Captain Fracasse

which he piled up neatly on the table by which they were standing; to the great admiration of the pedant, who thought to himself that his friend was a lucky fel

ed, if you are too proud to accept a gift from an old friend. These pieces were made to circulate-they are round, you see-and by this time they must be tired of lying tied up in my old purse there. I have no u

hem into Poitiers, and bring them back home again. They had on their gala-day harness, and from their gaudily-painted, high-peaked collars hung strings of tiny bells, that jingled cheerily at every firm, regular step of the great, gentle creatures. So our travellers set out in high feather, and their entry into Poitiers, though not so magnificent as Alexander's into Babylon, was still in very fine style indeed. As they threaded their way through the narrow, tortuous streets of that ancient town, the noise of their horses' iron shoes ringing out against the rough stone pavement, and the clatter of their wheels drew many inmates of the houses they passed to the windows, and a little crowd collected around them as they stood waiting for admission before the great entrance door of the Armes de France; the driver, meanwhile, cracking his whip till it sounded like a volley of musketry, to which the horses respo

ight. A troupe of comedians always attracted people to his house, and brought him in a great deal of money; for the young men of leisure of the town s

s you this way?" said the landlord, smilingly. "It is a long time s

you see; the spectators would become so familiar with all our tricks that they could do them themselves, so we are forced to ab

hey don't know what to do with themselves, for it is so dull and quiet here. People can't be eating an

m that famous cellar of yours, a dozen of the capital wine I used to drink here-you know which I mean-and spread abroad the news of the arr

not displeasing to the modest young girl, who was often greatly annoyed and embarrassed by the promiscuous, free-and-easy way of getting on, inseparable from such a Bohemian life. She always accepted the inevitable with a good grace, and never complained of the vexation she

ne, and question him about the beauty and charms of the actresses; curling up the points of their mustaches as they did so with such an absurdly conceited, insolent air of imaginary triumph, that the worthy landlord could not hel

ss, with its pretty blue trimmings, which completed her simple toilet, she smiled at her own charming reflection in the glass, and thought of a pair of dark, speaking eyes that she knew would find her fair, and pleasant to look upon. As she turned away from the mirror a sunbeam streamed in through her window, and she could not resist the temptation to open the casement and put her pretty head out, to see what view there might be from it. She looked down into a narrow, deserted alley, with the wall of the hotel on one side and that of th

sia leather. From the careless ease of his manners, and the haughty grace of his carriage, one would readily divine that he was a great noble; one of the favoured few of the earth, who are sure of being well received everywhere, and courted and flattered by everybody. Pylades, though a good-looking fellow enough, with auburn hair and mustache, was not nearly so handsome or striking, either in face or figure, as his companion. They were talking of women; Orestes declaring himself a woman-hater from that time forward, because of what he was pleased

th from her chamber in the East-with her golden brown hair, her heavenly countenance, and her sweet, soft eyes. Only observe the exquisite grace of her attitude-leaning slightly forward on one elbow, so as to bring into fine relief the shapely curves of her beautiful form. I would be willing to swear th

ce! Now I see merely a woman at a window, who is rather pretty, to tell the honest truth, but not likely to pos

g is certain, mine she must be, though it cost me the half, nay, the whole of my fortune to win her

a fever; but what has become of the contempt and hatred for the fair sex you w

and what I said was an odious, outrageous blasphemy-a monstrous, abominable heresy-fo

never fear, for she is always very indul

" said Orestes, "and declare war

his fingers towards the new object of his ardent admiration. The young actress, who saw this demonstration with much annoyance, assumed a cold, composed manner, as if to show this insolent fellow th

a is hidden behind a cloud; not very pr

l you she has mine now, sticking in under her left wing; that kiss will force her to think of me all night, if only to be vexed with me, and tax me with effrontery-a fault which is never displeasing to ladies, I find, though they do sometimes make a great ou

"that you certainly are wonderfully well versed

little beauty was startled, and will not show herself at the window again just yet. This evening I shall begin operations in earnest."

