Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-09-10

of course. L~artigues was far from
unpopular with his fellow-townsmen; but
the chance of being present at a "row" was
a temptation too strong to be resisted, and
from the highest to the lowest classes of
the population ~playgoers of every degree
considered it their bounden duty TO con-
tribute a proper quota of misses to the COM
mon stock.
Long before the rising of the curtain not
a place in the theater was empty; the
members of the Frondeurs Club, the self
styled arbiters of fashion at Vieilleyille,
were at their post to q man, prepared to
exercise their judicial privilege with Dra-
CONAN severity, and occasionally exchang-
ing sa~lutations with the fair occupants of
the boxes. Stalls, pit and gallery were
crammed, a sight that on any other night
would have rejoiced the heart of the man
ager, peeping at the audience through the
"trou du rideau," but now filled him with
apprehension. "They mean mischief" he
disconsolately remarked to his henchman
Willard; off that internal Durand doesn't
take his kissing quietly, cGdedis! We may
look out for squalls"
The overture with its magnificent finale
having received its usual tribute of APP
plause, the opera began and every eye
was strained to catch a glimpse of the
much-talked-oi hero of the evening. AT
length he appeared, and as he advanced
toward the footlights, his weird-like ugli.
ness rendered more conspicuous by the
glare of gas, the effect produced on the
spectators was absolutely startling, and a
dead silence reigned throughout the house
while the first bars of the opening recita.
tive were played by the orchestra. Sud.
denly a voice, fresh, clear and exquisitely
melodious, rang through the crowded
theater, gradually increasing in power
and volume as it reached the highest
notes, and terminating with an at de poi.
triae rarely heard in such perfection since
the days of Duprez. For an instant the
bewiidered listeners remained motionless
as if entranced but as the air drew to g
close, their enthusiasm could no longer be
restrained, and burst forth in one stimuli
taneous shout Of delight, echoed again and
again from pit to gallery. From that mo,
ment the tenor's battle was won; as the
opera proceeded the manifestations o.
satisfaction became more and more fire.
quent, and at the fall of the curtain an
ovation awaited him such as seldom fall:
to the lot of "a debutante at Vieilleville
Even the F~rondeurs, although probably
disappointed at the result, acknowledged
the " soft impeachment" and waved their
kid gloves with condescending urbanity
Camouflet, the wit of the party, alone ven.
turing to whisper with reference to Dur
and's evident inexperience as an actor
"Nox ct preterea nihilp '
Lartigues, as may be imagined, was in
ecstacies and held a serious consultation
with Millard after the performance as to
the operas in which he could best utilize
the talent of his new acquisition.
" Romeo, with such a face he said, "is
of course impossible, and so is Faust; but
he would make a capital Eleazar in tbs
'Juive,' and a first-rate Othello. He can't
have been long on the stage, fQr a worse
stick Of an actor ! never saw but with a
voice like that one mustn't be too particu-
lar. Who would ever have thought they
had anything of the kind at Rio ?"
Next morning the manager, still medi-
tating on the advantages TO be derived
from the engagement of the "ugly tenor
arrived in good time at the theater for the
purpose of experimenting certain trihine
alterations in the scenic arrangements O
"Guillaume Tell" which was to be played
again on the ensuing evening. A few min
utes before IL the artists summoned to al
tend successfully made their appearance
with one notable exception-namely
Durand, whose presence as the principa.
figure in an important scene was indis
pensable.
"Send round to his lodgings" exclaimed
Latigues, annoyed at SO fragrant a breach
of discipline, land let him know we are
waiting Tor him."
He had scarcely issued tn. order wher
the entrance of a middle-aged female, the
FORTRESS of the theater, accompanied by
strong odor of garlic, attracted his atten
ton. "What is it? he impatiently in
quired.
"A letter, to be delivered into Mon
sieur's own hands" replied Nine. Cerberus
suiting the action to the word.
Hastily opening the envelope and glanc
ing at one of the two papers it contained
the manager, evidently not 4 little aston.
ished, announced that an unexpected mat
present at the rehearsal. "You can d.
without me-" he said to Willard. "If yot
want anything, you will find me in 10,
room"
"a check for 5000 francs" he muttere,
to himself when he had reached his sane
tum. What on earth can it mean p
Then, unfolding the second paper anC
carefully smoothing it out on the table, h
read as follows:
Dear Monsieur Ldrtignss: When you receiv,
this l shall have left Niellieville-rather uncere
moniously, you will say, but under the cir
cumstances unayoidably. Jacques Durand'
dramatic career began and ended last night
the Arnold of ''Guillaume TelI' resumes hi
" name and profession. and were you agair
TO meet him you would assuredly fail to recog
nize him. Let me explain. While attached t
the Embassy at Rotor / really was there
occasionally profited by the posse sion of a toll
cradle tenor voice TO join a company of anna
teurs in the habit of organizing operate per
formances for the benefit of ! cal charities, an,
on my return to France found that my reputa
ton as a singer had preceded me thither. Al
eccentric acquaintance OF well-kno %n sporting
propensitles came to me one day and proposel
the following singular wager. He offered Il
bet me fifty thousand francs to five Thousand
that within six months l would not undertakl
to sing a first tenor part In an opera at a lead
ing provincial theater without being Kissed, as
Stunning whatever name he might choose, and 81
Disgusting my personal appearance as to rende
myself as repulsiye as possible. Trusting tina
4. NOlOS OallN IL chACtN lllIODRH Nj
ordeal, and tempted by the liberal odds a
stake, l consented, and, after d~evoting tire,
months to the ttudy of half a dozen parts, sue
ceeded through the medium of the agent, Co
lombat, In obtaining an engagement at Yieille
vile, with what result you already know. NJ,
friend, who took care TO be present at m,
debut, acknowledged that the bet was feirl,
won, and, as you are justly entitled to SOM
compensation for my abrupt departure, permi
mt to request your acceptance of the incloset
check, with my best wishes for the prosperity o
your theater. CASTOR DE BLoSvAL,
Ex-attaehe TO the Embassy at Rio Janeiro.
Sac re papier?" exclaimed Lartigues
throwing down the letter in disgust. San
other chance slipped through my fingers
and one / am not likely to see again. De
duct five thousand francs from fifty
thousand this jdrceur was worth to me
total, a dead loss of forty-five thousand
Nothing to be done but to wire to Colon
bat for a substitute, and to fall back or
comedy until one turns up. Bdgasse.! i
the story of the bet gets wind, | shall b,
the laughing-stock Of the town u
Somehow or other-as is generally the
case-the story did get wind, and the I'm
fortunate managers prediction was fully
realized. Moreover, the Frondeurs, furiou!
at having been, as they Indignantly ex
pressed it, duped by an amateur, unani
mously resolved to make it hot" for any
future candidate for the vacant pest 0
tenor; and Judging from the frequency o
NJ. Lartigues' applications to Colombat 8
Co for specimens of the rard aris in gues
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