binet so famous
already。〃
〃Oh； as to that。。。 〃 mademoiselle shrugged； her tone quietly
scornful。 And she explained。 〃It is simply that I was at the play
last night。 I thought I recog