"They wouldn't talk with me," answered Leslie, indignantly. "One of the managers laughed at me when I asked if he would let me speak a piece, so that he might judge of my ability."
"Perhaps they had no vacancy," suggested Rupert, trying to keep his countenance.
"They asked me if I had ever acted. Of course I can't till I get the chance. I told him I would be willing to work for five dollars a week till I got some experience. I told them they might try me in small parts. One of them asked me if I had ever played Hamlet. He must have been in fun."
"I should think so."
"Of course great actors like Booth must have served an apprenticeship. I was reading an account of Booth's early life lately, and he began just as I want to begin."
"I expect the profession must be crowded. There was an actor staying at the hotel last week. He is out of employment, and I think he must be out of funds, for he got me to go out and pawn an overcoat for him."
"I am sure I could succeed if I only had a show," continued Leslie. "You don't happen to know any manager, do you?"
"No. Perhaps you would stand a better chance of getting into a variety theatre. Can you sing or dance?"
"No; I should not be willing to. I don't think Booth ever did, or Irving, or Forrest."
"No. I don't think they did."