then unknown, and these terms seemed to the Committee liberal enough to meet all the exigencies of the situation; but much more was soon demanded. Rachel being a minor, the negotiations were conducted by her father, and his avarice and rapacity justified the prognostications of the sociétaires.
"This first demand for his daughter," Madame de B tells us, "was an increase of salary, raising it to twelve thousand francs per annum—the sum received by a Councillor of State. He then, in addition to the fixed salary of twelve thousand francs, demanded from three hundred to five hundred francs perquisites (feux) each time she played, according as the receipts of the theatre varied from four thousand to five thousand francs and upwards; the title of Sociétaire, with a full share, with twelve thousand francs from the subvention, and four months congé every year. The whole claim might be computed at from fifty to sixty thousand francs a year."
The managers were thunderstruck; a portion of the press sided against Rachel, and Jules Janin declared that he, who had "created" her, would destroy his own "pen work," and relegate her to the obscurity from which he had raised her. He chose to make a personal question of her fight with the Théâtre Français. Here was the little girl whom he had made famous, daring, without his advice or permission, to set forth claims which were untenable and preposterous. The great critic had hitherto been justified, by results, in saying that he could make or unmake any actor or actress on the Parisian stage. Though despotic he was not mercenary. Unlike many of his fraternity, no bribe was ever accepted by him, and no "chicken and champagne" influenced
