the memoirs of victor hugo-第8部分

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estry；　was　less　lugubrious　than　the　two　personages　who　held　up　the　hideous　blazon　and　who　seemed　to　be　whispering　to　each　other　in　the　shadow。

At　the　bottom　of　the　panel　in　a　corner　was　the　date：　1503。




V。　　THE　EASTER　DAISY。

May　29；　1841。



A　few　days　ago　I　was　passing　along　the　Rue　de　Chartres。*　　A　palisade　of　boards；　which　linked　two　islands　of　high　six…story　houses；　attracted　my　attention。　　It　threw　upon　the　pavement　a　shadow　which　the　sunshine；　penetrating　between　the　badly　joined　boards；　striped　with　beautiful　parallel　streaks　of　gold；　such　as　one　sees　on　the　fine　black　satins　of　the　Renaissance。　　I　strolled　over　to　it　and　peered　through　the　cracks。

*　　The　little　Rue　de　Chartres　was　situated　on　the　site　now　occupied　by　the　Pavilion　de　Rohan。　　It　extended　from　the　open　ground　of　the　Carrousel　to　the　Place　du　Palais…Royal。　　The　old　Vaudeville　Theatre　was　situated　in　it。

This　palisade　encloses　the　site　on　which　was　built　the　Vaudeville　Theatre；　that　was　destroyed　by　fire　two　years　ago；　in　June；　1839。

It　was　two　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　the　sun　shone　hotly；　the　street　was　deserted。

A　sort　of　house　door；　painted　grey；　still　ornamented　with　rococo　carving　and　which　a　hundred　years　ago　probably　was　the　entrance　to　the　boudoir　of　some　little　mistress；　had　been　adjusted　to　the　palisade。　　There　was　only　a　latch　to　raise；　and　I　entered　the　enclosure。

Nothing　could　be　sadder　or　more　desolate。　　A　chalky　soil。　　Here　and　there　blocks　of　stone　that　the　masons　had　begun　to　work　upon；　but　had　abandoned；　and　which　were　at　once　white　as　the　stones　of　sepulchres　and　mouldy　as　the　stones　of　ruins。　　No　one　in　the　enclosure。　　On　the　walls　of　the　neighbouring　houses　traces　of　flame　and　smoke　still　visible。

However；　since　the　catastrophe　two　successive　springtides　had　softened　the　ground；　and　in　a　corner　of　the　trapezium；　behind　an　enormous　stone　that　was　becoming　tinted　with　the　green　of　moss；　and　beneath　which　were　haunts　of　woodlice；　millepeds；　and　other　insects；　a　little　patch　of　grass　had　grown　in　the　shadow。

I　sat　on　the　stone　and　bent　over　the　grass。

Oh！　my　goodness！　there　was　the　prettiest　little　Easter　daisy　in　the　world；　and　flitting　about　it　was　a　charming　microscopical　gnat。

This　flower　of　the　fields　was　growing　peaceably　and　in　accordance　with　the　sweet　law　of　nature；　in　the　open；　in　the　centre　of　Paris；　between　a　couple　of　streets；　two　paces　from　the　Palais…Royal；　four　paces　from　the　Carrousel；　amid　passers…by；　omnibuses　and　the　King's　carriages。

This　wild　flower；　neighbour　of　the　pavement；　opened　up　a　wide　field　of　thought。　　Who　could　have　foreseen；　two　years　ago；　that　a　daisy　would　be　growing　on　this　spot！　　If；　as　on　the　ground　adjoining；　there　had　never　been　anything　but　houses；　that　is　to　say；　proprietors；　tenants；　and　hail　porters；　careful　residents　extinguishing　candle　and　fire　at　night　before　going　to　sleep；　never　would　there　have　been　a　wild　flower　here。

How　many　things；　how　many　plays　that　failed　or　were　applauded；　how　many　ruined　families；　how　many　incidents；　how　many　adventures；　how　many　catastrophes　were　summed　up　in　this　flower！　　To　all　those　who　lived　upon　the　crowd　that　was　nightly　summoned　here；　what　a　spectre　this　flower　would　have　been　had　it　appeared　to　them　two　years　ago！　　What　a　labyrinth　is　destiny　and　what　mysterious　combinations　there　were　that　led　up　to　the　advent　of　this　enchanting　little　yellow　sun　with　its　white　rays。　It　required　a　theatre　and　a　conflagration；　which　are　the　gaiety　and　the　terror　of　a　city；　one　of　the　most　joyous　inventions　of　man　and　one　of　the　most　terrible　visitations　of　God；　bursts　of　laughter　for　thirty　years　and　whirlwinds　of　flame　for　thirty　horn's　to　produce　this　Easter　daisy；　the　de…　light　of　a　gnat。






