And the next morning I received from her this brief missive, which
threw me into a wild condition of joyous expectancy: "If you could
meet me in the Church of St. Gilles at eleven o'clock this morning, I
should like to have your advice upon a certain matter.--Rosa."
Seventy-seven years elapsed before eleven o'clock.
St. Gilles is a large church in a small deserted square at the back of
the town. I waited for Rosa in the western porch, and at five minutes
past the hour she arrived, looking better in health, at once more
composed and vivacious. We sat down in a corner at the far end of one
of the aisles. Except ourselves and a couple of cleaners, there seemed
to be no one in the church.
"You asked me yesterday about my engagements," she began.
"Yes," I said, "and I had a reason. As a doctor, I will take leave to
tell you that it is advisable for you to throw yourself into your work
as soon as possible, and as completely as possible." And I remembered
the similar advice which, out of the plenitude of my youthful wisdom,
I had offered to Alresca only a few days before.
"The fact is that I have signed a contract to sing 'Carmen' at the
Paris Opéra Comique in a fortnight's time. I have never sung the rôle
there before, and I am, or rather I was, very anxious to do so. This
morning I had a telegram from the manager urging me to go to Paris
without delay for the rehearsals."
"And are you going?"
"That is the question. I may tell you that one of my objects in
calling on poor Alresca was to consult him about the point. The truth
is, I am threatened with trouble if I appear at the Opéra Comique,
particularly in 'Carmen.' The whole matter is paltry beyond words, but
really I am a little afraid."
"May I hear the story?"
"You know Carlotta Deschamps, who always takes Carmen at the Comique?"
"I've heard her sing."
"By the way, that is her half-sister, Marie Deschamps, who sings in
your cousin's operas at the London Diana."
"I have made the acquaintance of Marie--a harmless little thing!"
"Her half-sister isn't quite so harmless. She is the daughter of a
Spanish mother, while Marie is the daughter of an English mother, a
Cockney woman. As to Carlotta, when I was younger"--oh, the
deliciously aged air with which this creature of twenty-three referred
to her youth--"I was singing at the Opéra Comique in Paris, where
Carlotta was starring, and I had the misfortune to arouse her
jealousy. She is frightfully jealous, and get worse as she gets older.
She swore to me that if I ever dared to appear at the Comique again
she would have me killed. I laughed. I forgot the affair, but it
happens that I never have sung at the Comique since that time. And now
that I am not merely to appear at the Comique, but am going to sing
'Carmen' there, her own particular rôle, Deschamps is furious. I
firmly believe she means harm. Twice she has written to me the most
formidable threats. It seems strange that I should stand in awe of a
woman like Carlotta Deschamps, but so it is. I am half-inclined to
throw up the engagement."