"A grievous accident spoiled the little party which MM. Debienne and Poligny gave to celebrate their retirement. I was in the manager’s office, when Mercier, the acting–manager, suddenly came darting in. He seemed half mad and told me that the body of a scene–shifter had been found hanging in the third cellar under the stage, between a farm–house and a scene from the Roi de Lahore. I shouted:"
"'Come and cut him down!'"