The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-04-11
Copyright, The Frank A. Munsey Co

MY friends" said Jean Renault,
Il ask you to wish me untold success.
This day have signed my most won
derful contract! | stand before you,
Jean Renault, the greatest of all ten
ors-I who have just been engaged for
three years by the leading impresario
of modern times-M. Gatti-C arranza.
1t is he, the most divine of men in ap-
probation, who has the rare good
Judgment to acclaim me the utmost in
vocal attainment"
"Ah bah!" exclaimed M. Dupre with
some heat. 81, who have heard the
most wonderful operate voices of the
age. doubt you. l cannot believe what
you say"
Renault, the handsome, the egotist,
the accomplished, shrugged his Shout
ders.
Monsieur" he said quite calmly for
Frenchman provoked mot without
affront, l challenge thee, even thee,
to scan the agreement l have this day
made with M. Gatti-Carranza. 1t
means that next season l shall be the
y.
You will doubt me, for heretofore no
singer has ever commanded such a
salary. This next six months-which
is the New York season with the Met
ropolitan opera shall earn $4,000
night, and l shall have a guaranty
of s250,000 year for three years, with
additional compensation for extra per-
formance. I beg of you, my friend, to
read my agreement"
HEINZ" almost gasped Dupre. ut
Is impossible. 1t is written-I read
it-yet it cannot be-"
so one might think" answered
Renault quickly. yet in America
such things are true"
Beautiful Alys Dupre advanced
slowly across the gravel path. She
put her arms about the shoulders of
Renault and smiled down at him.
"You are dreamer, mon cher" she
said softly. rs this thing true thou
-sayest--to mon perez"
Quite true" answered Renault
with smiling eyes. "Will you come
with me over the seas as my wife and
share with me the honors and the gold
that will be mino ia New York this
winter?"
Alys gazed into his eyes, her hand
stole into his, and she let him kiss her
softly upon the lips.
Renault gazed over her shoulder at
the pleasant village lying beyond the
garden,
He thought of the peace and quiet
of the place and of the hustle and
hurry of New York, but he longed to
be there with Alys and the beginning
of his triumph.
Now M. Dupre, aged and dignitied,
put down his pipe, rose from his seat,
and took tottering step forward.
ooh, mon fils," he said with a sob
in his voice, Il have read this wonder
full paper of agreement signed by the
great judge of merit across the seas,
and l am happy and proud to give I'M
to thee my daughter May she be
worthy of thee!"
Ronault wrung the old mans hand.
Worthy" he repeated Who am
only great tenor-to deserve herr"
Just then a powerful motor car came
along the dusty road and stopped be-
fore the garden wall. From it for
Ell. ner descended, entered the pretty
garden, and dotted his hat.
"My dear Renault!" the man ex-
claimed. Then, to the embarrassment
of the new arrival, the great tenor
embraced him effusively. Red of
face, but accepting the situation as a
part of his experience abroad, the new
conner permitted Renault to introduce
him to his companions.
1.-THE chairman of the committee
from the wonderful opera company
called the Metropolitan of New York."
exclaimed Renault with enthusiasm;
"the powerful and wise organization
that has engaged mclean Renault.
am entranced! You, monsieur, are
come just in time to congratulate me
and oh, thou sly dog, thou hast put
M. Gatti- Carranza up to engaging me.
/ congratulate thee"
The new arrival smiled indulgently.
"But congratulate me once more"
Renault went on. 81 am just affianced
to the most beautiful woman in the
world. What is more, l, Jean Re-
nault, have won her from Heinrich
Berghoff-an inferior director of the
orchestra at the Metropolitan-wh
has had the audacity to plead for the
hand of my divinity"
Impossible" said the American.
yet I hear that Herr Berghoff has
renowned all thought of returning to
the States this season. He has ap-
piled for commission in the army"
"Bah!" exclaimed Renault con-
temptuously. Let him handle a
sword as clumsily as he handled a
baton, and France will have an easy
victory over Germany"
The American laughed heartily.
Permit me-" he said to the company
about them. IN. Renault is so enthu-
siastic, so happy, that he has forgot
ten to introduce me save by title
which amounts to but little, except in
that it gives me an opportunity to
show my appreciation of the art of M.
Renault. am Richard Van der
Wynt," he said Pray be seated"