The Argosy — page 309: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Début of Madémotsclle Aguat.ve. 293. ine?” ‘< That's thy affair,” said M. Darbois. During the whole of that.day and the next, Mdlle. Esther had little reason to congratulate herself on the serenity of her mistress’s temper ; nor, indeed, all things taken into account, could the unusual irritability of that lady be deemed absolutely inexcusable. No bulletin from the theatre, no visit from the Count, and, what in her opmion was even. more aggravating, no reply to an affectionate note addressed to the British Embassy! After a solitary dinner on the evening subsequent to her abrupt departure from the Nonpareil, Mdlle. Amanda, mechani- cally skimming the Pafrie, suddenly started as her eye fell on the follow- ing announcement among the dramatic advertisements : ‘“'To-mortow, first representation of ‘Les Hasards de l’Amour, vaudeville in one act.’ ” ‘‘ Impossible!” she exclaimed, as she read the paragraph over a _second time; then, after a minute’s thought, bursting into a laugh, continued : ‘‘ What a simpleton I am! I understand it now. Darbois. * Bah!” exclaimed Chambertin, th>.ouzhly puzzled. ‘‘ And Ernest- sent the réclame before I threw up the part, and has forgotten to~ countermand it !” . However, notwithstanding this apparent tranquillity, it was with a feeling of intense anxiety that she awaited the arrival of the next morn-.. ing’s Lntracte, and one glance at its ill-printed columns not only con- firmed her worst apprehensions, but additional:iy informed her that. Mdlle. Agathe Fleury would make her first appearance as Ernestine. . Who could Mdile. Agathe Fleury be? Some new protégée of the Count, no doubt, put forward on the spur of the moment; sqme raw; inexperienced chit of a girl, who has learnt the part in twenty-four hours, and who will be lucky if she plays it twice! ‘‘ What a /vur it will be !* resumed Mdille. Amanda; “I wouldn't miss it on any account. Esther, give these two louis to the concierge, and bid him go to the Nonpareil, and bring back an avant-scéne for to-night. Ah! nous allons rire.” Nine o’clock has just struck, and, after a few bars of introductory music, the curtain slowly nses on a garden scene, with a ch&teau in the distance, discovering the Marquis de Bois-Soleil (Chambertin) in an elegant costume of Louis XV., reclining on a rustic bench, and im- parting instructions to a remarkably slylooking Frontin. A faint demonstration of applause welcomes the favourite actor. ‘‘ Conceited ass, that Chambertin !”” mutters Mdlle. Amanda, in her avant-scéne. Exit valet, and soliloquy of the marquis, interrupted by the entrance ‘of Mdile. Lisette, who, after a little preparatory by-play, delivers a GONMGIOO SS (CO)