“Ever been in the profession?” the showman inquired.
Dibble looked puzzled, and said “No.”
“I mean the show business,” said the man, blowing a cloud of smoke into the candlelight.
“No, I’ve been in different employ,” said Dibble, feeling hot and comfortable with so much eating and drinking.
“Looking for work?”
“Yes,” said Dibble.
“Would you like the show business?”
“Shouldn’t mind anything to turn an honest penny,” said Dibble.
“Well, as you’ve bin good to the dawg,” said the showman, “I’ll give you a few weeks’ regler employment certain, though the season is getting to an end. I’ve been and invested in a horgan. I was afraid the dawg ’ud never come back, and I’ve added a horgan to the drum for the sake of hextra attraction on the outside. Would yer mind takin’ the outside dooty and grindin’ the horgan? I can give you a matter o’ twelve shillin a week and most o’ your grub.”
Dibble said he was much obliged to the gentleman, and he would be glad to try his hand at the business; he could only give it up if he did not suit. So he was engaged on the spot, and became part of the establishment of “The Northern Magician,” otherwise Digby Marquis, otherwise Bill Smith, the showman’s real name.