Fox of France

After that, Joseph's life was indeed as difficult as Amon estimated. He could only live on black bread and cold water every day. This kind of life lasted for about two months, and Joseph succeeded in making his figure more like a bamboo pole.

"Joseph, there is a troupe that is currently preparing a comedy called "The Governor of the Island". Well, this story is taken from "Don Quixote". I think your current figure is very suitable for this comedy Knight Quixote." Amon said to Joseph with a smile.

"Damn it!" Joseph said, "in this play, Don Quixote must not be the main character, right? The main character should be Sancho."

Speaking of this, he looked Amon up and down again and said, "I have to say, you need to make a lot of effort to play the leading role."

"Who said I want to play the leading role? How is this possible?" Amon said, "Sancho is a short and fat man, and although I am a little shorter than you, no matter whether I am short or fat, I have nothing to do with it." It doesn't matter. Joseph, is there something wrong with your brain, or something wrong with your eyes? Or is it because you have fully entered the role, so you can already see the windmill as a giant?"

Joseph laughed when he heard this: "Ah, Amon, why is your brain so rigid? Isn't comedy a comedy because of its absurdity? Amon, you have to know that the world is absurd , life is painful. Friends, this is the reality of the world.

King Midas looked for a long time in the woods, the companion of Dionysus, the wise Sirenus, but he did not find it. When at last Silenus fell into his hands, the king asked him: What is so wonderful for a man? The god was dumbfounded and said nothing, and when the king forced him, he finally uttered these words amidst loud laughter: "Poor wretch who lives and dies, son of impermanence and sorrow, why do you force me to tell you What is the best thing not to listen to? The best thing in the world is something you will never have—that is not to be born, not to be, to be nothing. But, for your second best before you have time to find it, that is - die quickly! '

What a frightening story, what can we see when we lift the mists that hang over the towering Olympus and expose its foundations to our eyes? We find ourselves confronted with the great terror of the violence of nature, that Fate that rules mercilessly over all knowledge, that goshawk that afflicted Prometheus, the great lover of mankind, that terrible fate of wise Oedipus, The plague of the house of Atreus, which drove Orestes to kill his mother. We see that behind the sacred and majestic Greek gods, there are actually terrifying Titans lurking. In order to be able to live, because of this urgent requirement, the sensitive Greek had to create a dream world and use it to ward off the terrible reality. Just like Apollo raised Medusa's head high to make all kinds of terrifying monsters retreat. And comedy and even all kinds of art are this dream.

Dreams can be absurd, and even have to be absurd. Only the terrifying Medusa can frighten away other terrifying ghosts. So, why do you insist that Sancho is a dumpy man? "

"Joseph, you nasty guy." Amon said, "You're just fooling people with your own knowledge. My head has been dazzled by you. Although what you said seems to be reasonable, but The audience needs a dream, not a nightmare that scares them. I don't think they'll accept a tall and handsome Sancho like me."

"It is true that the image of Sancho and his intelligence form an interesting contrast, and this contrast arouses the pleasure of the audience. You go straight up, and indeed there is no such contrast. But my friend, have you forgotten, Although there is a kind that can't make Graier (the three gray witches who share one eye and one tooth in Greek mythology, looks ugly) into Helen, but it can make Helen into Graier." Joseph laughed. .

"You're talking about make-up, right? But make-up can change a person's appearance at most, so how can it turn a tall person into a short one?" Amon asked doubtfully.

"How can there be no way? There is no shortage of solutions to problems in this world, only a lack of smart minds that can think of solutions." Joseph said while touching a pencil and a sheet full of mathematics from the table next to him. Scratch paper for the topic.

"Look, we use the method of making whalebone skirts to make a..." Joseph said while drawing on the manuscript paper.

"This is..." Amang's eyes widened, "Hey, this seems to be really possible, but it's just that the actors are too tired to play this role."

