The Idol of Paris | Page 9

real theatre, before so
many people?"
"I feel ready for anything," said the radiant girl quickly, in a clear
voice.

Sardou raised his head and looked at her.
"If you think, M. Sardou, that I can play the character, I shall be only
too happy to try; the chance you give me seems to come from destiny. I
must endeavour as soon as possible to appease my dear father for his
regret for having given me my own way."
François would have spoken, but she prevented him, drawing closer to
him. "Oh, dear papa, in spite of yourself, I see this depression comes
back to you. I want to succeed, and so drive away your heavy
thoughts."
"Then," said Sardou quickly, to relieve them all of the emotion they
were feeling, "it is quite agreed." Turning to Madame Darbois, who
was trembling, "Do not be alarmed, dear Madame; we still have six or
eight months before the plan will be ready for realization, which I feel
sure will be satisfactory to all of us. I see that you are ready to go out;
are you returning to the Conservatoire?"
"Yes," said Esperance, "I promised to give 'Junia's' cues to M. Jean
Perliez."
"The son of another learned man! The Conservatoire is favoured
to-day," said Sardou. "I shall be pleased to escort you, Madame," he
added, bowing politely to Madame Darbois, "and this child shall unfold
to me on the way her ideas on the drama: they must be well worth
hearing."
It was already late. The two gentlemen shook hands, anticipating that,
henceforth, they would meet as friends.
When they had left him, François looked at the pastel, which he had not
examined for a long time. The young girl smiled at him with that smile
that had first charmed him. He saw himself asking M. de Gossec, a rich
merchant, for the hand of his daughter Germaine. He brushed his hand
across his forehead as if to remove the memory of the refusal he had
received on that occasion: then he smiled at the new vision which rose
before his imagination. He saw himself in the church of St. Germain

des Pres, kneeling beside Germaine de Gossec, trembling with emotion
and happiness. A cloud of sadness passed over his face: now he was
following the hearse of his father-in-law, who had committed suicide,
leaving behind him a load of debt. The philosopher's expression grew
proud and fierce. The first thirteen years of his marriage had been
devoted to paying off this debt: then came the death of the sister of M.
de Gossec, leaving her niece eight hundred thousand francs, five
hundred thousand of which had served to pay the debt. For the last four
years the family had been living in this comfortable apartment on the
Boulevard Raspail, very happy and without material worries: but how
cruel those first thirteen years had been for this young woman! He
gazed at the pastel for a long time, his eyes filling with tears. "Oh, my
dear, dear wife!"
In the carriage on the way to the Conservatoire the conversation was
very animated. The dramatic author was listening with great interest
while the young girl explained her theories on art and life. "What a
strange little being," he thought, and his penetrating glance tried in vain
to discover what weakness was most likely to attack this little creature
who seemed so perfect.
The carriage stopped at the Conservatoire. Jean Perliez was waiting at
the foot of the stairs. At sight of them his face lighted up. "I was afraid
that you had forgotten me in the joy of your success."
The girl looked at him in amazement. "How could I forget when I had
given my word?"
"You know Victorien Sardou?"
"Only to-day," said Esperance laughing; "yesterday we did not know
him."
They were back in the reception-room which was only a little less noisy
than it was in the morning. Many candidates believed that they had
been accepted; several had even received encouraging applause; others,
who had been received in frigid silence, comforted themselves with the
reflection that they had at least been allowed to finish.

When Jean Perliez and Esperance entered the auditorium there was a
flattering stir, as much in pleasure at seeing the young girl again, as in
welcome to the future actor.
"Scene from Britannicus, M. Jean Perliez, 'Nero'; Mlle. Esperance
Darbois, 'Junia,'" proclaimed the usher.
The scene was so very well enacted that a "Bravo" broke from the
learned group around the table. Which one of the judges had not been
able to contain his admiration? The young actors could not decide.
Each one believed sincerely the success was due to the other. They
congratulated each other with charming expressions of delight, and
took each other by the