w who comes to your
green-room to tell you that he does not like a line spoken by one of
your company! I say again that had you really respected yourself you
would have turned him out."

There was a murmur of approval from several members of the company, who,
having heard the arrogant tone assumed by the Marquis, were filled with
resentment against the slur cast upon them all.

"And I say further," Andre-Louis went on, "that a man who respects
himself, on quite other grounds, would have been only too glad to have
seized this pretext to show M. de La Tour d'Azyr the door."

"What do you mean by that?" There was a rumble of thunder in the
question.

Andre-Louis' eyes swept round the company assembled at the supper-table.
"Where is Climene?" he asked, sharply.

Leandre leapt up to answer him, white in the face, tense and quivering
with excitement.

"She left the theatre in the Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr's carriage
immediately after the performance. We heard him offer to drive her to
this inn."

Andre-Louis glanced at the timepiece on the overmantel. He seemed
unnaturally calm.

"That would be an hour ago--rather more. And she has not yet arrived?"

His eyes sought M. Binet's. M. Binet's eyes eluded his glance. Again it
was Leandre who answered him.

"Not yet."

"Ah!" Andre-Louis sat down, and poured himself wine. There was an
oppressive silence in the room. Leandre watched him expectantly,
Columbine commiseratingly. Even M. Binet appeared to be waiting for a
cue from Scaramouche. But Scaramouche disappointed him. "Have you left
me anything to eat?" he asked.

Platters were pushed towards him. He helped himself calmly to food,
and ate in silence, apparently with a good appetite. M. Binet sat
down, poured himself wine, and drank. Presently he attempted to
make conversation with one and another. He was answered curtly, in
monosyllables. M. Binet did not appear to be in favour with his troupe
that night.

At long length came a rumble of wheels below and a rattle of halting
hooves. Then voices, the high, trilling laugh of Climene floating
upwards. Andre-Louis went on eating unconcernedly.

"What an actor!" said Harlequin under his breath to Polichinelle, and
Polichinelle nodded gloomily.

She came in, a leading lady taking the stage, head high, chin thrust
forward, eyes dancing with laughter; she expressed triumph and
arrogance. Her cheeks were flushed, and there was some disorder in
the mass of nut-brown h