ll the numbered seats and boxes were eagerly snapped up, directly they were offered to "the nobility and gentry of Poitiers," who secured them for all the representations to be given by the troupe, so that success was insured. The dressing-room of the tennis players had to serve as green-room, and dressing-room as wel

urt of the Armes de France, "what a great pity it is that Zerbine is not with us here. She is almost worth her weight in gold, that little minx; a r

more and more every day our having lost her. The devil fly away with that n

ing of bells and clattering of hoofs. On the first one was mounted a lackey in gray livery, and well armed, who led by a long strap a second mule heavily laden with baggage, and on the third was a young wom

remind you of something? It seems to me this is not the f

lly, "these are the very mules that carried Z

person. Look, she jumps down from her mule with that bewitching little air peculiar to herself, and throws her cloak to that obsequious lackey with a nonchalance worthy of a princ

d down to the court, and met Zerbine

he same as though it were young and handsome, for I am so glad, so very glad to see it again. Now don't you be jealous, Herode, and scowl as if you were just

the room Maitre Bilot had ordered to be made ready for her. The moment she entered it she threw herself down into an arm

o for birds, nor the air for fishes. I am an actress by nature, and the atmosphere of the theatre is my native air; in it alone do I breathe freely; even its unpleasant odours are sweet to my nostrils. Real, everyday life seems very dull and flat. I must have imaginary love affairs to manage for other people, and take part in the whirl of romantic adventures to be found on

ack again. If you had had some of the magic compound Apuleius tells us of, and had thereby changed yourself into a bird, to come and listen to what Blazius and I were say

that you two are just the same good old souls as

chests with the keys she had on a small silver ring. They were filled with all sorts of handsome things-silks and velvets, laces and jewels-and among the rest a long purse, crammed as full as it could hol

it to you to prove that I didn't need to return to my profession, but was actuated by a pure love of my art. As to you, my good old friends, i

enerous offer, but assured her that they were

time then. I shall put it away in my strong box

e was no question of his giving you up; you are not one of that sort. The role of Ariadne would not suit you at

ucy smile. "I shall guard him carefully, as the most precious gem in my ca

ians, and might have been borrowed, one would say, from the 'Comedy of the Frogs,' by one Aristophanes, an Athenian poet, contain the very pith and m

ked Zerbine. "You have neglected to translate them, entirely forgetting that not e

ittle couplet: 'If you fly from men, they'll be sure to

ight and pursuit, that it was a pity she had not had a larger audience to enjoy it. After this outburst of merriment she quieted down a little, and gave her companions a brief, history of her adventures since she had parted from them, declaring that the marquis had invariably treated her wi

been neglected of late, and I have been too long absent from the court. You will permit me to applaud you I suppose, and truth to tell I shall be very glad to enjoy your bewitching acting again.' So I told

r marquis should not turn up at

cried, when she could speak, "you had better engage rooms for him right away-not come! Why my fear was that he would overtake me on the road; you will see him very soon, I can guar

fond of her, and always trying to do something to please her. She now insisted upon presenting her with a piece of rich silk, which Isabelle accepted very reluctantly, and only when she found that the warm-hearted soubrette would be really wounded if she refused her first gift. Serafina had shut herself up in her own room, and was the

rest, they told her the sad story of his death, and also that the Baro

rusades," said she, "and I only hope that my profound respect for him will not overwhelm me, and spoi

"This is for the Baron de Sigognac; and this is for my comrade, Captain Fracasse;" kissing him on both cheeks-which unexpected and unprecedented proceeding put poor de Sigognac completely out

ied was he with thoughts of his lovely unknown. The Chevalier de Vidalinc, his friend and confidant, tried in vain to draw him into conversation; he replied only by monosyllables, or not at all, to the other's brilliant sallies. When the dessert had been put upon the ta

a divine creature like this. It is only after I have captured the flying prize that I lose all interest in it; so do not, I pray you, propose to deprive me of the delights of the chase; the more difficult it is the better I like it, the more fascinating I f

is I must admit that you are justified in what you say. But perhaps your wish may be gratified this time, for the young beauty certainly d

stener, and he is sharp enough to find out very quickly pretty much all that's worth knowing about his guests in the hotel. Come, we'll go

carefully, and then poured the amber wine, as clear as a topaz, into the delicate Venetian glasses held out for it by the duke and his companion, with a hand as steady as if it bad been of bronze. In taking upon himself this office Maitre Bilot affected an almost religious solemnity, as though he were a priest of Bacchus, officiating at his altar, and about to celebr

was about to withdraw, when a significant glance from

urself from the buffet there, and come and dri

is glass at a single draught, the well-pleased landlord stood, with one hand resting

