e unconcerned in the affair. But I understand
the meaning of your looks, and will proceed.

"Well, sir, Mr. Marmozet, upon his return to town, treated me with
uncommon complaisance, and invited me to his lodgings, where he proposed
to communicate his remarks, which, I confess, were more unfavourable
than I expected; but I answered his objections, and, as I thought,
brought him over to my opinion; for, on the whole, he signified the
highest approbation of the performance. In the course of our dispute,
I was not a little surprised to find this poor gentleman's memory so
treacherous, as to let him forget what he had said to me, before he went
out of town, in regard to Earl Sheerwit's opinion of my play, which
he now professed himself ignorant of; and I was extremely mortified at
hearing from his own mouth, that his interest with Mr. Vandal was so
very low as to be insufficient of itself to bring a new piece upon the
stage. I then begged his advice, and he counselled me to apply to Earl
Sheerwit, for a message in my favour to the manager, who would not
presume to refuse anything recommended by so great man; and he was so
kind as to promise to second this message with all his power. I
had immediate recourse to the worthy gentlewoman my friend, already
mentioned, who opened the channels of her conveyance with such
expedition, that in a few days I had a promise of the message, provided
I could assure myself of Mr. Vandal's being unengaged to any other
writer; for his lordship did not choose to condescend so far, until he
should understand that there was a probability (at least) of succeeding;
at the same time that blessed me with this piece of news, I was startled
at another, by the same channel of communication; which was, that Mr.
Marmozet, before he advised me to this application, had informed the
earl that he had read my play, and found it altogether unfit for the
stage. Though I could not doubt the certainty of this intelligence, I
believed there was some inapprehension in the case; and, without taking
any notice of it, told Mr. Marmozet the answer I had been favoured with;
and he promised to ask Mr. Vandal the question proposed. I waited upon
him in a day or two, when he gave me to understand, that Mr. Vandal
having professed himself free of all engagements, he had put my play
into his hands, and represented it as a piece strongly recommended by
Earl Sheerwit, who (he assured him) would honour him with a message
in its f