--Hem! (_aside to_ MEL.)--Best say nothing about our performances,
Mel.
PUNCH.--Pray what situations do you respectively hold in the booth?
MEL.--_I_ am principal manager, and do the heavy tragedy business. My
friend, here, is the stage-manager and low comedy buffer, who takes the
kicks, and blows the trumpet of the establishment.
PUNCH.--What is the nature of the entertainments you have been in the
habit of producing?
RUSS.--Oh! the real legitimate drammar--"A New Way to Pay Old Debts,"
"Raising the Wind," "A Gentleman in Difficulties," "Where shall I dine?"
and "Honest Thieves." We mean to commence the present season with "All in
the wrong," and "His Last Legs."
PUNCH.--Humph! I am sorry to say I have received several complaints of the
manner in which you have conducted the business of your establishment for
several years. It appears you put forth bills promising wonders, while
your performances have been of the lowest possible description.
RUSS.--S'elp me, Bob! there ain't a word of truth in it. If there's
anything we takes pride on, 'tis our gentility.
PUNCH.--You have degraded the drama by the introduction of card-shufflers
and thimble-rig impostors.
RUSS.--We denies the thimble-rigging in totum, my lud; that was brought
out at Stanley's opposition booth.
PUNCH.--At least you were a promoter of state conjuring and legerdemain
tricks on the stage.
RUSS.--Only a little hanky-panky, my lud.
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