His neighbor at the right could not help smiling, while the lean gentleman on his left gave vent to his feelings by grumbling. Eusebe paid no attention to these demonstrations. His chin resting on his hands, which he had placed on the back of the chair in front of him, he watched intently the impossible action of the piece. He had already forgotten that what he saw was only fiction. His joy or grief augmented or diminished with the development of the plot. If _Angèle_ succeeded in extricating herself from one of her thousand difficulties, he breathed again. On the contrary, when a new disaster befell the poor abbess, the heart of Eusebe bled for her, and his eyes filled with tears. Twenty times was he on the point of springing upon the stage and saying, “I will defend you: don’t be afraid.” Fortunately, _Angèle_ succeeded without his assistance in escaping the snares M. Scribe had prepared for her. What would the audience have said, what would the police have done, if Eusebe had executed his design? Nothing, probably. The public are amused by madmen, and the police interfere only in cases with which they are familiar. By remaining in his seat, our poor provincial caused himself to be put out-of-doors. The curtain rose for the third time. _Angèle_ had just arrived at the convent, and sang the famous rondeau-- “Ah! what a night!” She detailed pathetically the perils she had encountered during the frightful night,--recounted her adventures with the drunken soldiers, the thief, who had robbed her of her golden cross, and the student, who was content to steal only a kiss. The neighbor at the left, a fat man, with a good-natured physiognomy, leaned towards Eusebe and said,-- “How confoundedly stupid! She has succeeded in escaping unperceived,--a miracle!--and now, instead of going to her cell and changing her costume, she remains there like a fool to sing. I would give a trifle if they would come and take her by surprise.” “You are a wretch!” cried Eusebe. “I am half inclined to strangle you.” “You are extremely insolent, sir!” “You are a coward!” “Chut! chut!” “Silence!” “Out with him!” suggested several voices. The fat gentleman grasped at the young man’s collar; but Eusebe foiled his design by planting a heavy blow full in his face, which inconvenienced him not a little, but not sufficiently to prevent his calling for assistance. A policeman soon made his appearance, and Eusebe was very unceremoniously shown into the street. At any other time he would have submitted without a word; but when he thought that the angelic creature with whom he was so charmed had disappeared forever, he thrust the public functionary aside and hurried away like a maniac. CHAPTER XVII.