him, and continued, "But what's the use of beating about the bush with such a wily old miscreant as you are, Maitre Bilot? Who is the lady that has t

us indeed to make use of the laconic style so highly esteemed by the ancients. Ho

to such Lacedaemonian brevity, Maitre Bilot; be prolix! and relate

"my cellar, my kitchen, my tongue and myself are all at your lordship's disposition. Isabelle is an act

d have taken her for a lady of rank, from her quiet, dignified mien, or at leas

tion, despite the difficulties of her position. No one understands better how to keep all the gallants that hover about her at a respectfu

ere is nothing I so thoroughly despise as a fortress that is

successful captain, not used to encountering any serious resistance, and sweeping everything

once triumphant and annoyed, for though on the one side he had no faith in the steadfast

to appreciate the difference. A woman that has one lover may have two, as the old song says; but a woman who loves, with a pure love, and has that love returned in every

ding all that, Maitre Bilot, I don't believe you thoroughly understand anything outside of your own wines and sauces

handsome young fellow, and very different from the rest of them; far superior, more like a gen

re unexpected obstacles in plenty, and a perfect none-such of a prize. A virtuous ac

attention to the last remark, "that this chaste Isabelle does not accord any privileges secret

at she is as spotless as the ermine. She would rather die than suffer a stain upon her purity. It is im

a shrewd fellow and had made a just estimate of Isabelle's character, finished by advising his noble interlocutor to turn his attention to Serafina, "who was very charming, and not less beautiful than Isabelle, and who would be greatly pleas

Vallombreuse, in a dry tone that put an end to the

of gold pieces, and throwing them down carelessly on the table, said,

powerful noble like himself; but he found some comfort in the thought that when she came to see and know him she could not long hold out against his numerous attractions. As to his rival-if the fellow ventured to interfere with him too much, he would quietly suppress him, by means of certain stout ruffians-professional cut-throats-he had in his employ, to do all that sort of work for him; his own dignity not allowing him to come into personal contact with such cattle as actors. Though Vallombreuse had not seen anything of Isabelle at her window, he himself had been closely watched, by jealous eyes, from a neighbouring casement that commanded the same view. They belonged to de Sigognac, who was greatly annoyed and incensed by the manoeuvres of this mysterious personage under Isabelle's window. A dozen times he w

ith skill alters entirely the wearer's appearance-so that his nearest friend would not recognise him-without interfering materially with his comfort. This idea de Sigognac hailed with delight, for it insured his preserving his incognito; the light pasteboard screen seemed to him like the closed visor of a helmet, behind which he need not shrink from facing the enemy-that is to stay the gazing crowd on the other side of the foot-lights. With it he would take merely the part of the unknown, concealed intelligence that directs the movements of the marionette, and the voice that makes it speak; only he should be within it, instead of behind the scenes pulling the strings-his di

, offering advice as to the placing of a flower or a jewel, handing the powder-box or the rouge-pot, presenting the little hand-mirror, taking upon themselves all such small offices with the greatest "empressement," and vying with each other in their gallant attendance upon the fair objects of their admiration; the younger and more timid among them holding a little aloof and sitting on the large chests scattered about, swinging their feet and twisting their mustaches, while they watched the proceedings of their bolder companions with envious eyes. Each actress had her own circle of admiring cavaliers about her, paying her high-flown compliments in the exaggerated language of the day, and doing their best to make themselves agreeable

his friend Vidalinc, marched straight up to her toilet-table. He was enchanted to find that, on this close inspection, she was even more beautiful than he had supposed, and in his enthusiastic delight at this discov

t, with its long crimson feather. His wavy black hair fell around the perfect oval of his face, enhancing its smooth whiteness; a delicate mustache shaded, not concealed, his full red lips; his splendid, great black eyes flashed through their thick, silky fringes, and his neck, white and round as a marble column, rose from amid its surrounding of soft, priceless lace, proudly supporting his haughty, handsome head. Yet with all this perfection of outline and colouring, his appe

ce an impression, before addressing a word to her, by his personal beauty, his lordly mien, and his magnificence of apparel. Isabelle, who had instantly recognised the audacious gallant of the garden, and who was displeased by the imperious ardour of his gaze, redoubled her reserve of manner, and did not lift her eyes to the mirror in front of her at all; she did not even seem t

tly, without looking at him-not a

s poor your acting will make it excellent, if it is fine you will make it peerless.

