On that evening we performed the opera _Puritani_, in which Mdme. Gerster again sang, to the delight of the numerous audience. About this time I discovered that the head usher had been in the habit of secreting a lot of stools and hiring them out to those who were standing at an extra charge of 12s. apiece. I at once sent for Captain Short, the esteemed Chief of Police, who said to the usher-- "Have the kindness to ask that lady to get up and take that stool away." "All right," said the usher. "Please hand me that stool, madam." The lady responded-- "But you made me pay 12s. for it; at all events, return me my money." The Captain said-- "Give the lady back her 12s." The answer was-- "We never return fees." The Captain then gave instructions for one of his officers to take the usher off to the Southern Station and lock him up on a charge of misdemeanour. The following morning I was again notified to attend the Police Court. My counsel, General Barnes, pleaded for a postponement for one week, on the ground that he was busily engaged in the Sharon case. To this the prosecuting attorney objected, saying that the outraged public demanded the speedy settlement of Mapleson, and the case was therefore set for the following morning. When the case was called I was not present, being unavoidably detained at the bedside of one of my bass singers, who had suddenly died of pulmonary apoplexy. The deceased, Signor Lombardelli, was a great favourite in the Company. General Barnes, however, appeared, demanding a postponement of the case, and intimating that a trial by jury would be demanded. "If this should be conceded the case will go over until next May or June," replied the Clerk of the Court, "by which time the accused will be in Europe." He therefore protested against the postponement. The Judge said sternly that it would not be granted, and the case was therefore set for the morrow.