Volume I Part 13 (1/2)

While this conversation was proceeding there stood at a little distance from the speakers a man who had been walking arm in arm with the actor when the friends met, and who fell apart from Kiss when he clapped Mr.

Lethbridge upon the shoulder. He was an anxious-eyed man, nervous, fidgety, with a certain tremulousness of limb and feature, denoting a troubled nature. His age was some thirty-five or thereabouts; his clothes were respectable and shabby; and although he took no part in the conversation, and did not obtrude himself, he did not remove his eyes from Kiss and Mr. Lethbridge. Kiss, turning, beckoned to him, and he joined the friends.

”You heard what we've been talking about,” said the actor. ”What do you think of it?”

”I wish,” said the man, ”that I could write such a piece.”

”Ah,” said Kiss, ”it is easy to preach as we've been preaching, but to do the thing is a different pair of shoes. It comes by nature, or it comes not at all.”

”But,” said the man, ”I don't believe it would be a success.”

”Wait a moment,” said Kiss; ”I am forgetting my manners. Mr.

Linton--Mr. Lethbridge.”

The two shook hands.

”Mr. Linton,” said Kiss to Mr. Lethbridge, in explanation, ”_is_ a dramatic author, and has written plays.”

Mr. Linton sighed, and fidgeted with his fingers.

”Has he?” exclaimed Mr. Lethbridge. ”And they have been played, of course?”

Mr. Linton sighed again, and inclined his head.

”I am really delighted,” said Mr. Lethbridge. ”I have never in my life spoken to a dramatic author, and have never shaken hands with one. Will you allow me?”

They shook hands again, Mr. Lethbridge effusively, Mr. Linton with mingled bashfulness, pride, and awkwardness.

”Successful pieces, I am sure,” observed Mr. Lethbridge.

”More or less so,” said Kiss. ”We must take our rubs, my dear Leth.”

”Of course, of course. We've got to take them.”

”That's what I'm always telling Linton. We've got to take 'em. Why, you, now,” pointing his finger at Mr. Lethbridge, ”you're not a public man, and you have your rubs.”

”I am not free from them,” said Mr. Lethbridge, in a cheerful voice.

”There, now, Linton,” said Kiss, with the manner of one who desired to point a moral, ”our friend Lethbridge here is not a public man, and _he_ has rubs. So you don't think his piece would be a success? Why, Semp.r.o.nius?”

”An author must follow the fas.h.i.+on,” replied Mr. Linton, ”if he wants to live.”

”He wants that, naturally.” And here Kiss took Mr. Lethbridge aside, with, ”Excuse me, Linton, a moment,” and whispered, confidentially, ”A little dashed. Had a knock-down blow. Last piece a failure. Produced a fort-night ago. Ran a week. I was in it, but could not save it.

Consequence, out of an engagement; not serious to me, but to him--very.

A man of genius; but not yet hit 'em quite. Will soon, or I'm the worst of actors. Which I am not--nor the best; but 'twill serve. Meanwhile, waiting for the spondulix to pour in, has wife and family to support. A modern Triplet. Has play which will take the town by storm. The play that failed was of a domestic turn. Very pretty; but lacked incident.

Too much dialogue, too little action. He feels it--badly. Here,”

touching his heart, ”and here,” touching his stomach. They returned to Mr. Linton. ”Proceed, Linton.”