Next day, I went to see Taylor, carrying with me my manuscript containing Picard's annotations. These annotations consisted of crosses, bracketing and marks of exclamation, which might well be called marks of stupefaction. Certain lines especially seemed to have astounded the author of the _Petite Ville_ and the _Deux Philibert._ These had been honoured by three exclamation marks.
"Vous êtes Français, vous; mais ces Italiens, L'idiome mielleux qui détrempe leurs âmes Semblerait fait exprès pour un peuple de femmes; D'énergiques accents ont peine à s'y mêler. Un homme est là; l'on croit qu'en homme il va parler; Il parle, on se retourne, et, par un brusque échange, A la place d'un homme, on trouve une louange."-!!!
It was to the last line that the three wretched notes of exclamation had been affixed, which were intended to express many things. For the most part, Picard's criticisms were laconically brief. After the following lines came one huge note of interrogation:--
"Sur le chemin des rois, l'oubli couvre ma trace; Mon nom, comme un vain bruit, s'affaiblit dans l'espace: Ce n'est plus qu'un écho par l'écho répété, Et j'assiste vivante à la postérité. Je crus que plus longtemps--mon erreur fut profonde!-- Mon abdication bruirait dans le monde ... Pour le remplir encore un but m'est indiqué; Je veux reconquérir cet empire abdiqué. Comme je la donnai, je reprends ma couronne, Et l'on dira que j'ai le caprice du trône!"--?
a point of interrogation which seemed to say, "Perhaps the author understands this passage. I, certainly, do not."
"Eh bien, j'en ai pitié, mon père ... Qu'on l'achève!"
Was it the piece which was _impossible_ or only that line? Picard had had the delicacy to leave me the benefit of the doubt. I related my adventure to Taylor and showed him Picard's notes.
"All right," he said; "leave the play with me and return to-morrow morning."
I left the play with him, feeling very subdued in spirits. I was beginning to learn to my cost that the joys connected with the theatre are the opposite of those in nature, and belong only to early days--after that brief period one's real troubles immediately begin. I took good care to keep my engagement and was with Taylor by eight next morning. He showed me my manuscript, across which Nodier had written in his own handwriting--