The man, as might be imagined, was not a little taken aback at this remark; yet he managed to say: ‘Carles’ name is in the bill, and where is he?’ At this, Elliston assumed a grave air, and folding his arms, addressed the people as follows: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, with your leave I will say a few words. I admit that Mr Carles’ name _is_ in the bill; I do not wish to deny it; but’—here he assumed a decidedly tragic tone—‘but are you to be reminded of the many accidents that may intervene between the issuing of that bill and the evening’s fulfilment of its promise? Is it requisite to remind the enlightened and thinking portion of the public here assembled that the chances and changes of human life are dependent upon circumstances, and not upon ourselves?’ Here all shouted: ‘Ay, ay; bravo!’ The manager, pointing to the man in the pit, went on: ‘And you, sir, who are so loud in your demand for Mr Carles, cannot _you_ also imagine that his absence may be occasioned by some sore distress, some occurrence not within human foresight to anticipate or divert? Cannot you picture to yourself the possibility of Mr Carles at this moment lying upon a sick—nay, perhaps a dying bed, surrounded by his weeping children and his agonised wife’ [Mr Carles was a bachelor!], ‘whose very bread depends upon the existence of an affectionate devoted husband and father, and who _may_ be deprived of his exertions and support for ever? Is it so _very_ difficult to imagine a scene like this taking place at the very moment when you are calling for him so imperiously to appear before you, selfishly desirous of your present amusement and unmindful of his probable danger!’ Great and general applause. Inwardly, Mr Elliston felt struck at the success of his diplomacy, especially as at this point the audience turned against the man who had spoken, and joined their voices in cries of ‘Turn him out!’ to which sentence the manager found it best to lend countenance; and having given his permission, the unlucky ‘pitite’ was summarily ejected from the theatre, and in a little while the performance was continued in perfect order.