THE DEBUT OF MADEMOISELLE AGATHE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 318, 19 June 1875, Page 3

THE DEBUT OF MADEMOISELLE AGATHE.

'No,' said Jules Laroche, swallowing the remainder of his matutinal cup of coffee, and buttoning his coat with the disengaged hand. 'No ; Agathe is quite right : Boquillard will never do.' Having come to this conclusion, he gave his hat a final brush, lit a cigarette, and after carefully locking his outside door, leisurely descended the stairs of No 23, Rue du Sentier, hung the key of his apartment on its particular hook in the porter's lodge, and sallied forth in the direction of the boulevard. As he emerged on that populous thoroughfare, he was accosted by a young man walking rapidly eastward, with a roll of paper under his arm. • C'est toi, Jules !' ' Ernest! you're out early. Do you read your drama to-day ?' ' Yes; at ten for a quarter past; and you ?' 1 Not for another couple of hours. Darbois has called the people for twelve, but Amanda is sure to be late.' ' What! does she play in your piece V ' Not if I can help it,' replied Jules, with a significant shrug, 'but she does prettymuch as she likes at the Nonpareil, and if she chooses to take the part, I suppose she must. It's only a one-act thing, after all.' ' Well, bonne chance,' said Ernest. ' You're not going my way ?' ' Can't,' answered the other. ' I've nearly missed ?vn appointment as it is. But you'll find me between four and five at the Cafe des Varietes.' 'C'est entendu,'and the friends parted. Ernest striding away at a postman-like pace towards the Ambigu, while his brother dramatist, crossing the muddy macadam with infinite precaution, gained the opposite side of the boulevard without a speck on his highly varnished boots; and a minute or two later disappeared beneath a porte-cochere of the Rou Rougemont. ' Bonjour, Madame Boquillard,' said Jules, as he entered the small but neatly furnished sanctum of the concierge. ' Where's Agathe ?' 'I expect her every moment,' replied the portress, who was busily engaged in shelling peas, and glancing occasionally through the little window at her liege-lord thumping the carpeted staircase with a worn-out broom. ' She went to the Conservatoire an hour ago to take her singing lesson of Monsieur Chose, the professor with a black wig, you know.' ' Old rascal !' muttered Jules, lighting another cigarette. 'He told her last week she was an angel, and asked her to supper. He'd better not try that game again,' continued he, moodily fingering his moustache. ' Que voulez-vous, Monsieur Jules ? It is not the child's fault if people will pay compliments. But when she is Madame Laroche ' 'When she is Madame Laroche, Mere Boquillard, there will be an end of singing lessons, I can promise you that. Agathe > * Who's talking about me ?' exclaimed a merry voice at the door of the loge, followed by the entrance of its owner, a pretty, freshlooking girl, with hazel eyes and a profusion of chesnut hair. ' Bonjour, Jules. I've walked so fast that I'm quite out of breath; all on your account, sir, I was so afraid of misshig you. Now, do tell me, is my part a nice one ? And what is my stage name to be ? You haven't forgotten to think about it, surely!' ' One question at a time, young lady,' said her lover, smiling. 'As to the part, you haven't got it yet, and if you don't, you'll hardly want any other name but your own ; until,' he added, fondly stroking her wavy hair, 'you take mine. However,' he rejoined, noticing her disappointed look, ' I have thought about it. What do you say to Mdlle Beauval?' ' Beautiful!' cried Madame Boquillard, rising from her chair in a transport of enthusiasm, and nearly upsetting the peas. ' I fancy I see it in large letters on the affiche.' Agathe shook her head. ' I think I have chosen a prettier one,' said she. ' What do you say to Mdlle. Fleury ?' ' What can I say except that nothing can be more appropriate to so charming a flower as yourself !' was the gallant reply. 'So that point is settled. If we could only manage the other matter as easily ! And that reminds me, I must see Darbois before Amanda gets hold of him, or adieu to your chance of playing Ernestine, little one.' ' Is Mdlle. Amanda so very fascinating ?' inquired Agathe, demurely. ' She thinks herself so, at any rate,' replied Jules, with a laugh. ' And so long as she fascinates the public, Darbois will probably think so too. Besides, a very intimate friend of hers is part proprietor of the Nonpareil, and therefore, you understand, the manager can't refuse her anything, so I must go to work cautiously. Meanwhile,' added he, drawing a manuscript from his pocket, I have had the part coined out, and if you like it ' 'lf I like it !' interrupted Agathe, in a reproachful tone. ' How can you say such things, Jules, when you know I have set my heart on playing it !' ' Without having read a line of it!' retorted Laroche. 'Cette confiance m'honore!' (To l)e continued.)