“Oh, what a terrible child!” he said, giving me a chair. “Come now, you must be calmer. It will never do to waste all these admirable gifts in voyages, escapades, and boxing people’s ears!”
I was deeply moved by his kindness, and my eyes were full of regret as I looked at him.
“Now, don’t cry, my dear child, don’t cry. Let us try and find out how we are to make up for all this folly.”
He was quiet for a moment, and then, opening a drawer, he took out a letter.
“Here is something which will perhaps save us,” he said.
It was a letter from Duquesnel, who had just been appointed manager at the Odéon Theater, together with Chilly.
“I am asked for some young artistes to make up the Odéon company. Well, we must attend to this.” He got up, and accompanying me to the door, said, as I went away: “We shall succeed.”
I went back home, and began at once to rehearse all my rôles in Racine’s plays. I waited very anxiously for several days, consoled by Mme. Guérard, who succeeded in restoring my confidence. Finally, I received a letter, and went at once to the Ministry. Camille Doucet received me with a beaming expression on his face.
“It’s settled,” he said. “Oh, but it has not been easy, though,” he added. “You are very young, but very celebrated already for your headstrong character. The only thing is, I have pledged my word that you will be as gentle as a young lamb.”
“Yes, I will be gentle, I promise,” I replied, “if only out of gratitude. But what am I to do?”