Page:Adelaide Ristori. Studies and memoirs (IA adelaideristoris00rist).pdf/67

Rh the wings, with much perturbation, that the actress had been seized with convulsions, and would not be able to finish the act. I replied in an instant, “One of you put on her dress, throw a veil over your head, and come to me.” My order was obeyed with the rapidity of lightning; but the poor girl who assumed the part did not know how to move, nor how to speak, as she had no idea of the words she ought to say!

But I was not dismayed. I induced her to advance towards me as though to kill me, when I seized her, and there and then extemporised a kind of little dialogue, May I be forgiven those verses! The public never noticed the little ruse, and they were not disappointed, and the result was completely successful.

In my performances of Medea, I was frequently obliged to meet an unforeseen emergency, and show presence of mind. Often when travelling in foreign countries having only to give one representation of Medea—and having one single child available in the company, the second, who had not to speak, had to be provided by the property-man. Generally I had to instruct him by gestures, as we did not understand one another, Once it happened that one of these poor little wretches, not being accustomed to the stage, grew frightened from the moment I appeared on the mountain carrying him in my arms. When he heard the applause with which I was received, and saw for the first time the foot-lights and the crowded pit, he began to cry and struggle, and endeavor to escape from my hold. I had to make a great effort to keep my head cool enough to commence my own