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her Yacht, cannot conveniently attend the performances this evening, but will patronize the same pieces to morrow, if the manager thinks proper. Should this intimation be complied with, the manager may put the Dutchess's name down in the box-book, for at least twenty places!"--1 looked at Tom, and said—" Who gave you this? I am afraid it is a hoax !"--" I'll be hang'd sir, if I was not thinking so! for the gentleman could not help smiling when he put the note into my hand!"-" No matter said I, do you know Monsieurthe Commissaire? go to him with my compliments, and I shall consider myself obliged if he will come to speak to me as soon as convenient, the sooner the better." I set off and I began to study some kind of hoax in revenge for the trick they intended to play upon me. The Commissaire came as desired; I related the circumstances, and added that what was intended by this Capt. Dash for a hoax, would, I had reason to believe, prove a reality: for I had seen the two Aid-de-camps at Head Quarters, and they were using their endeavours to prevail on the Dutchess to patronize the next night's performance, which in fact she had partly consented to do, for a message came to that effect, before I had finished talking to the Commissaire. He readily consented to assist me in obtaining my share of the joke! He asked me what the two individuals I had named were indebted to me? what they owed me?"Nothing" I replied, "but their services; - But if they don't do their duty by performing on this occasion, I shall be a considerable loser."-"Oh!" said he "I understand you, sir, you want to secure their per

forming for you to-morrow night: what reason have you to doubt them?" "I do not suspect that they have the least intention of injuring me or disappointing the public; but the wine, the WINE sir, which they are so freely drinking will incapacitate them from doing themselves credit or me justice: I want to see them look over their respective parts to night, with as clear a head as possible, that they may display their abilities to better advantage to-morrow. Nothing can make them do this, like terror. I would have them believe that I am offended at their conduct; for, at this moment, they do not know but that they are wanted to play to night they are drinking now when they ought to be studying their parts, for I know some of them have never yet read them over or even seen the book! I am consequently alarmed, lest they should, by drinking, disgrace themselves and incur the displeasure of the public, which at present is so favorably inclined to give us their liberal support. Besides you must be aware that there are on all occasions, in every town, persons who think it a mighty good joke to disappoint an audience, by throwing difficulties in the way of their performing the pieces advertised, and substituting something else; and I confess I suspect this Captain Dash to be a gentleman of this sort, but it is prudent to avoid charges, lest they should be productive of riot or displeasure; and therefore, Monsieur Commissaire, I will thank you to take your staff of office, or go in the most formidable array which your office will authorize you to assume, and bring the two who have shown the strongest symptoms of insubordination,-I mean Messrs. Pal

mer Fisher and Kent, to your own house, or to whatever place you please, and I will meet you, and try to adjust matters in as mild a way as possible. I am not the least offended with any of them: only, I fear, (indeed I am certain,) that if they are not kept in good train to day, to-morrow will be too late to think of it. Sobriety is absolutely necessary on the first day, and during the time of study, till the words are completely your own; after that the performance may at times be assisted by a cheerful glass or two! But more than two glasses would be much worse than none at all!"

Thus instructed, the Commissaire set off to execute his office in the manner which to him appeared most advisable. I had sufficient knowledge of him before, to feel assured that he would act his part well, and do his best to effect the object we had in view; for I had before discovered him to be a person of considerable humour and intelligence. He termed my demand"Une dette par anticipation." I thought it a good phrase, and had it introduced. In the course of half an hour I was sent for to the house of the Commissaire ; he had got the two Performers in his custody; and to keep them in good humour, had asked them to drink with him, in as friendly a way as possible: but they refused doing so, and were very grand, very indignant, and as soon as I appeared they were still more so; in fact, they were very much intoxicated at the time; and I only requested them to think of the consequences of leading astray the young ones, whom their example encouraged, instead of having operated towards keeping them sober. Here, I was interrupted by my Tragedy

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Hero who turned to the Commissaire and exclaimed with a commanding voice, "Officer do your duty!" So off they were marched to the town prison. On their leaving me I observed privately to the Commissaire, "You'll understand Monsieur, that their going to prison is their own fault, I have no charge against them-I only want them to come and do their duty at the Theatre. We have a rehearsal to night - the performance is put off until to-morrow. None of them yet know of this change, therefore, they are blameable for taking so much wine; but, if you can bring them to a proper sense of the respect they owe to the public, set them at liberty, and I shall be inclined to overlook what has passed." After giving me a few haughty looks and high tragedy struts, to prison they were taken. The following report was made to me afterwards by the Commissaire. He could do nothing by talking to the two rebellious chiefs, they only answered as before, with "Officer do your duty!" The key of the prison door was soon turned upon them: the Commissaire remained in the jailor's parlour, and gave him the following instructions.

First. A bundle of straw was taken in, and laid in one corner of the room, with a couple of small blankets, an old broken plate, with two slices of brown bread, then a large jug of cold water, with a rusty tin can which held about half a pint; two small clumps of wood to answer the purpose of seats: and lastly, an old fashioned French "Chaise de Nuit." Having done this, the jailor very politely said " Gentlemen, I shall not go to bed this half hour, if you want any thing more,

give a loud knock or two with that stone, and I will come to you; if not "bon soit" I wish you a good night. Saying this, he shut to the heavy old door, which grated on its hinges, locked the chain across it, on the outside, taking care to make it rattle! then might be seen the blunt ugly ends of two iron bolts which shot into staples fastened within the grooves of the stone wall; this was like running the ends of two kitchen pokers between one's ribs and heart. Silence ensued, for, at least ten minutes, and then something worse than even midnight meditations! Thirst came, and nothing but water---cold water---to quench it! At length, becoming quite impatient, they gave a loud knock with the stone left them to make signals with; and a still louder call for the jailor!-Up-or rather down the jailor came; "What's the matter gentlemen?" "Matter," said one of them (Mr. Kent) "Is this Turkey or Algiers? are we to be kept in this vile dungeon until we are starved to death?" "No sir" said the jailor, "I'll bring you more bread and water if you want it! the Commissaire is still in my parlour, and he says you may have as much bread and water as you please!" "Desire him to step this way" (said Palmer Fisher): After a short pause-he continued-Oh I hear him coming-" Mr. Commissaire, what is to be done? "I begin to think this a very foolish business! Come, friend Kent, don't persevere in what is wrong; you know we ought to have kept sober when going on the stage: suppose we send to the Manager, and say we will do as he desires us!" "Well," said Mr. Kent, after a little grumbling, "Well,-do as you please; I

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