Memoirs Of Joseph Grimaldi

MEMOIRS OF JOSEPH GEIMALDI. 79

it, they spent the remainder of the day happily enough, and
looked forward as calmly as they could to the Monday which
was to decide their fate.

The following day—Sunday—was rather a wearisome one,
being occtipied with speculations as to what the morrow would
bring forth. However, long as it seemed, the night arrived at
last; and though that was long too, Monday morning succeeded
it as usual.

Concealing his inward agitation as best he might, he walked
to the theatre, and there in the treasxuy found Mr. Hughes.
He was received very kindly, but, after some trivial conver-
sation, was much astonished by Mr. Hughes saying, " So you
are going to leave Sadler's "Wells, and all your old Mends, merely
because you can get a trifle more elsewhere,—eh, Joe ?"

He was so amazed at this, he coxud scarcely speak, but quickly
recovering,-said, "I can assure you, sir, that no such idea ever
entered my head;—in fact, even if I wished such a thing, which,
Heaven knows, is furthest from my thoughts ! I could not do
so, being under articles to you."

" You forget," replied Mr. Hughes, somewhat sternly, " your
articles have expired here."

And so they had, and so he had forgotten, and so he was con-
strained to confess.

" It is rather odd," continued Mr. Hughes, " that so impor-
tant a circumstance should have escaped your memory: but
tell me, do you know Mr. Cross ?"

Mr. Cross was manager of the Circus, now the Surrey Theatre,
and had repeatedly made Grimaldi offers to leave Sadler's
"Wells, and join his company. He had done so, indeed, only a
few days prior to this conversation, offering to allow him to
name his own terms. But these and other similar invitations
he had firmly declined, being unwilling for many reasons to
leave the theatre to which he had been accustomed aE his life.

From this observation of Mr. Hughes, and the manner inarcase-butcher of Bloomshury, and Newton-street,