CHAPTER XX A BALLOON ASCENSION “The Young Girl and Death”—How my energetic versatility aroused indignation—I accept an invitation to go ballooning—A trip through the clouds—Dinner among the stars—The descent—Vachère—The journey back to Paris—A storm of criticism—I send in my resignation and then withdraw it—A trip to the south—A sale in the open—A ridiculous Othello—Mr. Jarrett, _impresario_—I agree to do independent acting in London—More trouble with the Committee—The _Times_ makes an announcement—The end of disputes 294–307 CHAPTER XXI MY LONDON DÉBUT Our ridiculous preparations for departure—“La Quenelle,” who adored me, and his life-preserver—A carpet of flowers—We find the Prince of Wales has departed—My welcome and the journalists—Visitors—Hortense Damian and her “_Chic_ commandments”—My shortcomings as a recipient of kindnesses—London hospitality—Rotten Row and the Avenue des Acacias—My first experience as a _traqueuse_—Trying my voice—My fright—My début—What the critics thought of me 308–321 CHAPTER XXII MY STAY IN ENGLAND I overtax my strength—Outwitting the doctor—The effect of a dose of opium—A lapse of memory and the talk it caused—Dumas’s judgment of his own plays—I exhibit my statues—Mr. Gladstone and “Phedre”—The success of my exhibition—A jaunt to Liverpool—I hunt for lions—My new pets—My homecoming creates a sensation—A Bedlam in Chester Square—How I suffered from the press—The tranquil lady—The company opens a campaign against me—My letter to M. Wolff—I hesitate on the brink of leaving the Comédie 322–337 CHAPTER XXIII I AGAIN LEAVE THE COMÉDIE FRANÇAISE The cruelties of publicity—My first interview with a reporter—A victim of caricaturists—Perrin tells me my faults—An anonymous threat—My reappearance in Paris—An intoxicating triumph—The discourtesy of actors—Coquelin, Mounet-Sully, Bartet, Réjane, and Duse—Trying times—“L’Aventurière”—An unjust attack—I send in my resignation—Cruel slanders—Mr. Jarrett offers a new proposition—I prepare for an American tour—The sad story of my costume for “Phedre”—The Comédie brings suit against me—The financial record of my London performances—Another visit to London—I overcome the critics 338–354