"'Git,' he said again.
"One of the town councillors rose and spoke.
"'Mr. Mayor,' he began, 'or Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'——
"'Wal, sir,' said the Mayor, 'didn't Nero play in his own theaytre?'
"'Mr. Mayor, or Hamlet, or Nero,' e went on, 'we came here on the presumption that we were paying for our places, and bound to laugh if we were amused at the performance. Now, sir, this performance does amuse us considerable.'
"'You may presump,' said the Mayor, 'what you dam please. But git. Git at once, or I'll turn on the pumps.'
"It was the Ghost who came to the front with the hose in his hands ready to begin.
"The town council disappeared before he had time to play on them and we went on with the tragedy.
"But it was spoiled, sir, completely spoiled. And I have never acted since then.
"So you see Mr. Dunquerque, I know somethin' about actin. 'Tisn't as if I was a raw youngster starting a theatrical idea all at once. I thought of it to-night, while I saw a man actin who has the real stuff in him, and only wants rest. I mean to try an experiment in London, and if it succeeds I shall take it to New York, and make the American Drama the greatest in all the world."