THEATER

I。　　　JOANNY。　II。　　MADEMOISELLE　MARS。　III。　FREDERICK　LEMAITRE。　IV。　　THE　COMIQUES。　V。　　　MADEMOISELLE　GEORGES。　VI。　　TABLEAUX　VIVANTS。






THEATRE



JOANNY。

March　7；　1830；　Midnight。


　　　They　have　been　playing　〃Hernani〃　at　the　Théatre…Fran？ais　since　February　25。　　The　receipts　for　each　performance　have　been　five　thousand　francs。　　The　public　every　night　hisses　all　the　verses。　　It　is　a　rare　uproar。　　The　parterre　hoots；　the　boxes　burst　with　laughter。　　The　actors　are　abashed　and　hostile；　most　of　them　ridicule　what　they　have　to　say。　　The　press　has　been　practically　unanimous　every　morning　in　making　fun　of　the　piece　and　the　author。　If　I　enter　a　reading　room　I　cannot　pick　up　a　paper　without　seeing：　〃Absurd　as　〃Hernani〃；　silly；　false；　bombastic；　pretentious；　extravagant　and　nonsensical　as　〃Hernani〃。〃　If　I　venture　into　the　corridors　of　the　theatre　while　　the　performance　is　in　progress　I　see　spectators　issue　from　their　boxes　and　slam　the　doors　indignantly。　　Mlle。　Mars　plays　her　part　honestly　and　faithfully；　but　laughs　at　it；　even　in　my　presence。　　Michelot　plays　his　resignedly　and　laughs　at　it　behind　my　back。　　There　is　not　a　scene　shifter；　not　a　super；　not　a　lamp　lighter　but　points　his　finger　at　me。

To…day　I　dined　with　Joanny；　who　had　invited　me。　Joanny　plays　Ruy　Gomez。　　He　lives　at　No。　1　Rue　du　Jardinet；　with　a　young　seminarist；　his　nephew。　　The　dinner　party　was　sober　and　cordial。　　There　were　some　journalists　there；　among　others　M。　Merle；　the　husband　of　Mme。　Dorval。　　After　dinner；　Joanny；　who　has　the　most　beautiful　white　hair　in　the　world；　rose；　filled　his　glass；　turned　towards　me。　　I　was　on　his　right　hand。　　Here　literally　is　what　he　said　to　me；　I　have　just　returned　home　and　I　write　his　words：

〃Monsieur　Victor　Hugo；　the　old　man；　now　unknown；　who　two　hundred　years　ago　filled　the　role　of　Don　Diègue　in　〃Le　Cid〃　was　not　more　penetrated　with　respect　and　admiration　in　presence　of　the　great　Corneille　than　the　old　man　who　plays　Don　Buy　Gomez　is　to…day　in　your　presence。〃




MADEMOISELLE　MARS。



In　her　last　illness　Mlle。　Mars　was　often　delirious。　　One　evening　the　doctor　arrived。　　She　was　in　the　throes　of　a　high　fever；　and　her　mind　was　wandering。　　She　prattled　about　the　theatre；　her　mother；　her　daughter；　her　niece　Georgina；　about　all　that　she　held　dear；　she　laughed；　wept；　screamed；　sighed　deeply。

The　doctor　approached　her　bed　and　said　to　her：　〃Dear　lady；　calm　yourself；　it　is　I。〃　　She　did　not　recognise　him　and　her　mind　continued　to　wander。　　He　went　on：　〃Come；　show　me　your　tongue；　open　your　mouth。〃　　Mlle。　Mars　gazed　at　him；　opened　her　mouth　and　said：　〃Here；　look。　Oh！　all　my　teeth　are　my　very　own！〃

Célimène　still　lived。




FREDERICK　LEMAITRE。



Frédérick　Lemaitre　is　cross；　morose　and　kind。　　He　lives　in　retirement　with　his　children　and　his　mistress；　who　at　present　is　Mlle。　Clarisse　Miroy。

