MDDLE CHARBONNET AND THE "MARKISS."

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1069, 1 May 1879, Page 2

MDDLE CHARBONNET AND THE "MARKISS."

The ( Chronicle' is responsible for the following :— Riddle. Charbonnet, when m Wellington, was the fak nqir of Government House. Havin« beeu invited there onap, there was no keeping her out of ifc 3 portalsmorning, noon and night, did the vivacious little pianist flutter round the " Markisis ;" if he Avent into the library from the sitting room, she followed ; if from the library to the drawing room, so did she — wherever he went, thxther did she follow, until things became unpleasantly warm. Whenever the " Markiss" went to the theatre, mademoiselle and her mother went also. From box to box m the Opera House they Avould flit, at all periods of the entertainment whatever it was, so that they might gaze upon the " Markiss" from all points, and bring themselves under his and everybody else's notice* On one occasion when the "Markiss" patronised her benefit Mddle. had no .sooner finiahe.l the performance of her • first selection than, to the astonishment of the audience, she rushed up from the stage and sat herself down alongside of his Excel, leno}--, shaking hands, and chattering so that she might be heard all over the theatre. In an evil hour— probably never imagining ho would — (and fondly hoping he would not) meet Mddle. again, he promised their next rendezvouz should be m Melbourne. The irrepressible French woman kept his Excellency to his promise, for. to Melbourne sim

followed bim she evidently so rar.oh admires, and there occurred a /'scene" at meeting, desoribed by the correspondent of a Southern paper m the following paragraph : — " Mademoiselle made her first appearance as spectator at a Melbourne theatre on March 19, on the occasion of tbe Marquis of Normanby's inaugural visit to the Theatre Royal, where Miss Dargon was playing Qtieen Mary. The house was crowded, and from the moment of His Excellency's arrival, 'the. young pianiste, who occupied a distant box, was observed to become very animated. As the curtain dropped on the second act, a lady quite alone was seen making her way round tho back of the circle. It was Mdlle. Charbonnet. She reached the half door of the box, occupied only by the Governor, his private seretary, and his aide-de-camp, and on trying to. enter, found it locked. Leaving over, she called loudly, "Marquis!" but the orchestra drowned her voice. The box keeper now hastened forward, and the lady communicated her wish to be allowed ingress. At a loss what to do, the keeper unlocked the door, and touching the secretary on the shoulder, announced tbe arrival of the unexpected visitor, who followed so close upon the keeper's heels, that no time was allowed anyone for reflection Pushing past the janitor, Mademoiselle quickly seabed herself ou the Dottom of a chair on which Capt Le Patourel sat, and with much " empressement " wreathed her hands round His ' Excellency's arm, and commenced, a vivacious conversation, ETia Excellency's share being evidently restricted to monosyllables. Up to this, the visitors had manoeuvred with the quickness of thought but the affair now began to assume a ridiculous aspect,, for the attention of the entire dress circle had by this time been attracted, and lorgnettes and titters were alike levelled to the group. The secretary reddened and bit bis lip, the aide-de-camp reddened and bit his, and then both retired precipitately to the back of the box, leaving the audacious little intruder m full possession of the Governor a d the field. After the tele- a tete, Mademoiselle rose, and looked as though she desired his escort* to her seat, but the gentleman did not take the hint. He rose, bowed formally, and suffered the intrepid young musician to pass out unattended, and she returned to her place the cynosure of all eyes. , Such an extraordinary breach of the conventionalities, as a lady publicly visiting a party of gentlemen m their box, took everyone's breath' away, but when the surprise and laughter had subsided, it was generally observed that Mademoiselle Charbonnet had acomplished a clever little coup de theatre. She will give her opening concert under yice-regal patronage, at the Town I [all, on Satuaday night, the 29fch March.