Maître Allon, the advocate of the Comédie Française, invented wicked little histories about me. He took a pleasure in trying to make me ridiculous. He had a big file of letters from me to Perrin, letters which I had written in softer moments or in anger. Perrin had kept them all, even the shortest notes. I had kept none of his. The few letters to myself from Perrin which have been published were given by him from his letter-copy book. Of course he gave only those which could inspire the public with an idea of his paternal kindness to me etc., etc.... The pleading of Maître Allon was very successful; he claimed three hundred thousand francs damages, in addition to the confiscation for the benefit of the Comédie Française, of the 43,000 francs which that theater owed me. Maître Barboux was my advocate. He was an intimate friend of Perrin. He defended me very indifferently. I was condemned to pay a hundred thousand francs to the Comédie Française and to lose the 43,000 francs which I had left with the management. I may say that I did not trouble much about this law suit. Three days after my resignation Jarrett called upon me. He proposed to me for the third time to make a contract for America. This time I lent an ear to his propositions. We had never spoken about prices and this is what he proposed: Five thousand francs for each performance and the half of the takings above 15,000 francs; that is to say, if the day the receipts reached the sum of 20,000 francs, I should receive 7,500 francs. In addition: 1,000 francs per week for my hotel bill; also, a special Pullman for my journeys, containing my bedroom, a drawing-room with a piano, four beds for my staff, and two cooks to cook for me on the way. Mr. Jarrett was to have ten per cent. on all sums received by me. I accepted everything. I was anxious to leave Paris. Jarrett immediately sent a telegram to Mr. Abbey, the great American _impresario_, and he landed on this side thirteen days later. I signed the contract made by Jarrett, which was discussed clause by clause with the American manager. I was given, on signing the contract, 100,000 francs as advance payment for the expenses of departure. I was to play eight pieces: “Hernani,” “Phèdre,” “Adrienne Lecouvreur,” “Froufrou,” “La Dame aux Camélias,” “Le Sphinx,” “L’Etrangère,” and “La Princesse George.” I ordered twenty-five costumes for town wear at Laferrière’s, with whom I then dealt.