'We can have positively your last appearance, on Thursday--re-engagement for one night more, on Friday--and, yielding to the wishes of numerous influential patrons, who were disappointed in obtaining seats, on Saturday.

That ought to bring three very decent houses.' 'Then I am to make three last appearances, am I ?' inquired Nicholas, smiling.
'Yes,' rejoined the manager, scratching his head with an air of some vexation; 'three is not enough, and it's very bungling and irregular not to have more, but if we can't help it we can't, so there's no use in talking.

A novelty would be very desirable.

You couldn't sing a comic song on the pony's back, could you ?' 'No,' replied Nicholas, 'I couldn't indeed.' 'It has drawn money before now,' said Mr Crummles, with a look of disappointment.

'What do you think of a brilliant display of fireworks ?' 'That it would be rather expensive,' replied Nicholas, drily.
'Eighteen-pence would do it,' said Mr Crummles.