Mr.Manley gazed at his scowling face and wondered idly whether he would ever light on another human being whom he would detest so heartily as he detested his employer.

He thought it indeed unlikely.

Still, when he became a successful dramatist there might be an actor-manager-- Then Lord Loudwater said: "Did you tell Mrs.Truslove that after September her allowance would be reduced to three hundred a year ?" "Yes," said Mr.Manley.
"What did she say ?" Mr.Manley hesitated; then he said diplomatically: "She did not seem to like it." "What did she _say_ ?" cried Lord Loudwater in a sudden, startling bellow, and his eyes shone red.
Mr.Manley winced and said quickly: "She said it was just like you." "Just like me?
Hey?
And what did she mean by that ?" cried Lord Loudwater loudly and angrily.
Mr.Manley expressed utter ignorance by looking blank and shrugging his shoulders.
"The jade! She's had six hundred a year for more than two years.

Did she think it would go on for ever ?" cried his employer.
"No," said Mr.Manley.
"And why didn't she think it would go on for ever?
Hey ?" said Lord Loudwater in a challenging tone.
"Because there wasn't an actual deed of settlement," said Mr.Manley.
"The ungrateful jade! I've a good mind to stop it altogether!" cried his employer.
Mr.Manley said nothing.

His face was blank; it neither approved nor disapproved the suggestion.
Lord Loudwater scowled at him and said: "I expect she said she wished she'd never had anything to do with me." "No," said Mr.Manley.
"I'll bet that's what she thinks," growled Lord Loudwater.
Mr.Manley let the suggestion pass without comment.