Chapter VIII

The Conquest of a Star

When Count Cassatti entered the circus, the performance was already well underway; the first part was nearly ending. Father Barretti professed that each act should end on a 'sublime flight of fancy'. He had arranged, therefore, for that moment a big display with all the athletes and one could see from all corners of the circus, from the ring to the dome, trapeze artists, jugglers, performing horses and clowns. In one word, the whole troupe was there on foot or in the air.

Satisfied by this profusion of movement, noise (as the band played its brightest pieces) and colour, the public displayed clearly its joy and applauded the show, whatever it was.The ring leader gave orders to the circus hands in blue uniform with a very loud voice similar to that of generals commanding a charge under enemy fire. His vibrant voice only added to the gaiety and noise of this first high point of the show.

When Cassatti entered the theatre, he didn't mind annoying people in the neighbouring seats, and this time again, while being taken to his seat by an usherette; he was looking for the lady he came for with his opera glasses. He didn't even notice the discourteous remarks made around him on 'these people who are always late at the theatre and annoy everybody around them'. He was given a third row seat, but, he didn't even bother to seat in it. He stayed standing observing the rings, trapezes and what was happening on the ring. He was asked to sit down. He obviously didn't obey. But, discovering an unoccupied box, he stepped over a row of seats and went to sit in the box. His opera glasses hadn't left for one seconds his arch highbrows.

In the air, just above his head, he saw some charming young ladies displaying their grace and suppleness. They noticed their admirer and overdid it a bit for him. But, he moved his glasses, he wasn't interested by them: his mind was made up.

Clowns have a special talent to discover a person with some social status in the crowd. They are the worthy sons of buffoons and know that lazzi are something well paid; they came round the Count's box and bowed deeply while practicing their somersault at close range as well as their facial expressions. Count Cassatti looked away. The ring leader's voice attracted his attention near the entrance of the circus. And over there, near the wings, he noticed Bianca getting ready to enter for the final number. Close to her, Tito in his clown attire was there; but, the Count didn't even notice a person of such low social status. The two partners came together on the ring just when the band stroke a chord and the public applauded wildly. The cries of delight of a happy public rang while up there three young men were throwing some bunches of cheap flowers towards the 'Queen of the Air'.

The Count whispered:

- Goodness me! I am not the only one who admires this pretty girl.

He didn't really matter actually, and he even smiled at his own joke. Then, as a man was going round the ring with a board covered with INTERVAL in bold red letters, he got up and stepping over the seats bordering the ring, headed straight for the wings while the prop men looked at him, slightly curious.

Father Barretti, mopping his brow, did let strangers come to visit the horse stable. It was his glory. He put back the handkerchief in his pocket and came over, attentive.

- Sir, do you want to attend the elephants' feeding time? It's a show worth a bag of gold, Sir, if we made people pay for it. But, it's free, Sir, entirely free….for nothing!

He was also able to recognise instantly important people. It's an atavism common to comedians. Circus artists have always bowed in front of elegant gentlemen in the stalls, even when nowadays they don't wear anymore hats with long feathers, swords or red heels.

The Count shook his head:

- I'd rather you showed me the dressing rooms. I want to present my compliments to Miss Bianca who is a remarkable artist.

Barretti's eyes crackled. For him, it became clear. During the evening, he had brought himself a long box of flowers to the Queen of the Air's trailer, just delivered by a posh bellboy. Of course, he had opened it beforehand in order (he apologised) to make sure it didn't contain any explosive or snake sent by a director jealous of his star's success. And he had seen, well in evidence, Count Carlo Cassatti's card. So, he didn't doubt the spectator's identity who asked for the dressing rooms. There wasn't that many.

He bowed half a dozen times in a very obsequious and attentive way.

- This way, My Lord, this way.

And bending down, he brought himself the Count to Bianca's dressing room.