top at this inn. Let's get
out and stretch our legs and have some coffee.

[_They do; on returning, they find the Italian Gentleman
smiling blandly at them from inside the_ coupe.

_The It. G._ Goodaby, dear frens, a riverderla! I success at your
chairs. I vish you a pleasure's delay!

_Podb._ But I say, look here, Sir, we're going on, and you've got our
place!

_The It. G._ Sank you verri moch. I 'ope so. [_He blows_ PODBURY _a
kiss._

_Podb._ (_with intense disgust_). How on earth are we going to get
that beggar out? Set the Conductor at him, CULCHARD, do--you can talk
the lingo best!

_Culch._ (_who has had enough of_ PODBURY _for the present_). Talk to
him yourself, my dear fellow, _I_'m not going to make a row. [_He gets
in._

_Podb._ (_to Conductor_). Hi! sprechen sie Franzoesisch, oder was?
_il-y-a quelque chose dans mon siege, dites-lui de_--what the deuce is
the French for "clear out"?

_Cond._ _Montez, Monsieur, nous bartons, montez vite alors!_

[_He thrusts PODBURY, protesting vainly, into the interieur,
with two peasants, a priest and the elderly Englishwoman. The
diligence starts again._

* * * * *

AT THE ITALIAN OPERA.

[Illustration: Two (Covent Garden) Gentlemen of Verona!!]

[Illustration: Exit Romeo by the Rope Ladder,--a shrewd guess at what
really happens.]

_Tuesday, October 20th_.--Opening night. _Romeo et Juliette; debuts_
of Mlle. SIMMONET, of the Opera Comique, and M. COSSIRA, as the
lovers. _Lady Capulet's_ Small Dance, quite the smartest of the
season, as the Veronese nobility present were evidently remarking,
with abundance of easy gesture, to one another, as they led the way to
the lemonade. The _Juliette_ of the evening charming, and soon singing
herself into the good graces of a large audience; ditto, M. COSSIRA,
"than which," as the Prophet NICHOLAS would say, "a more competent
_Romeo_--though perhaps a trifle full in the waist for balcony-scaling
by moonlight." If he had really trusted himself to that gossamer
ladder in the Fourth Act, he would never have got away to Mantua,
especially as _Juliette_, with the thoughtlessness of her age and sex,
omitted to secure it in any way. Fortunately it was not a long drop,
and the descent was accomplished without accident, as will be seen
from the accompanying sketch.

* * * * *

CHANGE FOR A TENOR.--Mr. SEYMOUR HADEN, the opponent of the Crem