"Insane, yes; I think I must be going insane," murmured the young man in a choking voice.
The play was in four acts, there were still two to come. The audience seemed to watch in a delirium of delight, and when the last curtain dropped, they called Esperance back eight times, and demanded the author.
In spite of all the talent displayed by Sardou as author, there was much enthusiasm and an unconscious grat.i.tude in him as the discoverer of a new sensation.... No comet acclaimed by astronomers as capable of doubling the harvest would have moved the populace as did the description in all the papers of this new star in Paris.
CHAPTER VI
The family found itself back on the Boulevard Raspail. The Darbois had not cared to leave their box. After every act, Mlle. Frahender carried their comments and tender messages to Esperance. Francois Darbois had great difficulty in constraining himself to remain in the noisy vestibule. He suffered too acutely at seeing his daughter, that pure and delicate child, the focus of every lorgnette, the subject of every conversation. Several phrases he had overheard from a group of men had brought him to his feet in a frenzy; then he fell back in his place like one stunned. Nevertheless there had not been one offensive word.
It was all praise.
The philosopher held his daughter in his arms, pressed close against his heart, and tears ran down his cheeks.
"It is the first time, and shall be the last, that I wish to see you on the stage, dear little daughter. It is too painful for me, and what is worst of all I fear it will take you away from me."
Esperance replied trembling, "Pardon me, Oh! pardon me, it is such a force that impels me. I am sorry you suffer so. Oh! don"t give way, I beg of you!"
She fell on her knees before her father, sobbing and kissing his hands.
Sardou, who was expected, came in just then, and his exuberance was dashed to the ground when he witnessed the trouble the family were in.
"Come, this is foolishness," he said, helping Esperance to her feet.
Then turning to the old Mademoiselle, "Here, dear lady, take this child away to compose herself, wash the tears off her poor little face, and hurry back, for I am dying of hunger."
Madame Darbois remembered that she was the hostess, and disappeared to see if everything was ready in the dining-room.
As soon as he was left alone with the philosopher, the author exclaimed, "In the name of G.o.d, man, is this where philosophy leads you? You are torturing that child whom you adore! Oh! yes, you are distressed, I know. The public has this evening taken possession of your daughter, but you are powerless to prevent it, and now is the time for you to apply to yourself your magnetic maxims. Esperance is one of those creatures who are only born once in a hundred years or so; some come as preservers, like Joan of Arc; others serve as instruments of vengeance of some occult power" (Sardou was an ardent believer in the occult). "Your child is a force of nature, and nothing can prevent her destiny. The fact that you have seen her brilliant development in spite of the grey environment of her first sixteen years, should convince you of the uselessness of your protests or regrets. The career that she has chosen is bristling with dangers, and full of disillusions, and gives free rein to a pitiless horde of calumniators. That cannot be helped.
Your task, my friend," he added more calmly, "is to protect your daughter, and above all to a.s.sure her of a refuge of tenderness, and love and understanding."
Esperance came back, followed by her mother and the old Mademoiselle.
Her father held out his arms to her and whispered, "You were wonderful, darling; I am happy to...."
He could not go on, and put his hot lips against her beautiful pure forehead to avoid the embarra.s.sment that distressed him so powerfully.
Thanks to Sardou"s gifts as a _raconteur_, the supper pa.s.sed off pleasantly enough. This great man could unfold the varied pages of his mind with disconcerting ease. He knew everything, and could talk and act with inimitable vivacity. His anecdotes were always instructive, drawn from his manifold sources of knowledge in art or science. Mlle.
Frahender was stupified by so much eclecticism, the philosopher forgot his grief, Madame Darbois realized for the first time that there might exist a brain worthy of comparison with her husband"s. As to Esperance, she was living in a dream of what the future would unfold.
One evening had sufficed for her to conquer Paris, to capture the provinces, and arouse the foreigner, frequently so indifferent to great artistic achievements.
The young pupil pursued her courses at the Conservatoire, in spite of Sardou"s remonstrances that she would find it fatiguing. The modesty and simplicity of her return to the midst of her comrades restored her to the popularity her triumph had endangered.
