scaramouche-第26节

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〃That　is　what　I　fear；〃　whimpered　Scaramouche。

Binet　heaved　himself　up　in　disgust。

〃Take　him　to　bed；〃　he　bade　them；　〃and　fetch　a　doctor　to　see　him。〃

It　was　done；　and　the　doctor　came。　　Having　seen　the　patient；　he
reported　that　nothing　very　serious　had　happened；　but　that　in　falling
he　had　evidently　sprained　his　foot　a　little。　　A　few　days'　rest　and
all　would　be　well。

〃A　few　days！〃　cried　Binet。　　〃God　of　God！　　Do　you　mean　that　he　can't
walk？〃

〃It　would　be　unwise；　indeed　impossible　for　more　than　a　few　steps。〃

M。　Binet　paid　the　doctor's　fee；　and　sat　down　to　think。　　He　filled
himself　a　glass　of　Burgundy；　tossed　it　off　without　a　word；　and　sat
thereafter　staring　into　the　empty　glass。

〃It　is　of　course　the　sort　of　thing　that　must　always　be　happening　to
me；〃　he　grumbled　to　no　one　in　particular。　　The　members　of　the　company
were　all　standing　in　silence　before　him；　sharing　his　dismay。　　〃I
might　have　known　that　this　…　or　something　like　it　…　would　occur　to
spoil　the　first　vein　of　luck　that　I　have　found　in　years。　　Ah；　well；
it　is　finished。　　To…morrow　we　pack　and　depart。　　The　best　day　of　the
fair；　on　the　crest　of　the　wave　of　our　success　…　a　good　fifteen　louis
to　be　taken；　and　this　happens！　　God　of　God！〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　abandon　to…morrow's　performance？〃

All　turned　to　stare　with　Binet　at　Andre…Louis。

〃Are　we　to　play　'Figaro…Scaramouche'　without　Scaramouche？〃　asked
Binet；　sneering。

〃Of　course　not。〃　Andre…Louis　came　forward。　　〃But　surely　some
rearrangement　of　the　parts　is　possible。　　For　instance；　there　is　a
fine　actor　in　Polichinelle。〃

Polichinelle　swept　him　a　bow。　　〃Overwhelmed；〃　said　he；　ever　sardonic。

〃But　he　has　a　part　of　his　own；〃　objected　Binet。

〃A　small　part；　which　Pasquariel　could　play。〃

〃And　who　will　play　Pasquariel？〃

〃Nobody。　　We　delete　it。　　The　play　need　not　suffer。〃

〃He　thinks　of　everything；〃　sneered　Polichinelle。　　〃What　a　man！〃

But　Binet　was　far　from　agreement。　　〃Are　you　suggesting　that
Polichinelle　should　play　Scaramouche？〃　he　asked；　incredulously。

〃Why　not？　　He　is　able　enough！〃

〃Overwhelmed　again；〃　interjected　Polichinelle。

〃Play　Scaramouche　with　that　figure？〃　　Binet　heaved　himself　up　to
point　a　denunciatory　finger　at　Polichinelle's　sturdy；　thick…set
shortness。

〃For　lack　of　a　better；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃Overwhelmed　more　than　ever。〃　　Polichinelle's　bow　was　superb　this
time。　　〃Faith；　I　think　I'll　take　the　air　to　cool　me　after　so　much
blushing。〃

〃Go　to　the　devil；〃　Binet　flung　at　him。

〃Better　and　better。〃　　Polichinelle　made　for　the　door。　　On　the
threshold　he　halted　and　struck　an　attitude。　　〃Understand　me；　Binet。
I　do　not　now　play　Scaramouche　in　any　circumstances　whatever。〃　　And
he　went　out。　　On　the　whole；　it　was　a　very　dignified　exit。

Andre…Louis　shrugged；　threw　out　his　arms；　and　let　them　fall　to　his
sides　again。　　〃You　have　ruined　everything；〃　he　told　M。　Binet。　　〃The
matter　could　easily　have　been　arranged。　　Well；　well；　it　is　you　are
master　here；　and　since　you　want　us　to　pack　and　be　off；　that　is　what
we　will　do；　I　suppose。〃

