was acted scarcely a
whit better than the evening before. Cleo perhaps put a trifle more
ornamentation into her part, but the audience showed no critical
tendencies.

On the third evening the theatre was two-thirds empty, and two pounds
four and sixpence represented the seats actually paid for. On the
fourth evening they played almost to empty benches, the takings
amounting to seventeen shillings and sixpence. This ended the
experiment.

The fifth day--Friday--was an eventful one, for duns began to arrive
early in the morning. The creditors had suddenly become assailed with
doubts, which were now deepened by the return of their emissaries, who
not only had been unable to obtain access to Cleo, but who had
furtively been warned by the traitorous stage manager "to look sharp
after their money." The _camaraderie_ that had hitherto subsisted
between that gentleman and Cleo had come to an abrupt end, she cutting
him short impatiently in the course of some discussion and bidding him
not to argue. In further token of his annoyance he had worded a
notice she had told him to put up as follows:

"The curtain will not rise to-night. Treasury to-morrow at mid-day,
if possible."

The actors and actresses looked very sad, indeed, as their eye
stumbled on the last two words. Cleo, in ignorance that the stage
manager had exceeded her directions, for he had inserted the
"treasury" part of the announcement on his own responsibility, was
invaded by the company in a body. Being pressed by the ladies and
gentlemen for some definite statement about their salaries--for
several of them were in great need, having long been out of an
engagement--she turned on them in towering fury and asked how they
dared insult her by questioning her _bona fides_ in that way. But as
soon as she learned what had dictated their action, she at once sent
for the stage manager and, in presence of all assembled, curtly
ordered him to leave "her theatre" immediately. At first he stood
dumfounded, and, on her repeating her injunction more vehemently, he
began to bluster back at her. A pretty scene ensued, he, with much
Billingsgate, lustily demanding his money, she insisting he must come
for it at the right time and place. In the end, she sent for the
police, and the astonished stage manager found himself forcibly
ejected. She next proceeded to tear down the offensive notice, and
soon afterwards the company departed, leaving Cleo and Morgan in sole
possession.