Note 61 — Chapter XVII · L’ENVOI.

In this connection there is a characteristic story told of our actor. He was driving in a hansom one night to the Lyceum when the ‘Merchant of Venice’ was running. In a fit of absence of mind he tendered a shilling for his fare, whereas it should have been eighteenpence or two shillings. Whereupon the cabby, who had recognised his man, burst out: “If yer plays the Jew inside that theayter as well as yer does outside, darned if I won’t spend this bob on coming to see yer.” It is said he was so delighted with the retort that he promptly gave the man half-a-sovereign.