He　went　out；　too。　　M。　Binet　stood　in　thought　a　moment；　then　followed
him；　his　little　eyes　very　cunning。　　He　caught　him　up　in　the　doorway。
〃Let　us　take　a　walk　together；　M。　Parvissimus；〃　said　he；　very　affably。

He　thrust　his　arm　through　Andre…Louis'；　and　led　him　out　into　the
street；　where　there　was　still　considerable　movement。　　Past　the　booths
that　ranged　about　the　market　they　went；　and　down　the　hill　towards　the
bridge。　　〃I　don't　think　we　shall　pack　to…morrow；〃　said　M。　Binet；
presently。　　〃In　fact；　we　shall　play　to…morrow　night。〃

〃Not　if　I　know　Polichinelle。　　You　have。。。　〃

〃I　am　not　thinking　of　Polichinelle。〃

〃Of　whom；　then？〃

〃Of　yourself。〃

〃I　am　flattered；　sir。　　And　in　what　capacity　are　you　thinking　of　me？〃
There　was　something　too　sleek　and　oily　in　Binet's　voice　for
Andre…Louis'　taste。

〃I　am　thinking　of　you　in　the　part　of　Scaramouche。〃

〃Day…dreams；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃You　are　amusing　yourself；　of
course。〃

〃Not　in　the　least。　　I　am　quite　serious。〃

〃But　I　am　not　an　actor。〃

〃You　told　me　that　you　could　be。〃

〃Oh；　upon　occasion。。。　a　small　part；　perhaps。。。　〃

〃Well；　here　is　a　big　part　…　the　chance　to　arrive　at　a　single　stride。
How　many　men　have　had　such　a　chance？〃

〃It　is　a　chance　I　do　not　covet；　M。　Binet。　　Shall　we　change　the
subject？〃　　He　was　very　frosty；　as　much　perhaps　because　he　scented
in　M。　Binet's　manner　something　that　was　vaguely　menacing　as　for　any
other　reason。

〃We'll　change　the　subject　when　I　please；〃　said　M。　Binet；　allowing　a
glimpse　of　steel　to　glimmer　through　the　silk　of　him。　　〃To…morrow
night　you　play　Scaramouche。　　You　are　ready　enough　in　your　wits；　your
figure　is　ideal；　and　you　have　just　the　kind　of　mordant　humour　for
the　part。　　You　should　be　a　great　success。〃

〃It　is　much　more　likely　that　I　should　be　an　egregious　failure。〃

〃That　won't　matter；〃　said　Binet；　cynically；　and　explained　himself。
〃The　failure　will　be　personal　to　yourself。　　The　receipts　will　be
safe　by　then。〃

〃Much　obliged；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃We　should　take　fifteen　louis　to…morrow　night。〃

〃It　is　unfortunate　that　you　are　without　a　Scaramouche；〃　said
Andre…Louis。

〃It　is　fortunate　that　I　have　one；　M。　Parvissimus。〃　　Andre…Louis
disengaged　his　arm。　〃I　begin　to　find　you　tiresome；〃　said　he。　　〃I
think　I　will　return。〃

〃A　moment；　M。　Parvissimus。　　If　I　am　to　lose　that　fifteen　louis。。。
　　you'll　not　take　it　amiss　that　I　compensate　myself　in　other　ways？〃

〃That　is　your　own　concern；　M。　Binet。〃

〃Pardon；　M。　Parvissimus。　　It　may　possibly　be　also　yours。〃　　Binet
took　his　arm　again。　　〃Do　me　the　kindness　to　step　across　the　street
with　me。　　Just　as　far　as　the　post…office　there。　　I　have　something
to　show　you。〃

Andre…Louis　went。　　Before　they　reached　that　sheet　of　paper　nailed
upon　the　door；　he　knew　exactly　what　it　would　say。　　And　in　effect　it
was；　as　he　had　supposed；　that　twenty　louis　would　be　paid　for
information　leading　to　the　apprehension　of　one　Andre…Louis　Moreau；
lawyer　of　Gavrillac；　who　was　wanted　by　the　King's　Lieutenant　in
Rennes　upon　a　charge　of　sedition。

M。　Binet　watched　him　whilst　he　read。　　Their　arms　were　linked；　and
Binet's　grip　was　firm　and　powerful。

