This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1883. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... The Second. I have only one more question to ask you. Thb First. Ask it. The Second. Have you ever seen a whole piece played to perfection? The First. On my word I can't remember it. Stop a bit--yes, sometimes--a middling piece by middling actors. Our two talkers went to the playhouse, but as there were no places to be had they turned off to the Tuileries. They walked for some time in silence. They seemed to have forgotten that they were together, and each talked to himself as if he were alone, the one out loud, the other so low that he could not be heard, only at intervals letting out words, isolated but distinct, from which it was easy to guess that he did not hold himself defeated. The thoughts of the man with the paradox are the only ones of which I can give an account, and here they are, disconnected as they must be when one omits in a soliloquy the intermediate parts which serve to hang it together. He said: Put an actor of sensibility in his place, and see how he will get out of the mess. What did this man do, however? He puts his foot H on the balustrade, refastens his garter, and answers the courtier he despises with his head turned on his shoulder; and thus an incident which would have disconcerted any one but this cold and great actor is suddenly adapted to the surroundings and becomes a trait of genius. He spoke, I think, of Baron, in the tragedy of the Comte d'ejsex, He added with a smile: Yes; he will tell you she feels when, her head in her confidante's bosom, almost at the point of death, her eyes turned to the third tier of boxes, she suddenly sees an old Justice, who is dissolved in tears, and whose grief expresses itself in ludicrous grimaces, when flie exclaims, ' Look up there there's a fine face for you ' muttering the words under her breat..