real knowledge of
that which she professed. The whole affair was an imposture;
and on the very night of her first appearance the truth
exploded. On the discovery of the truth, I declined to allow
the English adventuress, for such she was, another
appearance on my boards. In spite of the expostulations of
the "friends" of the lady--in spite of the deprecatory
letters in which she earnestly denied her English
origin--in spite even of the desire expressed in high places
to witness her strange performance--I remained inflexible.

The "Noble Lord" thus referred to in this pompous disclaimer was Lord
Malmesbury.

[Illustration: _Viscount Ranelagh, who organised a cabal against Lola
Montez_]

IV

If she had a quick temper, Lola Montez had a good heart, and was
always ready to lend a helping hand to others. In this connection
Edward Fitzball, a hack dramatist with whom things were not going
well, has a story of how she volunteered to assist in a benefit
performance that was being got up to set him on his legs. It was
difficult to secure attractions; and the beneficiare, realising that,
as was the custom in such cases, he would have to make good any
deficit himself, was feeling depressed.

"This benefit," he says, "which I fully expected would prove to be a
decided loss, annoyed me sadly. I was sauntering along Regent Street
when I met Stretton, the popular singer, whose own benefit was just
coming off. He said that he had secured every attraction worthy of the
public, and that there was no hope for me, 'unless,' he added, 'you
could secure Lola Montez.'

"'Pray, who is that?' I said in my ignorance.

"'Lola Montez is a lady who appeared the other night at Her Majesty's
Theatre as a dancer, but, due to some aristocratic disturbance, has
left in disgust. The papers were full of it. I offered her L50 to
dance for me, and met with a decided refusal. Hence, I see no hope for
you.'"

Fitzball, however, thinking it worth while taking a chance, hurried to
Lola's lodgings and begged her to contribute to the programme he was
offering. He had not expected to be successful, since he knew that she
was smarting under a sense of injury. To his surprise and delight,
however, she promised her services, and refused to accept any
payment.

Overjoyed at the success of his embassy, Fitzball rushed off to the
printers and had the hoardings plastered with bills, directing special
attention