I found her in a great rage with you.

She learnt this morning that her affair of the Comedie is off." A rush of anger suddenly reddened the Baron's face.

He, who could scoff so calmly at the threat of the African Railways scandal, lost his balance and felt his blood boiling directly there was any question of Silviane, the last, imperious passion of his sixtieth year.

"What! off ?" said he.
"But at the Ministry of Fine Arts they gave me almost a positive promise only the day before yesterday." He referred to a stubborn caprice of Silviane d'Aulnay, who, although she had hitherto only reaped a success of beauty on the stage, obstinately sought to enter the Comedie Francaise and make her _debut_ there in the part of "Pauline" in Corneille's "Polyeucte," which part she had been studying desperately for several months past.

Her idea seemed an insane one, and all Paris laughed at it; but the young woman, with superb assurance, kept herself well to the front, and imperiously demanded the _role_, feeling sure that she would conquer.
"It was the minister who wouldn't have it," explained Duthil.
The Baron was choking.