Chance introduced them to the country manager, and Tom having asked several questions about this candidate, was assured by Mr.Mist: "Oh! he is a gentleman-performer, and very useful to us managers, for he not only finds his own dresses and properties, but 'struts and frets his hour on the stage without any emoluments.

His aversion to salary recommended him to the lessee of Drury-lane theatre, though his services had been previously rejected by the sub-committee." "Can it be that game-cock, the gay Lothario," said Tom, "who sports an immensity of diamonds ?"-- Of Coates's frolics he of course well knew, Rare pastime for the ragamuffin crew! Who welcome with the crowing of a cock, This hero of the buskin and sock.
"Oh! no," rejoined Mr.Mist, "that cock don't crow now: this gentleman, I assure you, has been at a theatrical school; he was instructed by the person who made Master Bettv a young Roscius." Tom shook his head, as if he doubted the abilities of this instructed actor.

To be a performer, he thought as arduous as to be a poet; and if _poeta nascitur, non fit_--consequently an actor must have natural abilities.
"And pray what character did this gentleman enact at Drury-lane Theatre ?" "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark," answered Mr.Mist--"Shakespeare is his favourite author." "And what said the critics--'to be, or not to be'-- I suppose he repeated the character ?" "Oh! Sir, it was stated in the play-bill, that he met with great applause, and he was announced for the character again; but, as the Free List was not suspended, and our amateur dreaded some hostility from that quarter, he performed the character by proxy, and repeated it at the Little Theatre in the Haymarket." "Then the gentlemen of the Free List," remarked Bob, "are free and easy ?" "Yes--yes--they laugh and cough whenever they please: indeed, they are generally excluded whenever a ~14~~full house is expected, as _ready money_ is an object to the poor manager of Drury-lane Theatre.

The British Press, however, is always excepted." "The British press!--Oh! you mean the newspapers," exclaimed Tom--"then I dare say they were very favourable to this Amateur of Fashion ?" "No--not very--indeed; they don't join the manager in his puffs, notwithstanding his marked civility to them: one said he was a methodist preacher, and sermonized the character--another assimilated him to a school-boy saying his lesson--in short, they were very ill-natured--but hush--here he is--walk in, gentlemen, and you shall hear him rehearse some of King Richard"-- "King Richard!" What ambition! thought Bob to himself--"late a Prince, and now--a king!" "I assure you," continued Mr.Mist, "that all his readings are new; but according to my humble observation, his action does not always suit the word--for when he exclaims--' may Hell make crook'd my mind,' he looks up to Heaven"-- "Looks up to Heaven!" exclaimed Tom; "then this London star makes a solecism with his eyes." Our heroes now went into the barn, and took a private corner, when they remained invisible.

Their patience was soon exhausted, and Bob and his honourable cousin were both on the fidgits, when the representative of King Richard exclaimed-- "Give me a horse----" "-- Whip!" added Tom with stunning vociferation, before King Richard could bind up his wounds.