A gentle, loving remonstrance from Isabelle, as she held de Sigognac's
hands, all hot and trembling with suppressed rage, between her own soft,
cool palms, and caressingly interlaced her slender white fingers with
his, did more to pacify him than all the rest, and he finally yielded to
her persuasions; promising to keep quiet himself, and allow, things to
go on just as usual.
Meantime the representations of the troupe had met with splendid
success. Isabelle's modest grace and refined beauty, Serafina's more
brilliant charms, the soubrette's sparkling vivacity and bewitching
coquetry, the superb extravagances of Captain Fracasse, the tyrant's
majestic mien, Leander's manly beauty, the grotesque good humour of the
pedant, Scapin's spicy deviltries, and the duenna's perfect acting
had taken Paris by storm, and their highest hopes were likely to be
realized. Having triumphantly won the approbation of the Parisians,
nothing was wanting but to gain also that of the court, then at Saint
Germain, and a rumour had reached their ears that they were shortly to
be summoned thither; for it was asserted that the king, having heard
such favourable reports of them, had expressed a desire to see them
himself. Whereas Herode, in his character of treasurer, greatly
rejoiced, and all felt a pleasant excitement at the prospect of so
distinguished an honour.
Pages:
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462