Chapter Ii.

some smoke-dried portraits of past and present lights of the stage . In short it is a theatrical public-house . But you will not find Mr . Irvin" * and Mr . Bancroft here , nor do those mightv men affect anv lesser mingling with their fellows than is to be acquired within the gloomv portals of the Garrick Club , in King-street ,

Covent Garden , an imposing building apparently maintained for the comfort of solemn old gentlemen , who stand eye-glass in hand at the windows , wondering perchance , as others , certainly wonder , what they ' ve got to do with the drama . Nor do you see the more prosperous of the London actors eonvivially in

the house I speak of : they betake themselves to more frivolous clubs , and their laugh and jest and story are heard in the better restaurants of the Strand . Hither , however , resorts a crowd that is self-evidently theatrical ; if the men are not clean shaved you can see at a glance that they ought to be , and want to be , and a

glance at their apparel makes it seem probable that economy has to be necessary—two ponce preclude a visit to the barber , it is half-past one on Saturday , and the crowd is very thick ; those present who are in an engagement have but recently come from Treasury—i . e ., drawn their salary—and are standing drinks

to then * less fortunate brethren , who are affectionately " dearboviug" them and laughing loudlv at their little witticisms . What is that seedy man after , carrying the envelope from group to group ? He is trying the postage-stamp dodge , which is an ingenious method of extracting small coin from the nocket of your fellow man . He goes up to a friend , and sa

vs" dust look here , cully : Had an offer of an engagement at Huddersfield , and pem my sivvy haven ' t got a penny for a postage stamp to tell the manager that he must advance my railway fare . Safest thing in the world . " V ' ou can ' t give a man a penny iu such a case , and don't forget that half-a-dozen

sixpences come to three shillings . Here , however , his success is limited ; perhaps those present have the cunning of personal experience . In the evening lie will go about with a piteous tale of how the wife will have to go without her Sunday dinner , and the money thus obtained he will expend religiously in gin .

At a quarter to two there was much bustle as the door opened and a stout man of Jewish appearance , in a furred overcoat ( it was Midsummer ) , with his stubby fingers heavy with

rings , elbowed his way unceremoniously to the bar . " Hello Moss , " " How do Moss , old boy , " and other ejaculations of welcome are disregarded as he asks the barmaid" Mr . Yernor boon' in . mv dear ' ' . "

"No , sir , " simpers that divinity ; but . he sent to -ay as he'd be here at two precise . " This was Mr . Moss , the dramatic agent , on whom engagements depend . He is supposed to have the ear of the country managers to a man , and both bv himself and his clients is

considered a very important person . If the truth were known , however , Mr . Moss gets far the lesser part of his income by commissions cm thoir salaries ; wealthy amateurs arc his line of business—voung and middle-aged ladies of a stage-struck

description , weak-kneed and and weak-headed young men who are anxious to play Claud Melnotte , for whom the obliging Mr . Moss provides theatre , company , and dresses , besides superintending the receipts . One job like this is worth to him three months of the professionals .

" VV hat will you drink , old chap '" ' ' asks sin actor anxious to conciliate the great man ; but Moss knows better than that , and ordering "lassos round betakes himself to a corner , and begins

to read the newspaper , a delicate hint thar In- is disinclined tor conversation . Presently the door opened again , and there eiiteied a young man of entirely different appearance from any of those already

Chapter Ii.

there ; he was tall and good looking , with brown moustache and hair , well , but quietly dressed—check tweeds , with a round hat , boots scrupulously varnished , and he carried an ebony stick with a gold handle . Unniistakeably a gentleman , there was a rather drawn look about his eyes and cheeks / which did not bespeak the

ascetic . He was about twenty-eight years of age , and had lived every minute of that period . He passed by tlie buffet crowd without a look or a nod , and went up and shook hands with the agent , who at once , and without asking his approval , roared out an order for " a bottle of fi' / . z . "

" Good Heavens ! man , ' said the new comer , impatiently , "do you think that I could drink their filthy gooseberry , I who at present have the honour of owing mv wine merchant something well over three figures ? No , give me a glass of beer : it can't be verv bad , ancl if it is I needn ' t drink it . "

Moss looked at him in a way in which dislike and conscious inferiority in breeding and palate were curiously blended . " Well , Yernor , " he said , " please yourself . 1 thought you'd like it . You seem out of temper to-day . "

" 1 suppose you duln t bring ine to this confounded hole of a pot-house to talk abont my temper ? What devil ' s job is in the wind now ? "

"Now , I tell you , Mr . V erner , as you calls yourself , " began the Jew in a bullying tone , "I ain ' t going to be talked toby you in that way . I am one of the few , if I ain ' t the only one , as knows that when Mr . Richard Winiboiirne , of Hoxford Collidge ,

had run through all the money he had and all he could spend ,, he made a little mistake in spelling his name on a cheque oneday , and it was nic that helped him to forget that name for ever , to get it about that he was gone to America , that sent him there , and got him on the stage there , and I've got him under mv thumb . There . "

" Moss , don ' t be a fool . Perhaps I am irritable ; but you know you ' ve had your share both in that transaction and others which won ' t bear looking * into , and if I get into trouble you won ' t bc so safe as you might . Tell me what ' s up . " " Well , " said the Jew sulkily , " you shouldn ' t rile ine

Justus I . was agoin to do you a good turn , too . I ' ve got a job for you ; to go down . and manage some swell private theatricals afc Broadstairs , in Kent . Pretty seaside place , splendid gals for your pupils ; good salary—ten pounds a week for three weeks , and the run of your teeth . "

"Yah ! grumbled \ erner . " What a fuss about nothing . A thirty pound job for all this gas and trouble . I can ' t run away with the girls , for duennas nowadays are regular dragons at protecting them from the wolf in the shape of a wicked actor . "

" Ah ! but , my boy , " whispered the Jew slyly , " there's other things besides gals in swell houses . Fine birds ' as fine feathers , and there ' s no knowing what you might find . Now , listen , " he continued hurriedly , for his companion winced , turned scarlet , and was on the point of breaking out , " you don't know what

good it might do you . Some of these ' ere swells might do something for you ; Lady Crauford herself might take a fancy to you . Lord , what lovely jewels she has , to be sure ; I seen her going to the drawing-room once . And , anyhow , you want

money bad , and so , I don t mind telling you , do 1 ? Now , don't say a word . I'm going out for five minutes , when I'll come back for your answer , and if it ' s 'Yes , ' as it ' s sure to be from a sensible man like you , I'll draw you a cheque for two weeks ' salary in advance . " And he hurried off , apparently fearful of

getting a negative answer . Yerner grinned . There are several kinds of grin , all pleasant to look at and comfortable to indulge in ; but the

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