This always had the desired effect. I believe I have been useful in a variety of ways, but this is the only time I have been required as a bogey to frighten children. As a sequel to the story, I may say the boy is a little older now, and we are very good friends; in fact, the last time I saw him he, of his own accord, selected me as his companion to spend an entire afternoon in the garden collecting snails. An amusing series of incidents was the result of an engagement which I fulfilled at the residence of a gentleman in Kent. On going to the Opera Comique one evening, I found a gentleman waiting for me at the stage-door. He introduced himself as the head clerk of Mr. A----, a distinguished manufacturer, who was desirous of obtaining my services for an evening party, to be given in honour of the coming of age of young Mr. A----, at the family mansion in Kent. I invited the head clerk to my dressing-room; for, as we were about to close the theatre for a short time, I knew there was a possibility of my being able to accept the engagement. The clerk at once commenced the conversation by saying that he did a little acting himself--"only as an amateur, of course." I had no reason to doubt his statement, seeing that he had shaved his moustache off and grown his hair to an inordinate length behind. "Now," said he, coming to the business point of the transaction, "Mr. A---- wants to know how much you charge, first." I enlightened him on that matter. "Well, I dare say that'll be all right. Mr. A---- means to spare no expense. But the great thing is--what sort of entertainment do you give?" I explained that I took my seat at the piano, and chatted, played, and sang, after the manner of John Parry. "Is there no change of costumes? Don't you require any scenery or footlights?" "No," I replied. "I'm simply like one of the guests, except that I do something and they don't." "Oh," said the clerk, a little puzzled, "one of the guests? I must see Mr. A---- about that. I don't think he understands that." "Well," I observed, "you had better see that he understands that before we proceed any further." The head clerk said, "Good-night," and left the room, with a gait that seemed to hit the happy medium between the walk of Henry Irving and the stride of a pantomimic policeman. The next night he returned, with profuse apologies, stating that Mr. A---- of course would receive me as a guest, and would feel honoured at making my acquaintance.