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CHAPTER IV.
The disorders and mischievous tricks of some frolicsome companions still
further augmented the disquietudes and distresses of the night: these gay people
woke each other; each played a thousand giddy pranks to plague his fellow. The
next morning dawned amid loud complaints against their friend the baron, for
having so deceived them, for having given so very false a notion of the order and
comfort that awaited their arrival. However, to their great surprise and
consolation, at an early hour the count himself, attended by a few servants, made
his entrance, and inquired about their circumstances. He appeared much vexed
on discovering how badly they had fared; and the baron, who came limping
along, supported on the arm of a servant, bitterly accused the steward for
neglecting his commands on this occasion, — showing great anxiety to have
that person punished for his disobedience.
The count gave immediate orders that every thing should be arranged, in his
presence, to the utmost possible convenience of the guests. While this was going
on, some officers arrived, who forthwith scraped acquaintance with the
actresses. The count assembled all the company before him, spoke to each by
name, introduced a few jokes among his observations; so that every one was
charmed at the gracious condescension of his lordship. At last it came to
Wilhelm’s turn. He appeared with Mignon holding by his hand. Our friend
excused himself, in the best terms he could, for the freedom he had taken. The
count, on the other hand, spoke as if the visit had been looked for.
A gentleman, who stood beside the count, and who, although he wore no
uniform, appeared to be an officer, conversed with Wilhelm: he was evidently
not a common man. His large, keen blue eyes, looking out from beneath a high
brow; his light-colored hair, thrown carelessly back; his middle stature; every
thing about him, — showed an active, firm, and decisive mode of being. His
questions were lively. He seemed to be at home in all that he inquired about.
Wilhelm asked the baron what this person was, but found that he had little
good to say of him. “He held the rank of major, was the special favorite of the
prince; managed his most secret affairs; was, in short, regarded as his right arm,
— nay, there was reason to believe him the prince’s natural son. He had been on
embassies in France, England, Italy. In all those places he had greatly
distinguished himself, by which means he was grown conceited; imagining,
among other pretensions, that he thoroughly understood the literature of
Germany, and allowing himself to vent all kinds of sorry jests upon it. He, the
baron, was in the habit of avoiding all intercourse with him; and Wilhelm would
do well to imitate that conduct, for it somehow happened that no one could be
near him without being punished for it. He was called Jarno, though nobody
knew rightly what to make of such a name.”
Wilhelm had nothing to urge against all this: he had felt a sort of inclination
for the stranger, though he noticed in him something cold and repulsive.
The company being arranged and distributed throughout the castle, Melina
issued the strictest orders that they should behave themselves with decency, the
women live in a separate quarter, and each direct his whole attention to the study
of dramatic art, and of the characters he had to play. He posted up written
ordinances, consisting of many articles, upon all the doors. He settled the
amount of fine which should be levied upon each transgressor, and put into a
common box.
This edict was but little heeded. Young officers went out and in; they jested,
not in the most modest fashion, with the actresses; made game of the actors, and
annihilated the whole system of police before it had the smallest time to take
root in the community. The people ran chasing one another through the rooms;
they changed clothes; they disguised themselves. Melina, attempting to be
rigorous with a few at first, was exasperated by every sort of insolence; and,
when the count soon after sent for him to come and view the place where his
theatre was to be erected, matters grew worse and worse. The young gentry
devised a thousand broad jokes: by the help of some actors, they became yet
coarser. It seemed as if the old castle had been altogether given up to an infuriate
host, and the racket did not end till dinner.
Meanwhile, the count had led Melina over to a large hall, which, though
belonging to the old castle, communicated by a gallery with the new one: it
seemed very well adapted for being changed into a little theatre. Here the
sagacious lord of the mansion pointed out in person how he wanted every thing
to be.
The labor now commenced in the greatest haste; the stage apparatus was
erected and furbished up; what decorations they had brought along with them
and could employ were set in order, and what was wanting was prepared by
some skilful workmen of the count’s. Wilhelm likewise put his hand to the
business; he assisted in settling the perspective, in laying off the outlines of the
scenery: he was very anxious that nothing should be executed clumsily. The
count, who frequently came in to inspect their progress, was highly satisfied: he
showed particularly how they should proceed in every case, displaying an
uncommon knowledge of all the arts they were concerned with.
Next began the business of rehearsing, in good earnest; and there would have
been enough of space and leisure for this undertaking, had the actors not
continually been interrupted by the presence of visitors. Some new guests were
daily arriving, and each insisted on viewing the operations of the company.
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