Page:Rachel (1887 Nina H. Kennard).djvu/60

 not the least proof of the largeness and versatility of her genius.

The great and powerful of the land vied with one another to do her honour. Louis Philippe, who had not been once to the theatre since his accession, paid several visits to see her act. One evening, after performing before His Majesty, she was presented to him at the conclusion of the tragedy. The King took her trembling hand in his, and assured her that every time he saw her it was with increased pleasure. In her confusion the young actress addressed him simply as "Monsieur." On being afterwards blamed for it by her companion, she replied that, "being in the habit of conversing only with the Kings of Greece and Rome, she was ignorant of the form of speech used towards the monarchs of her day." On the following morning His Majesty sent her a thousand-franc note, his first gift to any actor or actress. Great as were the honours heaped upon her by royalty all her life, Rachel ever remained one of the people at heart. A night or two after her interview with Louis Philippe, a friend of hers was eye-witness of the following scene:—

Rich and poor, educated and uneducated, all united