At that time,
electricity was employed only for a very few scenic effects and for
the bells. The immense building and the stage itself were still
lit by gas; hydrogen was used to regulate and modify the lighting
of a scene; and this was done by means of a special apparatus which,
because of the multiplicity of its pipes, was known as the "organ."
A box beside the prompter's box was reserved for the chief gas-man,
who from there gave his orders to his assistants and saw that they
were executed. Mauclair stayed in this box during all the performances.
But now Mauclair was not in his box and his assistants not
in their places.
"Mauclair! Mauclair!"
The stage-manager's voice echoed through the cellars. But Mauclair
did not reply.
I have said that a door opened on a little staircase that led
to the second cellar. The commissary pushed it, but it resisted.
"I say," he said to the stage-manager, "I can't open this door:
is it always so difficult?"
The stage-manager forced it open with his shoulder. He saw that,
at the same time, he was pushing a human body and he could not keep
back an exclamation, for he recognized the body at once:
"Mauclair! Poor devil! He is dead!"
But Mr.
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