Why so? the reader may inquire.
Ah! truly, one does not know these things unless one is compelled to know them.
I will explain.
Because that line is too simple, and unworthy of tragedy.
You may not, perhaps, have been aware of that, monsieur? Perhaps it is news to madame, who does me the honour to listen to me? But your servant Geoffroy, who is obliged to read everything, knew it.
Now, listen carefully; for we have not reached the end. This line being, from its simplicity, unworthy of tragedy, the audience wanted to see how the actress, correcting the poet, would treat it.
Mademoiselle Georges did not pretend to possess greater genius than Racine: she delivered the line simply, and with the most natural intonation imaginable, since it was written with the simplicity of passion. The audience dissented; she repeated it with the same accent; again they demurred.
Fortunately, Raucourt was present, in spite of an accident she had met with; she had had herself carried to the theatre, and encouraged her pupil from a little box, concealed behind a harlequin's cloak.
"Be bold, Georgine! Stick to it!" she cried.
And Georgine—it will appear odd to you, I imagine, that Mademoiselle Georges should ever have been called Georgine repeated the line for the third time in the same simple and natural accent. The audience applauded. From that moment her success was assured, as they say in theatrical parlance.