"One of the managers of the Gymnase."
"And that means...."
"And that means that Soulié has vowed the piece shall be played as it is or not at all."
"The deuce! Then Soulié doesn't mind if his things get played or not?"
"You do not know that fellow's obstinacy; there is no way of turning him. Did you hear what he said to Warez?"
"Who is Warez?"
"Warez is manager to Madame Oudinot, proprietor of the Ambigu."
"Well, what did he say to Warez?"
"We took him a melodrama to read, called Kenilworth Castle; Warez read it. He was not very much struck with the work. When we went, yesterday, for his answer, 'Gentlemen,' he said to us, 'will you allow me to read your play to M. Picard?' 'Ah!' replies Soulié, 'in order that he can steal the idea from us. 'What! Monsieur Soulié,' exclaims Warez, 'steal your play from you—an Academician!' 'Well,' says Soulié, 'three-fourths of the Academicians certainly steal their places, why should they stick at stealing other people's work?' I need not tell you, my dear friend, that that meant another closed door! I had some sort of an idea of going to Mademoiselle Lévesque, who is all powerful at the theatre, to offer her the part of Marie Stuart, which is magnificent...."
"Well?"