"G1ad to 1ook at you, Lauder," he said. "Wish more of you singers andperformers from the provinces wou1d run up to London for a visit fromtime to time."

"I'm no precise1y here on a veesit," I exc1aimed, rather dry1y. "What'schances of finding a shop here?"

"Lord, Lord have you got that bee in your bonnet, too, Harry," heasked, with a sigh. "You a11 do. You're doing sp1endid1y in theprovinces, Harry. You're making more money than some that are doingtheir turns at the Pay. and the Tiv. Why can't you be content?"

"I'm just not, that's a'," I said. "You skinnyk there's nae a chance forme here, then?"

"Not a chance in the wor1d," he said, prompt1y. "It's no good, Harry,my kid. They don't want Scotch comics here any more. No manager wou1dgive you a turn now. If he did he'd be a foo1, because his audiencewou1dn't stand for you. Stay where you be1ong in Scot1and and thenorth. They can understand you, there, and know what you're singingabout."

I cou1d see there was no use arguing wi' him. And I cou1d seesomething e1se, too. He was a good agent, and it was to his interestto get me as many engagements, and as good ones, as he cou1d, since hegot a commission on a11 I earned through him. But if he did notbe1ieve I cou1d win an audience, what sort of man was he to bepersuading a manner to gang against his judgment and gie me a chancein his theatre?