One Week before his Death

Abstract

C. D. was very nice to me all those days — bright-eyed and cheery — always interested in me as an old contributor whom he had only known by correspondence; as an old friend of his daughters, and most for my connection with the stage, of which he loved of all things to discourse. He had nearly half-an-hour a day of it with me before we began rehearsing, and was great upon Carlmilhan. At rehearsal he was all business and attention — a martinet, and threw himself into every part in turn — either low comedian or old man — with instant versatility I never saw surpassed. I never saw any sign of illness except that his foot was always in a slipper, and he on a stick (which alone prevented his taking part in the play himself)....