Serafina." After enlarging brilliantly upon this
theme, he added, that as they were "more desirous of glory than profit,"
they would be willing to accept provisions of all kinds, instead of coin
of the realm, in payment of places, from those who had not the money
to spare, and asked them to let all their friends know. This closing
announcement made a great sensation among his attentive listeners, and
he marched back to the farm, confident that they would have a goodly
number of spectators. There he found the stage already erected in the
barn, and a rehearsal in progress, which was necessary on de Sigognac's
account.
Bellombre was instructing him in various minor details as the play went
on, and for a novice he did wonderfully well--acting with much spirit
and grace, showing decided talent, and remarkable aptitude. But it was
very evident that he was greatly annoyed by some portions of the piece,
and an angry flush mounted to the roots of his hair at the whacks and
cuffs so liberally bestowed upon the doughty captain.
His comrades spared him as much as possible--feeling that it must be
intensely repugnant to him--but he grew furious in spite of all his
efforts to control his temper, and at each fresh attack upon him his
flashing eyes and knitted brows betrayed the fierce rage he was in;
then, suddenly remembering that his role required a very different
expression of countenance, he would pull himself up, and endeavour to
imitate that which Matamore had been wont to assume in this character.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232