“Thank you, Mr. Thornton,” said Ben, most gratified.
“I congratulate you, Mr. Wilkins, on the success of your play,” said Ben, turning to his friend and patron.
“You helped bring it about. A good deal depended on your part being well played.”
When Ben emerged from the theater he found Mr. Snodgrass waiting for him.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Ben?” asked the novelist reproachfully.
“Were you here?” asked Ben, surprised.
“Yes.”
“Who told you I was to appear?”
“No one. I didn’t know anything about it till you appeared on the stage. I was so surprised that you might have knocked me down with a feather. You never told me that you were an actor.”
“I didn’t know it myself. This is my first appearance on any stage.”