"It's a bit difficult, but it's hard to find a dwarf who can act. But it's easy to find an actor who can act and endure hardships, isn't it?" Joseph glanced at Amon and said, "Of course, although you like art like you, but Guys who lack the spirit of sacrifice for art will definitely not be able to endure such hardships. In addition, there is another advantage in this way, that is, when the theatrical performance is over and the actors come to the stage to call the curtain, the actor who plays the dwarf suddenly stands up straight. The effect must have been hilarious."

"Hehe, hehe..." Amon smiled and put the piece of paper drawn by Joseph into his pocket, "Joseph, you should go to England to apply for a patent for this design. But it is useless to apply, because France does not British patents are not recognized, and France has no patent legislation."

"So Britain is superior to France in terms of technological invention." Joseph replied.

...

After this conversation, another two days passed. Amon ran to Joseph again and said:

"Joseph, your idea last time was good. Especially at the last curtain call, there was a lot of laughter. The effect is great. I think Joseph, you can still be a screenwriter. You know, Greeks, Romans Although those scripts are good, many things are too old and not suitable for today's stage. The same is true for those works of the more recent Renaissance era. In addition, even the works of modern writers are often Because they blindly imitate the ancients, they cannot really perform on the stage without modification. Therefore, many theater troupes need a screenwriter.

Most of these screenwriters are ordinary actors. They know the stage very well, but they don't have enough understanding of art. So many theater troupes, in addition to having a screenwriter who is an actor, will also find a screenwriter who has enough taste in art to let them cooperate with each other. Just like the "Dragon and Rose" troupe that performed "The Governor of the Island" last time, they now hope to hire such a screenwriter. In addition, many artists also start from this position.

Originally, they proposed to me that I would be their screenwriter. But, you know, I'm busy, and this is when you need money. Just Joseph, my friend, do you still have the energy and time to do this work? "

"Ah, thank you so much, my friend." Joseph said gratefully, "As for energy and time, my friend, these two things are like the water in a sponge. Squeeze some out."

"Joseph, do you know? One of the interesting things about talking to you is that I can always hear some extra philosophical words from you. In fact, you are a very interesting person. If you don't pretend to be a priest on purpose, you It will definitely be favored by the girls. Of course, it may be worse than me, but it must be better than Lucien. You see, Lucien already has a mistress."

"Lucien also has a mistress?" This news surprised Joseph, because although Lucien's family has a lot of money, the money he can move is very limited, and his father will not know how to do it. Support him to raise a mistress.

"Of course." Amon said happily, "Just now I met Lucien's new coat and hat near the Saint-Genevieve Church, as well as his new polished leather shoes, wrapped in a Lucien Xi'an, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand, looked so dumb that he didn't even hear me say hello to him. I saw the uneasy and expectant expression on his face, as if he was going to participate in a thesis Replying, like a general preparing to go to the battlefield. Ah, I am familiar with that expression—because I have seen it a lot. I gave this state a biological name called 'estrus'. Well, Lucien is now Caught in this state. I'm sure he's got a little mistress. It can't be wrong!"

"You mean, you're not sure?" said Joseph, "it's not like you. Didn't you sneak behind Lucien to see what kind of girl it was that could charm you all at once?" Lucien?"

"Of course I followed. I thought this guy was going to meet his little lover in the little garden behind the church. At that time, I thought: 'This kid really knows how to find a place.' I didn't expect him to be there. got into a stagecoach, and..."

"Then you lost track, didn't you?" Joseph laughed.

"That's right. But I will definitely figure out what kind of little elf it is that can fascinate our Lucien like that. Hahaha..." Amon laughed.

"Oh, by the way, the head of the Dragon and Rose Troupe, Mr. Thenardier hopes to meet you sometime and treat you to a cup of coffee. See when you have time."

"How about Sunday afternoon, I have nothing to do that afternoon." Joseph replied.

"Very well, then I will make an appointment with Monsieur Thenardier. Well, do you have any requirements for the location?"

"Anywhere is fine," Joseph replied.