[The History of Pendennis by William Makepeace Thackeray]@TWC D-Link bookThe History of Pendennis CHAPTER XIV 5/16
In vain the various actors tried to win the favour of the great stage Sultan.
Pizarro never got a hand from him. Bingley yelled, and Mrs.Bingley bellowed, and the Manager only took snuff out of his great gold box.
It was only in the last scene, when Rolla comes in staggering with the infant (Bingley is not so strong as he was and his fourth son Master Talma Bingley is a monstrous large child for his age)--when Rolla comes staggering with the child to Cora, who rushes forward with a shriek, and says--"O God, there's blood upon him!"-- that the London manager clapped his hands, and broke out with an enthusiastic bravo. Then having concluded his applause, Mr.Dolphin gave his secretary a slap on the shoulder, and said, "By Jove, Billy, she'll do!" "Who taught her that dodge ?" said old Billy, who was a sardonic old gentleman.
"I remember her at the Olympic, and hang me if she could say Bo to a goose." It was little Mr.Bows in the orchestra who had taught her the 'dodge' in question.
All the company heard the applause, and, as the curtain went down, came round her and congratulated and hated Miss Fotheringay. Now Mr.Dolphin's appearance in the remote little Chatteris theatre may be accounted for in this manner.
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