de Bouillon in Adrienne Lecouvreur, Rachel playing the title rôle. Madame Samson tells us:—
My husband had quarrelled for the second or third time with his illustrious pupil, when the theatre undertook to represent M. Legouvé's piece. Rachel, it appears, had mentioned Samson to the author as a suitable representative for the Prince de Bouillon's part, but Legouvé was afraid he would refuse it in consequence of the quarrel between master and pupil. Samson, however, accepted, and the following incident took place at the first rehearsal. When Adrienne turns to Michonnet and says, "There is my true friend, he to whom I owe everything," those present were astonished to see Rachel, instead of turning towards Regnier, who acted Michonnet, turn towards Samson, saying these words, and holding out her hand. The professor, of course, was mollified at once, and held out his. Rachel thereupon threw herself into his arms, which made tears come into the eyes of all those present.
Madame Samson describes another episode that took place between Rachel and her old master, on the evening of the 4th February 1853, when they were acting Madame de Girardin's Lady Tartuffe together.
Samson, after twenty-seven years' service, was about to give a representation on the occasion of his retirement, and Rachel had promised to play Cléopâtra; every day, however, she changed her mind on the subject of the rôle, asking for different people for different parts, and next day upsetting the arrangements made the day before. Her caprices wore out my husband at last. She had not kept several appointments that she had made, excusing herself on the plea of ill-health, and asking Samson to come to her (a thing which he seldom did). He consented, however, and on the appointed day presented himself at the hôtel of his capricious pupil. Her carriage was at the door. The professor concluded that she was going out. The servant informed him, however, that Madame was not at home. Unaccustomed to treatment of this sort, above all by a woman who was under so many obligations to him, Samson left, vowing that he would never enter Rachel's house again.
On that evening Lady Tartuffe was given at the Français, and Samson had to act several sentimental scenes with her. Not having had an opportunity of speaking to Samson in the side scenes, the actress found herself most uncomfortably situated, having to act a
