"I do not offer the part of an ostrich to a man who has played _Othello_. Tommy is the Kaffir boy who looks after the farm. It is a black part, like your present one, but not so long. In London you cannot expect to take the leading parts just yet." "This is very kind of you," said Eustace gratefully. "I have always longed to get to London. And to start in your theatre!--it's a wonderful chance." "Good," said Mr. Levinski. "Then that's settled." He waved Eustace away and took up the Directory again with a business-like air. And so Eustace Merrowby came to London. It is a great thing for a young actor to come to London. As Mr. Levinski had warned him, his new part was not so big as that of _Othello_; he had to say "Hofo tsetse!"--which was alleged to be Kaffir for "Down, Sir!" to the big ostrich. But to be at the St. George's Theatre at all was an honour which most men would envy him, and his association with a real ostrich was bound to bring him before the public in the pages of the illustrated papers. Eustace, curiously enough, was not very nervous on the first night. He was fairly certain that he was word-perfect; and if only the ostrich didn't kick him in the back of the neck--as it had tried to once at rehearsal--the evening seemed likely to be a triumph for him. And so it was with a feeling of pleasurable anticipation that, on the morning after, he gathered the papers round him at breakfast, and prepared to read what the critics had to say. He had a remarkable Press. I give a few examples of the notices he obtained from the leading papers: "Mr. Eustace Merrowby was Tommy."--_Daily Telegraph._ "The cast included Mr. Eustace Merrowby."--_Times._ " ... Mr. Eustace Merrowby ... "--_Daily Chronicle._ "We have no space in which to mention all the other performers."--_Morning Leader._ "This criticism only concerns the two actors we have mentioned, and does not apply to the rest of the cast."--_Sportsman._ "Where all were so good it would be invidious to single out anybody for special praise."--_Daily Mail._ "The acting deserved a better play."--_Daily News._ " ... Tommy ..."--_Morning Post._ As Eustace read the papers he felt that his future was secure. True, _The Era_, careful never to miss a single performer, had yet to say. "Mr. Eustace Merrowby was capital as Tommy," and _The Stage_, "Tommy was capitally played by Mr. Eustace Merrowby"; but even without this he had become one of the Men who Count--one whose private life was of more interest to the public than that of any scientist, general or diplomat in the country.