the nabob-第104章
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As the post…chaise swayed； he saw among the common white curtains； which float at all the windows in the south； a pale figure with the hair of a goddess； and great burning eyes fixed on him。 But a glance at Aline's portrait quickly dispelled this disturbing vision； and forever cured of his old love； he travelled until evening through the magic landscape with the lovely bride of the /dejeuner/； who carried in the folds of her modest robe and mantle all the violets of Bordighera。
THE FIRST NIGHT OF 〃REVOLT〃
〃Take your places for the first act！〃
The cry of the stage…manager； standing with his hand raised to his mouth to form a trumpet； at the foot of the staircase behind the scenes； echoes under the roof； rises and rolls along； to be lost in the depths of corridors full of the noise of doors banging； of hasty steps； of desperate calls to the /coiffeur/ and the dressers； while there appear one by one on the landings of the various floors； slow and majestic； without moving their heads for fear of disturbing the least detail of their make…up； all the personages of the first act of /Revolt/； in elegant modern ball costumes； with the creaking of new shoes； the silken rustle of the trains； the jingling of rich bracelets pushed up the arm while gloves are being buttoned。 All these people seem excited； nervous； pale beneath their paint； and under the skilfully prepared satin…like surface of the shoulders； tremors flutter like shadows。 Dry…mouthed； they speak little。 The least nervous； while affecting to smile； have in their eyes and voice the hesitation that marks an absent mindthat apprehension of the battle behind the foot…lights which is ever one of the most powerful attractions of the comedian's art； its piquancy； its freshness。
The stage is encumbered by the passage to and fro of machinists and scene…builders hastening about； running into one another in the dim； pallid light falling from above； which will give place directly； as soon as the curtain rises； to the dazzling of the foot…lights。 Cardailhac is there in his dress…coat and white tie； his opera hat on one side； giving a final glance to the arrangement of the scenery； hurrying the workmen； complimenting the /ingenue/ who is waiting dressed and ready； beaming； humming an air； looking superb。 To see him no one would ever guess the terrible worries which distract him。 He is compromised by the fall of the Nabobwhich entails the loss of his directorateand is risking his all on the piece of this evening； obliged； if it be not a success； to leave the cost of this marvellous scenery； these stuffs at a hundred francs the yard； unpaid。 It is a fourth bankruptcy that stares him in the face。 But； bah！ our manager is confident。 Success； like all the monsters that feed on men； loves youth； and this unknown author； whose name is appearing for the first time on a theatre bill； flatters the gambler's superstitions。
Andre Maranne feels less confident。 As the hour for the production of the piece approaches he loses faith in his work； terrified by the sight of the house； at which he looks through the hole in the curtain as through the narrow lens of a stereoscope。
A splendid house； crammed to the roof； notwithstanding the late period of the spring and the fashionable taste for early departure to the country； a house that Cardailhac； a declared enemy of nature and the country； endeavouring always to keep Parisians in Paris till the latest possible date； has succeeded in crowding and making as brilliant as in midwinter。 Fifteen hundred heads are swarming beneath the great central chandelier； erectbent forwardturning round questioning amid a great play of shadows and reflections； some massed in the obscure corners of the floor； others in a bright light reflected through the open doors of the boxes from the white walls of the corridor； the first…night public which is always the same； that brigand…like /tout Paris/ which goes everywhere； carrying those envied places by storm when a favour or a claim by right of some official position fails to secure them。
In the stalls are low…cut waistcoats； clubmen； shining bald heads； wide partings in scanty hair； light…coloured gloves； big opera…glasses raised and directed towards various points。 In the galleries a mixture of different social sets and all kinds of dress； all the people well known as figuring at this kind of solemnity； and the embarrassing promiscuity which places the modest smile of the virtuous woman along… side of the black…ringed eyes； the vermilion…painted lips of her who belongs to another category。 White hats； pink hats； diamonds and paint。 Above； the boxes present the same confusion； actresses and women of the demi…monde； ministers； ambassadors； famous authors； criticsthese last wearing a grave air and frowning brow； sitting crosswise in their /fauteuils/ with the impassive haughtiness of judges whom nothing can corrupt。 The boxes near the stage especially stand out in the general picture brilliantly lighted； occupied by celebrities of the financial world； the women /decollete/ and with bare arms； glittering with jewels like the Queen of Sheba on her visit to the King of Judea。 But on the left； one of these large boxes； entirely empty； attracts attention by reason of its curious decoration； lighted from the back by a Moorish lantern。 Over the whole assembly is an impalpable and floating dust； the flickering of the gas； that odour that mingles with all the pleasures of Paris； its little sputterings； sharp and quick like the breaths drawn by a consumptive； accompanying the movement of opened fans。 And then； too； /ennui/； a gloomy /ennui/； the /ennui/ of seeing the same faces always in the same places； with their defects or their poses； that uniformity of fashionable gatherings which ends by establishing in Paris each winter a spiteful and gossiping provincialism more petty than that of the provinces themselves。
Maranne observed this ill…humour； this lassitude of the public； and thinking of all the changes which the success of his play might bring about in his simple life； he asked himself； full of a great anxiety； what he could do to bring his ideas home to those thousands of people； to pluck them away from their preoccupation； and to send through this crowd a single current which should draw to himself those absent glances； those minds of every different calibre； so difficult to move to unison。 Instinctively his eyes sought friendly faces； a box facing the stage occupied by the Joyeuse family； Elise and the younger girls seated in the front； Aline and the father in the row behinda charming family group； like a bouquet wet with dew amid a display of artificial flowers。 And while all Paris was disdainfully asking； 〃Who are those people there？〃 the poet instrusted his fate to those little fairy hands； new gloved for the occasion； which very soon would boldly give the signal for applause。
The curtain is going up！ Maranne has barely time to spring into the wings； and suddenly he hears as from far； very far away； the first words of his play； which rise； like a flight of timid birds； into the silence and immensity of the theatre。 A terrible moment。 Where should he go？ What should he do？ Remain there leaning against a wing； with straining ear and beating heart？ Encourage the actors when he himself stood in so much need of encouragement？ He prefers rather to look the peril in the face； and by the little door communicating with the corridor behind the boxes he slips out to a corner box； which he orders to be opened for him softly。 〃Sh！ It is I。〃 Some one is seated in the shadowa woman； she whom all Paris knows and who is hiding herself from the public gaze。 Andre sits down by her side； and so； close to one another； mother and son tremblingly watch the progress of the play。
It astonished the audience at first。 This Theatre des Nouveautes； situated in the very heart of the boulevard； where its portico glitters all illuminated among the great restaurants of the smart clubs； this theatre； to which people were accustomed to come in parties after a luxurious dinner to listen until supper…time to an act or two of some suggestive piece； had become in the hands of its clever manager the most fashionable of all Parisian entertainmen
