d all the names
perfectly well. "There is one charming lady among our guests, her
face took me in a moment; but she is a titled lady. There is no Mrs.
Woffington among them."

"Strange!" replied Triplet; "she was to be here; and, in fact, that is
why I expedited these lines in her honor."

"In _her_ honor, sir?"

"Yes, madam. Allow me:

'Brights being, thou whose radiant brow--'"

"No! no! I don't care to hear them now, for I don't know the lady."

"Well, madam, but at least you have seen her act?"

"Act! you don't mean all this is for an actress?"

_"An_ actress? _The_ actress! And you have never seen her act? What a
pleasure you have to come! To see her act is a privilege; but to act
with her, as _I_ once did! But she does not remember that, nor shall
I remind her, madam," said Triplet sternly. "On that occasion I was
hissed, owing to circumstances which, for the credit of our common
nature, I suppress."

"What! are you an actor too? You are everything."

"And it was in a farce of my own, madam, which, by the strangest
combination of accidents, was damned!"

"A play-writer? Oh, what clever men there are in the world--in London,
at least! He is a play-writer, too. I wonder my husband comes not. Does
Mr. Vane--does Mr. Vane admire this actress?" said she, suddenly.

"Mr. Vane, madam, is a gentleman of taste," said he, pompously.

"Well, sir," said the lady, languidly, "she is not here." Triplet took
the hint and rose. "Good-by," said she, sweetly; and thank you kindly
for your company.

"Triplet, madam--James Triplet, of 10, Hercules Buildings, Lambeth.
Occasional verses, odes, epithalamia, elegies, dedications, squibs,
impromptus and hymns executed with spirit, punctuality and secrecy.
Portraits painted, and instruction in declamation, sacred, profane and
dramatic. The card, madam" (and he drew it as doth a theatrical fop
his rapier) "of him who, to all these qualifications adds a prouder
still--that of being,

"Madam,

"Your humble, devoted and grateful servant,

"JAMES TRIPLET."

He bowed in a line from his right shoulder to his left toe, and moved
off. But Triplet could not go all at one time out of such company; he
was given to return in real life, he had played this trick so often on
the stage. He came back, exuberant with gratitude.

"The fact is, madam," said he, "strange as it may appear to you, a kind
hand has not so often been held out to me, that I should forget it,
especiall