ring
the week of preparation at Fougeray, he was hardly seen save at the
performances, whilst when once they were at Redon, he came and went like
the wind between the theatre and the inn.

The Redon experiment had justified itself from the first. Stimulated and
encouraged by this, Andre-Louis worked day and night during the month
that they spent in that busy little town. The moment had been well
chosen, for the trade in chestnuts of which Redon is the centre was just
then at its height. And every afternoon the little theatre was packed
with spectators. The fame of the troupe had gone forth, borne by the
chestnut-growers of the district, who were bringing their wares to Redon
market, and the audiences were made up of people from the surrounding
country, and from neighbouring villages as far out as Allaire,
Saint-Perrieux and Saint-Nicholas. To keep the business from slackening,
Andre-Louis prepared a new scenario every week. He wrote three in
addition to those two with which he had already supplied the company;
these were "The Marriage of Pantaloon," "The Shy Lover," and "The
Terrible Captain." Of these the last was the greatest success. It was
based upon the "Miles Gloriosus" of Plautus, with great opportunities
for Rhodomont, and a good part for Scaramouche as the roaring captain's
sly lieutenant. Its success was largely due to the fact that Andre-Louis
amplified the scenario to the extent of indicating very fully in places
the lines which the dialogue should follow, whilst here and there he
had gone so far as to supply some of the actual dialogue to be spoken,
without, however, making it obligatory upon the actors to keep to the
letter of it.

And meanwhile as the business prospered, he became busy with tailors,
improving the wardrobe of the company, which was sorely in need of
improvement. He ran to earth a couple of needy artists, lured them into
the company to play small parts--apothecaries and notaries--and set them
to beguile their leisure in painting new scenery, so as to be ready
for what he called the conquest of Nantes, which was to come in the new
year. Never in his life had he worked so hard; never in his life had he
worked at all by comparison with his activities now. His fund of energy
and enthusiasm was inexhaustible, like that of his good humour. He came
and went, acted, wrote, conceived, directed, planned, and executed,
what time M. Binet took his ease at last in comparative affluence, drank
Burgundy