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Instead of a terrifying undertaking in itself； it became merely a
rehearsal for something greater。 In his momentary exaltation Binet
proposed another bottle of Volnay。 Scaramouche waited until the
cork was drawn before he continued。
〃The thing remains possible；〃 said he then； holding his glass to
the light； and speaking casually； 〃as long as I am with you。〃
〃Agreed； my dear Scaramouche； agreed。 Our chance meeting was a
fortunate thing for both of us。〃
〃For both of us；〃 said Scaramouche； with stress。 〃That is as I
would have it。 So that I do not think you will surrender me just
yet to the police。〃
〃As if I could think of such a thing！ My dear Scaramouche； you
amuse yourself。 I beg that you will never； never allude to that
little joke of mine again。〃
〃It is forgotten；〃 said Andre…Louis。 〃And now for the remainder of
my proposal。 If I am to become the architect of your fortunes； if
I am to build them as I have planned them； I must also and in the
same degree become the architect of my own。〃
〃In the same degree？〃 M。 Binet frowned。
〃In the same degree。 From to…day； if you please； we will conduct
the affairs of this company in a proper manner； and we will keep
account…books。〃
〃I am an artist；〃 said M。 Binet； with pride。 〃I am not a merchant。〃
〃There is a business side to your art； and that shall be conducted
in the business manner。 I have thought it all out for you。 You
shall not be troubled with details that might hinder the due
exercise of your art。 All that you have to do is to say yes or no
to my proposal。〃
〃Ah？ And the proposal？〃
〃Is that you constitute me your partner； with an equal share in the
profits of your company。〃
Pantaloon's great countenance grew pale； his little eyes widened to
their fullest extent as he conned the face of his companion。 Then
he exploded。
〃You are mad； of course； to make me a proposal so monstrous。〃
〃It has its injustices； I admit。 But I have provided for them。 It
would not； for instance； be fair that in addition to all that I am
proposing to do for you； I should also play Scaramouche and write
your scenarios without any reward outside of the half…profit which
would come to me as a partner。 Thus before the profits come to be
divided； there is a salary to be paid me as actor； and a small sum
for each scenario with which I provide the company； that is a matter
for mutual agreement。 Similarly； you shall be paid a salary as
Pantaloon。 After those expenses are cleared up； as well as all the
other salaries and disbursements； the residue is the profit to be
divided equally between us。〃
It was not； as you can imagine； a proposal that M。 Binet would
swallow at a draught。 He began with a point…blank refusal to
consider it。
〃In that case； my friend；〃 said Scaramouche； 〃we part company at
once。 To…morrow I shall bid you a reluctant farewell。〃
Binet fell to raging。 He spoke of ingratitude in feeling terms； he
even permitted himself another sly allusion to that little jest of
his concerning the police； which he had promised never again to
mention。
〃As to that； you may do as you please。 Play the informer； by all
means。 But consider that you will just as definitely be deprived
of my services； and that without me you are nothing … as you were
before I joined your company。〃
M。 Binet did not care what the consequences might be。 A fig for
the consequences！ He would teach this impudent young country
attorney that M。 Binet was not the man to be imposed upon。
Scaramouche rose。 〃Very well；〃 said he； between indifference and
resignation。 〃As you wish。 But before you act； sleep on the matter。
In the cold light of morning you may see our two proposals in their
proper proportions。 Mine spells fortune for both of us。 Yours
spells ruin for both of us。 Good…night； M。 Binet。 Heaven help you
to a wise decision。
The decision to which M。 Binet finally came was； naturally； the only
one possible in the face of so firm a resolve as that of Andre…Louis；
who held the trumps。 Of course there were further discussions；
before all was settled； and M。 Binet was brought to an agreement
only after an infinity of haggling surprising in one who was an
artist and not a man of business。 One or two concessions were made
by Andre…Louis； he consented； for instance； to waive his claim to
be paid for scenarios； and he also consented that M。 Binet should
appoint himself a salary that was out of all proportion to his
deserts。
Thus in the end the matter was settled； and the announcement duly
made to the assembled company。 There were； of course； jealousies
and resentments。 But these were not deep…seated； and they were
readily swallowed when it was discovered that under the new
arrangement the lot of the entire company was to be materially
improved from the point of view of salaries。 This was a matter
that had met with considerable opposition from M。 Binet。 But the
irresistible Scaramouche swept away all objections。
〃If we are to play at the Feydau； you want a company of
self…respecting comedians； and not a pack of cringing starvelings。
The better we pay them in reason； the more they will earn for us。〃
Thus was conquered the company's resentment of this too swift
promotion of its latest recruit。 Cheerfully now … with one
exception … they accepted the dominance of Scaramouche； a dominance
soon to be so firmly established that M。 Binet himself came under it。
The one exception was Climene。 Her failure to bring to heel this
interesting young stranger； who had almost literally dropped into
their midst that morning outside Guichen； had begotten in her a
malice which his persistent ignoring of her had been steadily
inflaming。 She had remonstrated with her father when the new
partnership was first formed。 She had lost her temper with him；
and called him a fool； whereupon M。 Binet … in Pantaloon's best
manner … had lost his temper in his turn and boxed her ears。 She
piled it up to the account of Scaramouche； and spied her opportunity
to pay off some of that ever…increasing score。 But opportunities
were few。 Scaramouche was too occupied just then。 During the week
of preparation at Fougeray； he was hardly seen save at the
performances； whilst when once they were at Redon； he came and went
like the wind between the theatre and the inn。
The Redon experiment had justified itself from the first。 Stimulated
and encouraged by this； Andre…Louis worked day and night during the
month that they spent in that busy little town。 The moment had been
well chosen； for the trade in chestnuts of which Redon is the centre
was just then at its height。 And every afternoon the little theatre
was packed with spectators。 The fame of the troupe had gone forth；
borne by the chestnut…growers of the district； who were bringing
their wares to Redon market； and the audiences were made up of people
from the surrounding country； and from neighbouring villages as far
out as Allaire； Saint…Perrieux and Saint…Nicholas。 To keep the
business from slackening； Andre…Louis prepared a new scenario every
week。 He wrote three in addition to those two with which he had
already supplied the compan