The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda Part 64

SCENE X

_The same. Comedians, among them Marion and Didier; afterward Saverny, afterward Marquis de Nangis_

SCARAMOUCHE (_to Laffemas_).

What do you want with us?

LAFFEMAS.

Without preamble: My lord the Cardinal commissioned me To find good actors, if there may be such Within the provinces, to act the plays Which he constructs in hours of leisure when Allowed by State affairs. In spite of care And earnest thought, his theater declines, And is no credit to a cardinal-duke.

[_All the actors press eagerly forward. Saverny enters, and watches the scene with curiosity._

GRACIEUX (_aside, counting his money_).

Twelve only! He said twenty. The old scamp!

He's robbed me!

LAFFEMAS.

Let each one repeat some scene, That I may know your talents and may choose.

[_Aside._] If he gets out of that, this Didier's sharp.

[_Aloud._] Are you all here?

[_Marion stealthily approaches Didier and tries to lead him off._

GRACIEUX (_going up to them_).

Come with the others--you!

MARION.

Oh, heaven!

[_Didier leaves her and joins the actors; she follows him._

GRACIEUX.

You're in luck to be with us.

To have new clothes, get every day a feast, To speak the Cardinal's verses every night, A happy lot!

[_All the actors take their places before Laffemas. Marion and Didier among them. Didier does not look at Marion; his eyes are bent on the ground; his arms are folded underneath his cloak. Marion watches him anxiously._

GRACIEUX (_at head of troupe, aside_).

Who would have thought this crow Recruited actors for the Cardinal?

LAFFEMAS (_to Gracieux_).

First you. What do you play?

GRACIEUX (_with a low bow and a pirouette which shows off his hump_).

I'm called the Sylph Among the troupe. This piece I know the best.

[_He sings._

"On the bald heads of magistrates, Enormous wigs are spread.

Out of that fleece, in due time, come Chains, gallows, tortures dread.

Whenever one called president Shall shake his bigger head.

"Let any barber, strolling fool, Wash, powder, and pomade The hair which bald heads steal from beards, Let them be combed and frayed In shape of a right gorgeous wig-- Your magistrate is made.

"The lawyer is a sea of words Hurled wildly at the bench.

A killing kind of mixing up Of Latin and bad French--"

LAFFEMAS (_interrupting him_).

You sing so false, you'd make an eagle sick.

Be still!

GRACIEUX (_laughing_).

I may sing false--the song is true!

LAFFEMAS (_to Scaramouche_).

It's your turn now.

SCARAMOUCHE (_bowing_).

I'm Scaramouche, my lord!

"The Lady of Honor," sir, I open thus.

[_Declaiming._ "'Naught is so fine,' said once a Queen of Spain, 'As bishop at the altar, soldier in The field, unless it is a girl in bed, Or robber on the gallows--'"

[_Laffemas interrupts Scaramouche with a gesture and signs to Taillebras to speak. Taillebras makes a profound obeisance, then draws himself up._

TAILLEBRAS (_with emphasis_).

As for me, Sir, I am Taillebras. From Thibet, sir, I come; I've punished the great Khan, I've captured The Mogul--

LAFFEMAS.

Choose something else-- [_Low to Saverny, who stands beside him._ A beauty, Eh, this Marion!

TAILLEBRAS.

It is one of our best.

If you prefer, I will be Charlemagne, The Emperor of the West.