This was the chance that Dick was waiting for, and immediately buttonholing his friend, he said:
'You're quite right, they are: and to tell you the truth, old man, I'm in the most devilish awkward position I ever was in my life. You heard about the breaking up of Morton and Cox's company? Well, that left me stranded.'
At the first words gaiety disappeared from Mr. Jackson's face, and during Dick's narrative of the tour in Lancashire he made many ineffectual wriggles to get away. Dick judged from these well-known indications that to borrow money might be attended with failure, and after a pathetic description of his poverty he concluded with:
'So now, my dear fellow, you must find something for me to do. It does not matter what—something temporary until I can find something better, you know.'
It was difficult to resist this appeal, and after a moment's reflection Mr.
Jackson said:
'Well, you know we're all made up here. There's a small part in the new drama to be produced next week; I wouldn't like to offer it as it is, but I might get the author to write it up.'
'It will do first rate. I'm sure to be able to make something of it. What's the screw?'
'That's just the point. We can't afford to pay much for it; our salary list is too big as it is.'
'What did you intend giving for it?'
'Well, we meant to give it to a super, but for you I can have it written up. What do you say to two-ten?'