Oh, shame! oh, rage! oh, too cruel stroke of fate! for him, a de
Sigognac, to be seen by her--the haughty beauty that he used to worship
from afar--in this grotesque array, filling so unworthy, so ridiculous
a part, for the amusement of the gaping multitude! and he could not hide
himself, he could not sink into the earth, away from her contemptuous,
mocking gaze. He felt that he could not, would not bear it, and for a
moment was upon the point of flying; but there seemed to be leaden soles
to his shoes, which he could by no means raise from the ground. He
was powerless to move hand or foot, and stood there in a sort of
stupefaction; to the great astonishment of Scapin, who, thinking that
he must have forgotten his part, whispered to him the opening phrases
of his tirade. The public thought that their favourite actor desired
another round of applause, and broke out afresh, clapping, stamping,
crying bravo, making a tremendous racket, which little respite gave poor
de Sigognac time to collect his scattered senses, and, with a mighty
effort, he broke the spell that had bound him, and threw himself into
his part with such desperation that his acting was more extravagant and
telling than ever. It fairly brought down the house. The haughty Yolande
herself could not forbear to smile, and her old uncle, thoroughly
aroused, laughed heartily, and applauded with all his might.
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