“Philoctète, est-ce vous? Quel coup affreux du sort
Dans ces lieux empestés vous fait chercer la mort?”
From that instant I forgot the audience and no longer saw the anachronism which gave this Greek tragedy all the appointments of a French contemporary drama. I heard only the majesty of the lines, as the story moved on without interruption to the tragedy which was its climax. Thunders of applause interrupted the actors at every moment. The audience found in the first scene a reference to the king, then only eight years old, and to the regent. These were clapped to the echo, and the actors were recalled at the end of the scene.
The act once over, the hubbub of voices arose again, and I had leisure to look about me. Unconsciously my eyes wandered to the box opposite, and I started as I fancied I saw one of the masked ladies make a motion to me with her fan. I told myself I must be mistaken, but a moment later the signal was repeated. I arose from my chair and looked questioningly at her, still incredulous of my good fortune. She nodded her head and again beckoned with her fan. This time there was no mistaking her meaning, and I hurried from my box and made my way through the crowd as rapidly as possible to the other side of the theatre. With fast-beating heart I tapped at the door of the box where the three ladies sat.
“Enter, monsieur,” said a low voice, which I recognized at once as that of Mlle. de Valois. “Ah, M. de Brancas,” she continued, holding out her hand, “you are welcome. But I am ashamed of you, sir. Do you always compel a lady to give you three invitations?”
“It was because I could not believe in my good fortune, mademoiselle,” I cried. “Had I known who you were, I fear I should not have waited for even one invitation.”
“I see my mask is no disguise, monsieur,” laughed the princess, “for you seem to know me now. Pray tell me, do you know these other ladies?”
“I know Mlle. Dacour,” I answered, bowing to one of the other two, who remained silent, apparently absorbed in watching the crowd in the pit.
“And how do you know that?” she asked.
“By the beating of my heart, mademoiselle,” I answered.