"Ay," said he in a theatrical tone, "with all my heart." Then pulling out the drawer of the bureau at which he sat, he took out a bundle, and threw it upon a table that was near him, pronouncing the word, "There!" with great disdain.

I took it up, and perceiving with some surprise, that it was a comedy, told him it did not belong to me; upon which he offered another which I also disclaimed.

A third was produced, and rejected for the same reason.

At length he pulled out a whole bundle, and spread them before me, saying, "There are seven--take which you please--or take them all." I singled out my own, and went away, struck dumb with admiration at what I had seen--not so much on account of his insolence, as of the number of new plays which from this circumstance I concluded were yearly offered to the stage.

You may be sure, I did not fail to carry my complaint to my patron, who did not receive it with all the indignation I expected; but taxed me with precipitation, and told me I must lay my account with bearing with the humours of the players, if I intended to write for the stage.