LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 320, 22 June 1875, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE DEBUT OF MADEMOISELLE AGATHE. ( Concluded .) However, notwithstanding this apparent tranquillity, it was with a feeling of intense anxiety that she awaited the arrival of the next morning’s Entr’acte, and one glance at its ill-printed columns not only confirmed her worst apprehensions, but additionally informed her that Mdlle. Agathe Fleury would make her first appearance as Ernestine. Who could Mdlle. Agathe Fleury be ? Some new protegee of the Count, no doubt, put forward on the spur of the moment; some raw, inexperienced chit of a girl, who has learnt the part in twenty-four hours, and who will be lucky if she plays it twice ! * What a four it will be!’ resumed Mdlle. Amanda ; * I wouldn’t miss it on any account. Esther, give these two louis to the concierge, and bid him go to the Nonpariel, and bring back an avant-scene for to-night. Ah ! nous allons rire. ’ Nine o’clock has just struck, and, after a few bars of introductory music, the curtain slowly rises on a garden scene, with a chateau in the distance, discovering the Marquis de Bois-Soleil (Chambertin) in an elegant costume of Louis XV., reclining on a rustic bench, and imparting instructions to a remarkably sly-looking Frontin. A faint demonstration of applause welcomes the favorite actor. ‘ Conceited ass, that Chambertin !’ mutters Mdlle. Amanda, in her avant-scene. Exit valet, and soliloquy of the marquis, interrupted by the entrance of Mdlle. Lisette, who, after a little preparatory by-play, delivers a billet to M. Chambertin and receives in return a kiss and a purse (stage noblemen are invariably liberal). Marquis reads billet, presses it to his heart, and exit. A momentary pause ensues. The chefd’orchestre distributes circular glances among his subordinates, and the violins commence a soft prelude to a pastoral air. The audience began to fidget in their seats, and Mdlle. Amanda, in her excitement, leans forward eagerly. Every opera-glass is fixed on a slight and graceful figure, in the prettiest |of all peasants’ dresses, entering from the left wing, and murmurs of approval issue from the stalls, subsiding into hushed attention as the first notes of a sweetly sympathetic voice, of bell-like clearness, ring melodiously through the theatre. The song is ended; and for an instant the spectators, spell-bound as it were, make no sign. But with the last chords of the accompaniment, a shout of delight breaks forth, such as, perhaps, never before echoed within the walls of the Nonpareil. The claqeurs, surprised by this unexpected ebullition, find their efforts almost unheard amid cries of “Bis!” from all sides, demanding a repetition of the romance, a request with which Mdlle. Agathe smilingly complies, and at the conclusion is again greeted with a perfect hurricane of applause. Nor is her singing the only point of attraction; her personal beauty and the singular piquancy of her acting afford fresh material for enthusiasm, After a final couplet deliciously warbled by the debutante, the successful piece is announced to be the production of M. Jules Laroche, and Mdlle. Agathe, in obedience to a unanimous call, is led on by the triumphant Chambertin, and overwhelmed with bouquets and bravos.

‘ Saperlotte !’ says Mdlle. Amanda to herself as she retires from her box. ‘lf she has learnt that in twenty-four hours, Darbois is a luckier fellow than I took him for.’ Behind the scenes all is jubilation. The manager is in ecstasies, and the actors are (or pretend to be) equally enraptured. More than one obsequious critic has paid his court to the star of the evening. Ernest, whose drama has been accepted at the Ambigu, is there, radiant and exulting with friendly sympathy. Madame Boquillard, out of her wits with joy, is shaking hands with everybody, laughing and sobbing by turns. M, de la Riviere is not the last to offer his congratulations, but is rather taken aback when politely informed by Jules of his approaching marriage with the charming Ernestine. The Count, however, is a man of the world, and, with the most enchanting urbanity, declares himself ‘ ravi de I’apprendre. ’ It was in no very enviable state of mind that Mdlle. Amanda returned to the Boulevard Malesherbes, where two letters awaited her arrival, one in the handwriting of M. de la Riviere, the other in that of Auguste. Throwing the former carlessly aside, she hastily broke open the missive of the young attache, the contents of which were as follows : “My angel,—Thy note found me in the midst of preparations for a sudden departure, which will unhappily prevent my seeing thee again. When thou receivest this, I shall be en route for St Petersburg. Forget not thy “ Auguste.” ‘He will soon have forgotten me,’ she murmured, sadly. ‘ Will not madarne open M. le Comte’s letter?’ inquired Esther, with the natural curiosity of her species. ‘Au fait!’ replied her mistress, rousing herself from a momentary fit of abstraction. ‘ Voyons la!’ M. de la Riviere’s epistle, carefully sealed with his coat of arms, ran thus—- “ My dear Amanda, —Circumstances have come to my knowledge which will spare you the inconvenience of my future visits. I enter into no details, nor does a person of your intelligence require any. M. Darbois informs me that your engagement at the Nonpareil expires at the end of the present month, and regrets that his arrangements will not allow him to renew it. Enclosed is a slight souvenir d’amitie. “Comte de la Riuiere.” ‘ A cheque for ten thousand francs !’ exclaimed the soubrette, greedily examining a slip of paper which had fallen from the envelope. ‘ Ah, madarne ! you have killed the golden goose. ’ ‘There are more geese than one in the world, Esther.’ ‘ True, madarne, but they don’t all lay golden eggs. Enlin, what’s done can’t be helped,’ continued Mdlle Esther, growing proverbial hi her excitement. ‘ But in future, if I were madarne ’ ‘ Well, what then?’ ‘ I would bear in mind the old saying : ‘ II ne faut pas courir deux lievres a la fois. ’ ’ C. H.