'Have you arranged with the
Guv'nor?' he asked me.

"'I'm just waiting to see him again for a few minutes,' I returned.
'It'll be all right. Have you got the ticket?'

"'Haven't seen it,' he replied.

"'About a column?' I suggested.

"'Three-quarters,' he preferred, and went.

"The moment he was gone, I slipped downstairs and met a printer's boy
coming up.

"'What's the name of your sub?' I asked him. 'Tall man with a black
moustache, looks tired.'

"'Oh, you mean Penton,' explained the boy.

"'That's the name,' I answered; 'couldn't think of it.'

"I walked straight into the editor; he was still irritable. 'What is it?
What is it now?' he snapped out.

"'I only want the ticket for the Royalty Theatre,' I answered. 'Penton
says you've got it.'

"'I don't know where it is,' he growled.

"I found it after some little search upon his desk.

"'Who's going?' he asked.

"'I am,' I said. And I went.

"They have never discovered to this day that I appointed myself. Penton
thinks I am some relation of the proprietress, and in consequence
everybody treats me with marked respect. Mrs. Wallace herself, the
proprietress, thinks I am the discovery of Penton, in whose judgment
she has great faith; and with her I get on admirably. The paper I
don't think is doing too well, and the salary is small, but sufficient.
Journalism suits my temperament, and I dare say I shall keep to it."

"You've been somewhat of a rolling stone hitherto," I commented.

He laughed. "From the stone's point of view," he answered, "I never
could see the advantage of being smothered in moss. I should always
prefer remaining the stone, unhidden, able to move and see about me. But
now, to speak of other matters, what are your plans for the immediate
future? Your opera, thanks to the gentlemen, the gods have dubbed
'Goggles,' will, I fancy, run through the winter. Are you getting any
salary?"

"Thirty shillings a week," I explained to him, "with full salary for
matinees."

"Say two pounds," he replied. "With my three we could set up an
establishment of our own. I have an idea that is original. Shall we work
it out together?"

I assured him with fervour that nothing would please me better.

"There are four delightful rooms in Queen's Square," he continued. "They
are charmingly furnished: a fine sitting-room in the front, with
two bedrooms and a kitchen behind. Their last tenant was a Polish
Revolutionary, who, three months ago, poor fello