UNKNOWN CHARBONNETT AND THE "MARKISS."

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 137, 18 April 1879, Page 2

UNKNOWN CHARBONNETT AND THE "MARKISS."

■ From the Chronicle, le Charbonnet, when in Wellington, e.bete noir of Government' House. Having been invited there once, there was no, keeping out of its portals—morning, noon, and night,.did the vivacious little pianist flutter round the Markiss if he went into the library from the sitting room, she followed ; if from the library to the drawing room, so did she—wherever he went, thither she. did follow, until things became unpleasantly warm. Whenever the " Markiss" went to to the theatre mademoiselle and her mother went also. From box j;o box in the Opera House they would flit, at all periods of the enter-, tainment whatever it was, so that they might gaze upon the " Markiss" from all points, and bring themselves under his and everybody else's notice. On one occasion when the "Markiss" patronised her benefit Mdlle. had no sooner finished the performance of her first selection than, to the astonishment of. the audience, she rushed up from the stage and sat herself down alongside of his Excellency, shaking hands, and chattering so that she might be heard all over the theatre. In an evil hour—probably never imagining he would I —-(and fondly hoping he would not) meet Mdlle. again, he promised their next rendezvous should be in Melbourne. The irrepressible Frenchwomen kept his Excellency to his promise, for to Melbourne she followed him she evidently so much admires, and there occurred a " scene " at meeting, described by the correspondent of a Southern paper in the following paragraph : —" Mademoiselle made her first appearance as a spectator at a Melbourne theatre on the 18th instant, on the occasion of the Marquis of Normanby's inaugural visit to the Theatre Royals, where Miss Dargon was playing Queen Mary. The house was crowded,.and from, the moment of his Excellency's arrival,, the young pianiste, who occupied a distant box, was observed to become very animated. As the curtain dropped on the second act, a lady quite alone ; was seen making her way round the back of the circle. It was Mdlle. Charbonnet. She reached the half door of the box, occupied only by the Governor, his private - secretary, and his aide de camp, and on-trying to enter, found it locked. Leaning over, she called loudly, Marquis ! Marquis ! Marquis ! but the orchestra drowned her voice. The box keeper now hastened for-: ward, and the lady communicated her wish to be allowed ingiess At a loss what to do,, the keeper unlocked the door advanced to the front, and touching the secretary on the shoulder, announced the arrival of the unexpected visitor, who followed so close upon the keepers heels, that no time was allowed anyone for reflection. Pushing past the janitor, Mademoiselle quickly seated herself on a corner of the chiar on which Captain Le Patourel sat, and with much empressment wreathed her hands round his Excellency's share being evidently restricted to -monosyllables. Up to this, the visitor had manoeuvred with the quickness' -of thought, But the affair now began to assume a ridiculous for the attention of the entire dress circle had by this time been attracted, and lorgettes and titters . were alike levelled at the groups The secret taiy reddened and bit his lip, tlx? aide camp reddened and bit his,-and then t . ] tired to the back of the box. : audacious - little intruder in full possession of the .Governor'and the field. /After a'tete" a tete, Mademoiselle rose, and lookedas'though. she desired his escort to. her seat, but the gentleman - did -A J " r - 4 -

not hint. -xHe rose, showed for-s mally, and suffeied the intrepid young' musician, to pass out unattended; and > Bhe~ returned to her;place the cynosure of all-; eyes. Such an extraordinary breach of' the conventionalities, as alady publicly visiting a party "of gentlemen in their box,took every one's breath away ; but when i the surprise andlaughter had subsided, .it i generally observed that 'Mademoiselle I Charbonnet had accomplished a clever little coup de theatre.