Note 16 — Chapter V · 1874. ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’

One night, during the performance of ‘Hamlet,’ something was thrown from the gallery on to the stage. It fell into the orchestra, and for a time could not be found. A sad-looking working-woman called at the stage-door to ask about it, and was glad to learn it was found. It was only a cheap, common thing. “I often go to the gallery,” she said, “and I wanted Mr. Irving to have this. I wanted him alone in the world to possess it.” “This,” he added, telling the story, “is the little trinket which I wear on my watch-chain.”