"She is, you know, quite a "sport,"" p.r.o.nounced a sharp young person, who was destined to take the parts of the aggressive modern female.
A tall young man, with a grave face and settled manner, approaching baldness, in spite of his twenty-three years, pressed Jean Perliez"s hand affectionately. "Don"t give in, old fellow, keep up hope. You never know!"
Jean smiled sadly, shaking his head. He looked at Esperance, who was lovelier than ever. He had waited for her at the foot of the stairway, for the intimacy of the two families gave him a chance to know when to expect his glorious little friend.
"Why, how pale you are, Jean!" she exclaimed at sight of him. "What is the matter with you?"
"What is the matter with me?" he murmured.
"What is the matter with him?" echoed several of the students.
Esperance alone was not aware what was the matter with him, poor fellow, for, in spite of the encouragement of Francois Darbois, Jean would say nothing. He realized the shock that it would be to Esperance. She liked him so much as a friend! On the long walks they took, with Genevieve Hardouin and Mlle. Frahender, she had very often frankly confided to him that she did not want to think about getting married for years and years!
"I want to live for my art," she would say, "and I will never marry an artist!"
He had then thought very seriously of giving up the theatre and becoming a barrister, as his father had always wished him to do, but that would mean that he would lose the chance of seeing Esperance so often.
Jean Perliez had become great friends with Maurice Renaud, the girl"s cousin. They both talked of her and loved her, but Maurice"s love was more selfish, less deeply rooted. He was not jealous of Perliez; he was sorry for him and counselled him to speak up, since his uncle, the professor, was in sympathy with him.
"No," said Jean, "she is really too young to understand."
Maurice shrugged his shoulders. "It is true that Esperance is not yet seventeen, but her intelligence has always been ahead of her years. At twelve she could outdo me by the logic of her reasoning on the mysteries of religion. We both adore, my dear Jean, a very extraordinary little person. I will get out of your way gracefully, if you succeed; but I have a presentiment that neither you nor I will be the lucky fellow. I shall console myself, but you, take care!"
Esperance suspected nothing of the different emotions she was causing.
Her youth guarded her against any betrayal of the senses. She thought that love was the natural result of marriage. The great pa.s.sions as the poets sang them exalted her spirit, made her heart beat faster, but for her they remained in the realms of the ideal.
CHAPTER VII
A horrible catastrophe occurred in Belgium, leaving the inhabitants of the lower quarter of Brussels without shelter or clothing. Relief was organized on all sides, and the Theatre-Francaise announced a great representation of _Hernani_ to be given as a benefit for the sufferers in the Royal Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels. The star who had undertaken "_Dona Sol_" fell ill ten days before the performance was due. The Comedie was much embarra.s.sed, for the usual understudy of the indisposed actress was an amiable echo, with little talent.
Mounet-Sully thought immediately of Esperance and obtained permission to make whatever arrangements he could with her. His arrival at the Darbois home occasioned great excitement.
"I claim your indulgence in the name of charity, Monsieur," he said to Francois. "The Comedie-Francaise finds itself in the most awkward quandary. We have prepared a big gala performance at La Monnaie, to raise money for all those poor Belgian sufferers."
"Oh! I have seen the notices," said Esperance, "with artistes of the Comedie, even in the smaller roles. What would I not give to see that production!"
Mounet-Sully smiled. "If your father will give his permission, Mademoiselle, you can certainly see it; for I have come to ask you to take part therein."
"What do you mean?" asked M. Darbois curiously.
"Our "_Dona Sol_" is sick, very sick, and her understudy is not equal to such an occasion. The last examination you pa.s.sed in _Hernani_ delighted us with your manner of interpreting the role.
We will give you all the rehearsals you need at the Comedie; you will be a.s.sisting at a work of charity, and you will be recompensed for whatever outlay or expense that you may incur."
Esperance drew herself up. "If my father will give his consent for me to make my own reply...."
"Yes," said the professor simply.
"Then I will say ... thank you, father dear," she said, tremulously, "I will say that I am happier than I can possibly tell you, at the great honour you have done me, but that I do not want any recompense."
Mounet-Sully started to speak.