in
the corpse of his young brother (of the story), and the actor who played
this part identified himself so well with the immobility of the last
sleep that the public, struck with astonishment, broke in upon one of
Lemaitre's finest speeches with cries of bravo for the little dead
brother. "This is a very impertinent rascal," muttered Lemaitre, "who
makes himself applauded in my very arms. I shall punish him for it."
Leaning over the supposed corpse while speaking his lines, he blew into
the dead boy's nostrils. Not a movement! Then pretending to yield to
despair--always in consonance with the part he was playing--Lemaitre
pulled the hair of the defunct with frantic gestures. Not a muscle
stirred! Whereupon Lemaitre seemed to break down utterly under his
grief, let go of the body, and it fell hard upon the stage like an inert
mass. The effect was superb. The whole house applauded, the bravos
became frantic, the great actor was hoist with his own petard. Lemaitre
passed the night in solemn reflection on the seriousness of the case.
The result was that at the next representation, while carrying in his
little dead brother, he delicately tickled him under the arms. The
unhappy defunct could not stand this. He came to life, burst out
laughing, and was heartily hissed, while Lemaitre, the picture of solemn
grief, inly chuckled at the success of his efforts to destroy rivalry.

But, notwithstanding his superb egotism and his jealousy of applause,
Lemaitre was capable of mocking at himself in a most amusing manner. At
one of the last representations of _Robert Macaire_ he expected to be
called before the curtain at the end of the play. He was not, however;
whereupon he ordered the curtain to be raised and came forward with his
gravest air. "Gentlemen," said he, addressing the audience, "I desire to
know if M. Auguste is not here." M. Auguste does not answer, and the
spectators look at each other in surprise. "M. Antoine!" Silence again.
"Well, gentlemen, I am the victim of the dishonesty of the chef and
sous-chef of the claque. I gave them forty francs this morning to call
me out, and neither of them is here. You perceive, gentlemen, how
grossly I have been swindled."

After his fame had grown to greatness Lemaitre reappeared on the classic
stage of the Odeon, the scene of his earliest efforts. Here he played a
number of parts, including Othello. But the actor had in his mind an
idea which haunted him. It was that his favorit