And this Englishman speaks so badly, perhaps he only means to pay me a compliment." So she pocketed her bank note joyfully.
But that night after the theater she returned home furious.

Mr.Birne had made no use of the tickets, and the ten boxes had remained vacant.
Thus on appearing on the stage, the unfortunate _beneficiaire_ read on the countenances of her lady friends, the delight they felt at seeing the house so badly filled.

She even heard an actress of her acquaintance say to another, as she pointed to the empty boxes, "Poor Dolores, she has only planted one stage box." "True, the boxes are scarcely occupied," was the rejoinder.
"The stalls, too, are empty." "Well, when they see her name on the bill, it acts on the house like an air pump." "Hence, what an idea to put up the price of the seats!" "A fine benefit.

I will bet that the takings would not fill a money box or the foot of a stocking." "Ah! There she is in her famous red velvet costume." "She looks like a lobster." "How much did you make out of your last benefit ?" said another actress to her companion.
"The house was full, my dear, and it was a first night; chairs in the gangway were worth a louis.

But I only got six francs; my milliner had all the rest.