Page:Rachel (1887 Nina H. Kennard).djvu/167

 the townsfolk knew what had been done, and would not expose themselves to the risk of being buried beneath the ruins. The company got to bed in good time that night, but had to do double duty next day in another theatre, as there was an afternoon and evening performance to make up for lost time.

Meantime, the party inimical to Rachel at the Comédie Française took advantage of her absence to combine against her and undermine her overwhelming influence. As far back as the year 1846 Rachel had threatened to resign her position as Associate, finding that the duties of the position did not leave her sufficient liberty for her provincial and foreign tours. The members of the Comédie Française form a commercial body. The amount of popularity enjoyed by each actor or actress constitutes the capital which each subscribes, and, according to the valuation put upon it, each is entitled to what is called a half, a quarter, an eighth, three quarters of a share, or a full share, in the profits of the theatre, which are divided into twenty-four shares. The holders of these shares, Comédiens Sociétaires, not being sufficiently numerous for the requirements of the theatre, engage what are called pensionnaires. The pensionnaires' salaries are paid by the sociétaires, and diminish, therefore, the profits they receive. The company is governed by a committee, composed of six male members. All the sociétaires, both male and female, however, have a voice in the acceptance or rejection of plays, which are read in full conclave. "In the multitude of counsellors," under those circumstances, there seems to have been little "wisdom," if we are to judge by the plays accepted during Rachel's tenure of office.

By "the Decree of Moscow" (so called because it was