Memoirs Of Joseph Grimaldi

184 MEMOIRS OF JOSEPH GEIMALDI.

much, and were very friendly and kind, the visit passed off to
the admiration of all parties.

There was some mystery about these great friends, which the
worthy couple were quite unable to solve. It did not appear
that they were connected by any other ties than those of friend-
ship, and yet they were always together, and never had a
stranger among them; there were always the same six ladies
and the same six gentlemen, the only change being in their
dresses, which varied in make and colour, but never in quality.
Then they did not seem to be in any business, and there was a
something in the politeness of the gentlemen and the jocoseness
of the ladies which struck them as rather peculiar, although
they could never tell. what it was; Grrimaldi saw that they
were not like the noblemen and gentlemen he was in the habit
of meeting in the green-rooms of the theatres; and yet, not-
withstanding that he pondered upon the matter a great deal, he
could not for the life of him discover in what the difference con-
sisted. 'Sis wife was in justs the same state of perplexity; but
although .they talked the matter over very often, they never
arrived at any tangible conclusion. • While they were thinking
about it, the parties kept going on, and January and February
passed away. '

On the 13th of March he had promised to act, in conjunction
with Messrs. Bartley, Simmons, Chapman, and Louis Bologna,
at th6 Woolwich Theatre, for the benefit: of Mr. Lund. Chancing
to mention the circumstance at one of the Charlotte-street
parties a few days before the time, Mr. Palmer immediately
proposed that he and the other five gentlemen should accompany
their excellent friend; that they should all sup together at
"Woolwich after the theatre was over, and return to town next
day. This was immediately agreed to by all the party except
one gentleman, with the uncommon name of Jones, who had
an appointment with a nobleman, which it was impossible to
postpone. .hed very time, a grand ballet of action, entitled "The Ogre and Little Thumb; or,