Frédérick　likes　the　table。　　He　never　invites　anybody　to　dinner　except　Porcher；　the　chief　of　the　claque。*　　　Fredérick　and　Porcher　〃thee…thou〃　each　other。　　Porcher　has　common　sense；　good　manners；　and　plenty　of　money；　which　he　lends　gallantly　to　authors　whose　rent　is　due。　Porcher　is　the　man　of　whom　Harel　said：　〃He　likes；　protects　and　disdains　Literary　men。〃　　　　　　　　　　*　　A　band　of　men　and　boys　who　are　paid　to　applaud　a　piece　or　a　certain　actor　or　actress　at　a　given　signal。　　The　applause　contractor；　or　~chef　de　claque~；　is　an　important　factor　in　French　theatrical　affairs。

Frédérick　has　never　less　than　fifteen　dishes　at　his　table。　When　the　servant　brings　them　in　he　looks　at　them　and　judges　them　without　tasting　them。　　Often　he　says：

〃That　is　bad。〃

〃Have　you　eaten　of　it？〃

〃No；　God　forbid！〃

〃But　taste　it。〃

〃It　is　detestable。〃

〃I　will　taste　it；〃　says　Clarisse。

〃It　is　execrable。　　I　forbid　you　to　do　so。〃

〃But　let　me　try　it。〃

〃Take　that　dish　away！　It　is　filthy！〃　And　he　sends　for　his　cook　and　rates　her　soundly。

He　is　greatly　feared　by　all　his　household。　　His　domestics　live　in　a　state　of　terror。　　At　table；　if　he　does　not　speak；　no　one　utters　a　word。　　Who　would　dare　to　break　the　silence　when　he　is　mute？　　One　would　think　it　was　a　dinner　of　dumb　people；　or　a　supper　of　Trappists；　except　for　the　good　cheer。　　He　likes　to　wind　up　the　repast　with　fish。　If　there　is　turbot　he　has　it　served　after　the　creams。　　He　drinks；　when　dining；　a　bottle　and　a　half　of　Bordeaux　wine。　Then；　after　dinner；　he　lights　his　cigar；　and　while　smoking　drinks　two　other　bottles　of　wine。

For　all　that　he　is　a　comedian　of　genius　and　a　very　good　fellow。　　He　is　easily　moved　to　tears；　which　start　to　his　eyes　at　a　word　said　to　him　angrily　or　reproachfully。


This　dates　back　to　1840。　　Mlle。　Atala　Beaudouin　（the　actress　who　under　the　name　of　Louise　Beaudouin　created　the　role　of　the　Queen　in　Ruy　Bias）　had　left　Frédérick　Lema？tre；　the　great　and　marvellous　comedian。　　Frédérick　adored　her　and　was　inconsolable。

Mlle。　Atala's　mother　had　strongly　advised　her　daughter　on　this　occasion。　　Frédérick　was　occasionally　violent；　notwithstanding　that　he　was　very　amorous；　and；　besides；　a　Russian　prince　had　presented　himself。　　In　short；　Mlle。　Atala　persisted　in　her　determination　and　positively　refused　to　see　Frederick。

Frederick　made　frightful　threats；　especially　against　the　mother。　　One　morning　there　was　a　violent　ringing　at　Mlle。　Atala's　bell。　　Her　mother　opened　the　door　and　recoiled　in　terror。　　It　was　Frédérick。　　He　entered；　dropped　into　the　chair　that　was　handiest　to　him；　and　said　to　the　old　woman：

〃Don't　be　afraid；　I　haven't　come　to　kick　your；　I　have　come　to　weep。〃




THE　COMIQUES

September；　1846



Potier；　having　grown　old；　played　at　the　Porte　Saint　Martin　towards　the　close　of　his　life。　　He　was　the　same　in　the　street　as　he　was　on　the　stage。　　Little　boys　would　follow　him；　saying：　〃There　is　Potier！〃　　He　had　a　small　cottage　near　Paris　and　used　to　come　to　rehearsals　mounted　on　a　small　horse；　his　long　thin　legs　dangling　nearly　to　the　ground。

Tiercelin　was　a　Hellenist。　　Odry　is　a　connoisseur　of　chinaware。　　The　elephantine　Lepeintre　junior　runs　into　debt　and　lives　the　life　of　a　~coquin　de　neuveu~。

Alcide　Tousez；　Sainville　and　Ravel　carry　on　in　the　green　room　just　as　they　do　on　the　stage；　inventing　　cock…and…bull　yarns　and　cracking　jokes。

Arnal　composes　classic　verse；　admires　Samson；　waxes　wrath　because　the　cross　has　not　been　conferred　upon　him。　And；　in　the　green　room；　with　rouge　on　his　nose　and　cheeks　and　a　wig　on　his　head；　talks；　between　two　slaps　in　the　face　given　or　received；　about　Guizot's　last　speech；　f