The Century illustrated monthly magazine . h theultimate view of purchasing the rest of the we had passed I turned to look back,and found that he had done the same. Wewere both caught dead: there was no dis-guising it, so we approached each other. Pardon me, said I, if I am mistaken,but are you not Sir William Don ? Quite right, old chap. How are you ? hereplied. We shook hands and there was apause. He looked at me with a quizzicaltwinkle in his eye, and said: Well, which isit — Jefierson or Ellsler? You cant be both,you know. I laughed heartily at this : not so much atwhat he said,
The Century illustrated monthly magazine . h theultimate view of purchasing the rest of the we had passed I turned to look back,and found that he had done the same. Wewere both caught dead: there was no dis-guising it, so we approached each other. Pardon me, said I, if I am mistaken,but are you not Sir William Don ? Quite right, old chap. How are you ? hereplied. We shook hands and there was apause. He looked at me with a quizzicaltwinkle in his eye, and said: Well, which isit — Jefierson or Ellsler? You cant be both,you know. I laughed heartily at this : not so much atwhat he said, which was commonplace enough,but at the way in which he said it. I thoughtto myself, This must be a great saw he had made a hit, and laughed inthe enjoyment of it. My name is Jefferson, said I. Mr. Ells-ler is my partner. Well, Jeff, old fellow (as if he had knownme all his life), I 11 be frank with you. HereI am, a star in search of a manager. Well, I said, I will be equally frank THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOSEPH JEFFERSON. 375. JUNIUS BRUTUS BOOTH AS SIR GILES OVERREACH. with you. I am a manager in search of astar. Capital: said he. Will I do ? Will you do ? You are the very man, Ireplied. Hurrah ! We will play Box and Coxtogether. Then throwing his arms aroundme, he quoted from the farce, You are mylong-lost brother! Sit down, said I, as we came to a bench, and we will talk terms. • What are you going to offer me ? Dontbe modest — put it high. Lay on, Macduff,and damned be him who first cries, Hold,enough! In our present delightful frame of mind therewas no difficulty in settling terms — we bothwould have agreed to anything. I told himI would give him one-third of the gross re-ceipts, wnth a half-clear benefit at the end ofthe week. Quite right; anything you like. But willyour partner ratify this ? Oh, yes, I said. He attends to the finan- cial part of the business, leaving all mattersconnected with the stage to me; though, ofcourse, I must consult him before
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