nowledged it only by a very slight bend of the head, and still without looking up. At this moment de Sigognac entered the green-room; he was masked and in full costume, just buckling around

that he had to bend down nearer her to hear, "and I am sure that no

first rapid glance he made as if he did not perceive de Sigognac at all, no more than if he had been a piece of furniture standing there; for him Captain Fracasse was not a MAN, but a THING, and he continued to gaze fixedly at poor Isabelle-his eyes fairly blazing with passion-exactly as though no one was near. She, confused at last, and alarmed, blushed painfully, in spite of all her efforts to appear calm and unmoved, and hastened to finish what little remained to be done, so

tip of his forefinger to his lips he plunged it into the box of patches standing open on the dressing-table, and brought

profane touch; but the duke was not one to be easily balked in anything he particularly desired to do, and pressing nearer he again extended his hand tow

d dared to lay hands upon his sacred person, and

emoiselle is in need of no assistance from you, or any one else, in

e hilt of his sword with the hand released by de Sigognac, and drew it partly out of its scabbard, as if he meant to attack him, his ey

for one human being to manifest for another. He had remembered just in time that he must not so greatly demean himself as to cross swords with a person of no birth, and an actor besides; all his pride revolted at the bare idea of such a thing. An insult coming from a creature so low in the social scale could not reach

d with the most careless air imaginable, "you'd much better take care what you do! My bones are

rovoke me to do you so much honour as to attack you myself; that is too hi

ied; "it may happen that I, having less pride than yours

," said the duke shortly, takin

I think it will be still more distasteful to you than my false nose. But enough for the present. I hear th

ing the haughty duke very much disconcerted, and at a disadvantage, as indeed de

is real rank, were not so much astonished as the other spectators of thi

e, and Zerbine, who had flown to her assistance, had to fetch some of her own rouge and bestow it plentifully upon the

sweet, pure, modest child that she was-for she knew that it is a dreadful thing for any woman to have her name mixed up in such an affair, and shrank from the publicity that could not fail to be given to it; besides, she loved de Sigognac with fervour an

Sigognac's dear sake, whose anxious glances she strove to meet with a reassuring smile, she succeeded in controlling her emotion, and felt inspired to do her very best. As to Captain Fracasse, excited by the quarrel, he acted superbly. Zerbine surpassed herself. Shouts of

her usual by-play, she peered over them and caught sight of her marquis,

k at him! how delighted he is, and how he applauds me-till he is actually red in the face, the

new play, entitled "Lygdamon et Lydias," and written by a certain Georges de Scudery (a gentleman who, after having served with honour in the French Guards, quitted the sword for the pen, which he wielded with equal success), was next rehearsed, a

, and follow the Duke of Vallombreu

factory a part to himself, returned to his own home and there raved to Vidalinc about his revenge, threatening the

d left, upsetting tables and arm-chairs, and finally, seizing a large Japanese vase, very

the dust-heap, where he belongs. A miserable scoundrel, that dares to interpose between me, the Duke of Vallombreuse, and the object of my desires! If he were only a gentleman I would fight

u remember what Maitre Bilot told you about Isabelle's favoured lover? This m

n mingle voluntarily and on terms of equality with these low buffoons of actors, paint his nose red, and

the shapes of various beasts, as well as birds, in his terrestrial love affairs, which was surely much more

ve the scamp well punished in his character of play-actor; even though I should be obliged to chastise the

the more positive I am of it. Why, his eyes shone like stars under his overhanging false eye-brows, and in spite of his absurd p

llombreuse; "for if you are right,

e, Azolan, Merindol, and Labriche, if they have gone to bed; tell them to arm themselves with stout cudgels and go down to the tennis-court, find a dark corner near by and wait there, until the players come out, for a certain Captain

ry blow they are to cry, 'This is from the Duke of Vallom

e the lackey, who, as he retired, assured his lordship, with an unmoved coun

a quarrel with him, and kill him for you in a duel. All blood is red when it is shed, the lowly as well as the lofty, though they do pretend that the blood of the nobles is blue. I come of a good and ancient family, if not so high in rank a

it. That low scoundrel has dared to lay hands upon me, and he must expiate his crime in the most ignominious way. Should he prove to be a g

t things take their own course. "By the way, do you know that that Serafina is charming? I paid her several compliments, which were very graciously received; and more than that, she

t unbroken silence, the return of the FOUR ruff