Without answering directly, he went on, “Were you not gratified when you succeeded in that vaudeville? I watched you and saw a passionate ardour for triumph in your physiognomy. What fire shot into the glance! Not mere light, but flame: je me tiens pour averti .” 94

“What feeling I had on that occasion, Monsieur⁠—and pardon me, if I say, you immensely exaggerate both its quality and quantity⁠—was quite abstract. I did not care for the vaudeville. I hated the part you assigned me. I had not the slightest sympathy with the audience below the stage. They are good people, doubtless, but do I know them? Are they anything to me? Can I care for being brought before their view again tomorrow? Will the examination be anything but a task to me⁠—a task I wish well over?”

“Shall I take it out of your hands?”

“With all my heart; if you do not fear failure.”