“When I came home one evening and found a very humble dinner waiting for me, I became very sad indeed.
“But worse was to follow, for in a week’s time my engagement at the theatre was over, and I was politely told I was not good business, and could not be retained.
“I went quietly and, I thought, calmly away; but happening to enter a club that evening where my presence had always been welcome before, I found only coldness. When a rival actor taunted me as to my success, I completely lost control of myself. I flew at the fellow, picked him up, armchair and all, and threw him to the other side of the room.
“I heard no more of the matter, but in a week’s time I found myself alone in my dingy lodgings without a copper in my pocket.
“I was alone with my pride. I might beg, but never again, I told myself, would I darken my father’s door.
“It was two days after this when, while strolling along near to the docks, I was met by a French seafaring man. He looked at me and I at him.
“‘Do you want work?’ he asked.
“‘That I do. I’ll do anything.’
“‘Well, you look a likely sportsman. I’m off in a day or two on a curious kind of cruise to the very far north.’
“‘I’ll go with you,’ I answered, ‘if the wages are not starvation.’