“I am turning over this: That I will not go to London in a situation inferior to anybody. For the entire term of my contract I intend to be a Sociétaire with one entire share in the profits.”
This intention irritated the committee considerably. And the next day Perrin told me that my proposal was rejected.
“Well, I shall not go to London. That is all! Nothing in my contract compels me to go.”
The committee met again, and Got cried out, “Well, let her stay away! She is a regular nuisance!”
It was therefore decided that I should not go to London. But Hollingshead and Mayer, his partner, did not see things in this light, and they declared that the contract would not be binding if either Croizette, Mounet-Sully, or I did not go.
The agents, who had bought two hundred thousand francs’ worth of tickets beforehand, also refused to regard the affair as binding on them if we did not go. Mayer came to see me in profound despair, and told me all about it.
“We shall have to break our contract with the Comédie if you don’t come,” he said, “for the business cannot go through.”
Frightened at the consequences of my bad temper, I ran to see Perrin, and told him that after the consultation I had just had with Mayer I understood the involuntary injury I should be causing to the Théâtre Français and to my comrades, and I told him I was ready to go under any conditions.
The committee was holding a meeting. Perrin asked me to wait, and shortly after he came back to me. Croizette and I had been appointed Sociétaires with one entire share in the profits each, not only for London, but for always.
Everybody had done their duty. Perrin, very much touched, took both my hands and drew me to him.