" They must play for my season," he added ; " but I needn'l
pay for theirs — eh? Oh! you're obliged to look after
them— eh?"

"Ha! ha! capital! What a knowing one you are!" ex-
claimed Wyndham. ^

" Ain't I? — eh? Now come and take a valk, eh?"

Seeing there was, at last, a chance of being permitted to
go out, Mr. Shem took Wyndham by the shoulder affec-
tionately, and they left the theatre. Two or three of the
dingy people, who still haunted the stage-door, tried to
speak to the manager as he passed, but he wouldn't have it.
" I've no time now," he said. " Tou must write vot you
vant— eh?"

A small pony-chaise was in waiting at the stage door, and
Mr. Shem called the attention of Mr. Flitter to it.
" There, Vyndham, vot do you think of that?" he asked.
" There was a bargain. The man wanted fifteen pounds for
it, as it stands — eh?"

" And not dear."

" No; but I did hotter than that. I gave him five in
money, and ten pounds' vorth of box orders for two. That
vos the agreement, and vot do you think 1 did? Eh?"

" I'm sure I can't tell," replied Flitter.
" I gave them all for the same evening, and didn't let vun
into the dress-circle. I had him there, I think. But it's
the vay vith all of them. They'll all do you, if they can."

Wyndham looked admiring-Iy at his companion — they were
kindred souls.
