He has brought all his Parisian company here to act their
repertoire for a few nights before proceeding to Naples."
"How strange he should be here!" said Sylvie, "How very strange! He
is so like the Marquis Fontenelle, Katrine! So very like! I used to
go to the theatre and frighten myself with studying the different
points of resemblance! be the rough copy of Fontenelle's,--and I
always saw in the actor what the gentleman would be if he continued
to live as he was doing. Miraudin, whose amours are a disgrace, EVEN
to the stage!--Miraudin, who in his position of actor-manager, takes
despicable advantage of all the poor ignorant, struggling creatures
who try to get into his company, and whose vain little heads are
turned by a stray compliment,--and to think that the Marquis
Fontenelle should be merely the better-born copy of so mean a
villain! Ah, what useless tears I have shed about it,--how I have
grieved and worried myself all in vain!--and now . . ."
"Now he asks you to marry him," said Madame Bozier gently, "And you
think it would be no use? You could not perhaps make him a better
man?"
"Neither I nor any woman could!" said Sylvie, "I do not believe very
much in 'reforming' men, Katrine.
Pages:
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564