Quiet being restored, comparatively speaking, Lampourde and Malartic
resumed their interrupted conversation, and after a few remarks upon
the strange performance they had just witnessed--in which Lampourde
especially praised Agostino's marvellous skill, and Malartic warmly
commended Chiquita's wonderful courage and sang-froid--the former
confided to his friend that he had a piece of work in prospect, in which
he would need some assistance, and desired to have his opinion as to
which of their comrades would be best suited for his purpose. He told
him that, in the first place, he was commissioned to despatch a certain
Captain Fracasse, an actor, who had dared to interfere with the love
affair of a very great lord. In this, of course, he would not require
any aid; but he had also to make arrangements for the abduction of
the lady, a very beautiful young actress, who was beloved by both the
nobleman and the comedian, and who would be zealously defended by the
members of the dramatic company to which she belonged; so that he should
be obliged to resort to some stratagem, and would probably need the help
of several hands to carry it out--adding that they were sure of being
well paid, for the young lord was as generous and open handed as he was
wealthy and determined.
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