〃Now；　my　friend；〃　said　he；　〃will　you　be　M。　Parvissimus　and　play
Scaramouche　to…morrow；　or　will　you　be　Andre…Louis　Moreau　of　Gavrillac
and　go　to　Rennes　to　satisfy　the　King's　Lieutenant？〃

〃And　if　it　should　happen　that　you　are　mistaken？〃　quoth　Andre…Louis；
his　face　a　mask。

〃I'll　take　the　risk　of　that；〃　leered　M。　Binet。　　〃You　mentioned；　I
think；　that　you　were　a　lawyer。　　An　indiscretion；　my　dear。　　It　is
unlikely　that　two　lawyers　will　be　in　hiding　at　the　same　time　in　the
same　district。　　You　see　it　is　not　really　clever　of　me。　　Well；　M。
Andre…Louis　Moreau；　lawyer　of　Gavrillac；　what　is　it　to　be？〃

〃We　will　talk　it　over　as　we　walk　back；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃What　is　there　to　talk　over？〃

〃One　or　two　things；　I　think。　　I　must　know　where　I　stand。　　Come；　sir；
if　you　please。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　M。　Binet；　and　they　turned　up　the　street　again；　but
M。　Binet　maintained　a　firm　hold　of　his　young　friend's　arm；　and　kept
himself　on　the　alert　for　any　tricks　that　the　young　gentleman　might
be　disposed　to　play。　　It　was　an　unnecessary　precaution。　　Andre…Louis
was　not　the　man　to　waste　his　energy　futilely。　　He　knew　that　in　bodily
strength　he　was　no　match　at　all　for　the　heavy　and　powerful　Pantaloon。

〃If　I　yield　to　your　most　eloquent　and　seductive　persuasions；　M。
Binet；〃　said　he；　sweetly；　〃what　guarantee　do　you　give　me　that　you
will　not　sell　me　for　twenty　louis　after　I　shall　have　served　your
turn？〃

〃You　have　my　word　of　honour　for　that。〃　M。　Binet　was　emphatic。

Andre…Louis　laughed。　　〃Oh；　we　are　to　talk　of　honour；　are　we？　　Really；
M。　Binet？　　It　is　clear　you　think　me　a　fool。〃

In　the　dark　he　did　not　see　the　flush　that　leapt　to　M。　Binet's　round
face。　　It　was　some　moments　before　he　replied。

〃Perhaps　you　are　right；〃　he　growled。　　〃What　guarantee　do　you　want？〃

〃I　do　not　know　what　guarantee　you　can　possibly　give。〃

〃I　have　said　that　I　will　keep　faith　with　you。〃

〃Until　you　find　it　more　profitable　to　sell　me。〃

〃You　have　it　in　your　power　to　make　it　more　profitable　always　for　me
to　keep　faith　with　you。　　It　is　due　to　you　that　we　have　done　so　well
in　Guichen。　　Oh；　I　admit　it　frankly。〃

〃In　private；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

M。　Binet　left　the　sarcasm　unheeded。

〃What　you　have　done　for　us　here　with　'Figaro…Scaramouche；'　you　can
do　elsewhere　with　other　things。　　Naturally；　I　shall　not　want　to　lose
you。　　That　is　your　guarantee。〃
　
〃Yet　to…night　you　would　sell　me　for　twenty　louis。〃

〃Because　…　name　of　God！　…　you　enrage　me　by　refusing　me　a　service　well
within　your　powers。　　Don't　you　think；　had　I　been　entirely　the　rogue
you　think　me；　I　could　have　sold　you　on　Saturday　last？　　I　want　you　to
understand　me；　my　dear　Parvissimus。〃

〃I　beg　that　you'll　not　apologize。　　You　would　be　more　tiresome　than
ever。〃

〃Of　course　you　will　be　gibing。　　You　never　miss　a　chance　to　gibe。
It'll　bring　you　trouble　before　you're　done　with　life。　　Come；　here
we　are　back　at　the　inn；　and　you　have　not　yet　given　me　your　decision。〃

Andre…Louis　looked　at　him。　〃I　must　yield；　of　course。　　I　can't　help
myself。〃

M。　Binet　released　his　a