"No; I am merely passing through. I shall sleep to-night at Duncan."
"At the poorhouse?" asked Jed with a comical smile.
"Yes, if I could be sure of as good fare as this," replied the actor with an answering smile. "But that would be very doubtful."
Mrs. Fogson, who, cross-grained as she was, was not above flattery, mentally pronounced Mr. Bertram a most agreeable young man—in fact, a perfect gentleman.
"I am really ashamed," continued Bertram, "to have entered your house in such a condition, but I was feeling a little internal disturbance, and fancied that whisky would relieve it. Unfortunately I took too much."
"It might have happened to anyone," said Fogson considerately. "I am myself a temperance man, but sometimes I find whisky beneficial to my health."
Bertram, noticing the ruddy hue of Mr. Fogson's nose, was quite ready to believe this statement.
"May I ask if you are a business man?" remarked Fogson.
"My business is acting. I belong to the Gold King Company, which is to play at Duncan to-night."