_La Noce et l'Enterrement_ was played on 21 November 1826. My mother and I saw my play from the orchestra. As my name did not transpire, and as I was totally unknown, I experienced no inconvenience from allowing myself the satisfaction of being present. The play succeeded admirably; but, even as the Roman emperors, in their days of triumph, were reminded by a slave that they were mortal, so, lest my success should intoxicate me, Providence placed a neighbour on my left who remarked, as he rose at the fall of the curtain-- "Come, come, it isn't such stuff as this that will uphold the theatre." My neighbour was right, and he knew what he was talking about all the more in that he was a fellow-writer. The play was acted some forty times, and, as Porcher generously left me half my rights, claiming only the remaining half to liquidate previous advances, the four francs per night that I received from the tickets helped us to get over the winter of 1826 to 1827. CHAPTER V Soulié at the mechanical saw-mill--His platonic love of gold--I desire to write a drama with him--I translate _Fiesque_--Death of Auguste Lafarge--My pay is increased and my position lowered--Félix Deviolaine, condemned by the medical faculty, is saved by illness--_Louis XI. à Péronne_--Talma's theatrical wardrobe--The _loi de justice et d'amour_--The disbanding of the National Guard From that moment I made up my mind firmly; like Ferdinand Cortez, I had burnt my boats, and I had either to succeed or to hang myself. Unfortunately, I was not staking for myself alone; my poor mother was also equally involved in the game.