Part 51 (1/2)
Edward Henry turned the page to the theatrical advertisements
”REGENT THEATRE (Twenty yards from Piccadilly Circus) 'The Orient Pearl,' by Carlo Trent Miss ROSE EUCLID Every evening at 830 Matinees every Wednesday and Saturday at 230
Box-office open 10 to 10 Sole Proprietor--EH Machin”
Unreal! Fantastic! Was this he, Edward Henry? Could it be his mother's son?
Still--”Matinees every Wednesday and Saturday” ”_Every_ Wednesday and Saturday” That word i over h he kneell as you do that Mr Marrier had co for it, it comforted hiham's made a hit!” Mr Marrier alerial roohairl who played the Messenger She had only three words to say, and to say theain; and she had made a hit!
”Seen the notices?” asked Marrier
”Yes What of them?”
”Oh! Well!” Marrier drawled ”What would you expect?”
”That's just what _I_ said!” observed Edward Henry
”You did, did you?” Mr Marrier exclaimed, as if extremely interested by this corroboration of his views
Carlo Trent strolled in; he re But discussion of the situation was not carried very far
That evening the house was nearly full, except the pit and the gallery, which were nearly empty Applause was perfunctory
”How er when figures were added together
”Thirty-one pounds, two shi+llings”
”Heht of the London season, with so et used to the idea of it”
Edward Henry did not turn pale Still, he are that it cost hi the curtain up” at every performance--and this sum took no account of expenses of production nor of author's fees The su as rent of the theatre only the ground-rent plus six per cent on the total price of the building
What disgusted hiht audience, and he said to hiht all the tiht! Idiots! Chuht the house held twenty-seven pounds and sixpence
”Naturally,” said Mr Marrier, ”in this hot weathah! I never knew such a hot June! It's the open-air places that are doing us in the eye In fact I heard to-day that the White City is packed They sih”
It was on that day that Edward Henry paid salaries It appeared to hi-ers, assistant ditto, property e-hands, electricians, proeneral staff, dressers, coirls, cleaners, actors, actresses, understudies, to say nothing of Rose Euclid at a purely nominal salary of a hundred pounds a week The tenants of the bars were gruday was Saturday It rained--a succession of thunderstorether sixty-eight pounds