heorge Dargo. I do not zay to anypoty
twice.'

From the moment when he gripped the idea that this was a rehearsal
the place was a fairyland to Paul. Darco stormed round, correcting
everybody, acted for everybody, and a little man, who was barricaded
behind an enormous moustache, and seemed to be second in command, echoed
the chief's commands plaintively:

'Oh I say, now, why don't you? You got that cross marked down last
night.'

'You're Binda, are you?' said Darco, addressing one pale and trembling
young woman who had just tried an entrance. 'Veil, now, look here. I
don't sbeak to beobles twice. Binda is a light, high-sbirited kirl She
is all light and laughder and nonsense. See? She gums hob, skib, and
chump. Like this.'

He waddled furiously to the wing and made the entrance. He was
ludicrous, he was grotesque, but somehow he conveyed the idea he desired
to convey. The girl tried again, but failed to satisfy him.

'Vere do you garry your prains?' he asked. 'In your boods?'

The girl began to whimper, and the lieutenant took Darco by the sleeve.

'Don't worry her to-night, governor,' he said. 'She's a good little
sort, and her mother's dying.'

'Vy the tevil didn't you zay zo? demanded the manager. 'How am I to
know? Gif her a zovereign,' he whispered, 'and ask her if she vants
anything--bort-wine or chellies. _You_ know.' Then he turned, roaring:
'Vere is Miss Lawrence's understudy? Zing, if you please, Miss Clewes.
I never sbeak to beobles twice. You may go home, Miss Lawrence. Dell
Villips if you want anything, ant I'll zee to it. Vy the tevil don't
beobles zay when there are things the madder at home? Now, Miss Clewes.'

The lieutenant was back at Paul's elbow a minute later.

'The governor's a hot un,' he said--'he's a fair hot un when he's at
work. But for a heart--well, I'm damned if gold's in it with him!'

CHAPTER IX

In a month's time from this Paul's soul sat chuckling all day long. He
lived with the quaintest set he had ever conceived, and there was no
page of 'Nickleby' which was fuller of comedy than a day of his own
life. He met Crummies, and actually heard him wonder how those things
got into the papers. He met the Infant Phenomenon. With his own hands
he had helped to adjust the immortal real pump and tubs. He was still in
the days when there was a farce in an evening's performance to play the
people in, and a solid five-act melodrama for the public's solid fare,
and a farce to pl