The remark was flippant, but the sense of it was in accordance with Mr. Erin’s views. In his exaltation of spirit he even condescended to reply in the same vein.
‘I shall open my mouth pretty wide, I can tell you, when the managers come; but we must not go to them.’
‘You of course know best,’ said William Henry modestly. If left to himself the impetuosity of youth would have led him on the morrow, cap (and MS.) in hand, to the stage-door of the nearest theatre.
‘Fortunately, you see, we can afford to wait,’ said Mr. Erin composedly.
William Henry glanced at Margaret, and Margaret dropped her eyes; Mr. Erin’s sentiments, though intended to be comforting and even exultant, were, strange to say, not shared by these young people.
They had not, however, to wait long. As Mr. Erin had predicted, the news that the committee appointed to investigate the claims of the ‘Vortigern’ MS. had decided in its favour flew swiftly over the town. ‘From the palace to the cottage,’ said Mr. Erin in his enthusiasm, though probably it only reached the cottage orné. Letters of congratulation poured in from every quarter. Even Malone was reported to have said that if it could have been done incognito he should have liked to see the manuscript. (What he really said was, ‘I wish that Steevens had found it,’ meaning that he should have taken a real pleasure in eviscerating him.) The opinion of antiquaries was divided; and if Reid and Ritson denounced the play, Garter-King-at-Arms was enthusiastic in its favour, and gave it more supporters than Heraldry ever dreamt of.
Before a week was over came Mr. Harris, proprietor of Covent Garden Theatre, to Norfolk Street in person. The announcement of his name set William Henry’s heart beating more quickly than it had done even on that fateful afternoon in Anne Hathaway’s garden. For the first time he shrank from the customary ordeal of investigation, and Mr. Erin interviewed the manager alone. As it happened, the young man need have been under no apprehension of a brow-beating. Mr. Harris was a practical man, of an expansive mind, which did not stoop to details.
‘The committee, I hear, sir, have decided in favour of this play of yours,’ was his first remark; it was delivered with quite unnecessary abruptness, but it was not the tone alone which grated upon Mr. Erin’s ears.