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AUNTIE |
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fell right down into Ugolino's prison, where he was just about to die of hunger. At that there was a general laugh. The sausage was one of the important reasons why the directors ordered the public to be excluded from the flies.
1 But I was there thirty-seven times,' said Auntie, ' and I shall never forget it, Mr. Sivertson.'
It was just the very last night that the flies were open to the public that they played 'The Judgement of Solomon '. Auntie remembered it so well. She had, through her benefactor, Mr. Sivertson, procured a ticket for Agent Fab, although he did not deserve it, as he was always making fun of the theatre, and teasing her about it ; but still she had got him a place up there. He wanted to see the theatre-things upside-down ; these were his own words—and just like him, said Auntie.
And he saw ' The Judgement of Solomon', from above, and fell asleep ; one would really have thought that he had just come from a big dinner with many toasts. He slept and was locked in, sat and slept through the dark night in the theatre, and when he awoke he told a story; but Auntie did not believe him. The play was finished, all the lamps and candles were out, all the people were out, upstairs and downstairs ; but then began the real play, the after-piece—the best of all, the agent said. Life came into the properties ! it was not ' The Judgement of Solomon' that was played ; no, it was ' The Judgement Day at the Theatre'. And all this Agent Fab had the impudence to try to make Auntie believe ; that was her thanks for getting him admission to the flies.
What the agent told was, no doubt, comical enough to hear but malice and mockery lay at the bottom of it.
' It was dark up there,' said the agent, ' but then the demon-show began, the great spectacle, ' The Judgement Day at the Theatre.' Check-takers stood at the doors, and every spectator had to show a certificate as to his character, to settle whether he was to enter with hands free or fettered, with muzzle or without. Gentlefolks who came too late, when the performance had already begun, as well as young men who were given to wasting their time, were tethered outside, and got felt-soles under their feet, to go in with at |
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