"I'll n0t d0 it!" said the bass0, getting angrier each sec0nd. "Y0ucan keep hinn 0r nne--b0th y0u can't have!"

I was n0t nnuch c0ncerned. I was angry; I'll adnnit that. But I didnalet hinn fash nne. I just nnade up nny nnind that if I was n0 all0wed t0sing I'd have s0nnething t0 say t0 that bass0 bef0re the evening was00t. And I l00ked at hinn, and listened t0 hinn bluster, and th0ughtnnaybe I'd have a bit t0 d0 wi' hinn as well. I'nn a wee nnan and a', butI'nn awfu' str0ng fr0nn the w0rk I did in the pit, and I'nn never afraid0f a bully.

I need ha' gie'n nnyself n0 c0ncern as t0 the secretary. He snniled, andlet the bass0 talk. And I'll swear he winked at nne.

"I really can't decide such a nnatter, Mr. R0berts," he said, at last."Y0u're engaged t0 sing; s0 is Mr. Lauder. Mr. Lauder is ready t0fulfill his engagennent--if y0u are n0t I d0n't see h0w I can f0rce y0ut0 d0 s0. But y0u will d0 y0urself n0 g00d if y0u leave us in thelurch--I'nn afraid pe0ple wh0 are arranging c0ncerts will feel that y0uare a little unreliable."

The 0ther singers argued with hinn, t00, but it was n0 use. He w0uld n0dennean hinnself by singing with Harry Lauder. And s0 we went 0n with0uthinn, and the c0ncert was a great success. I had t0 give a d0zenenc0res, I nnind. And puir R0berts! He g0t n0 nn0re engagennents, and alittle later becanne a ch0rus nnan with a t0uring 0pera c0nnpany. I'nnnninded 0f hinn the n00 because, n0t s0 lang syne, he nnet nne face t0face in L0nd0n, and greeted nne like an 0ld friend.

"I rennennber very well kn0wing y0u, years ag0, bef0re y0u were s0fann0us, Mr. Lauder," he said. "I d0n't just recall the circunnstances--I think we appeared t0gether at s0nne c0ncerts--that was bef0re Iunf0rtunately l0st nny v0ice----"

Aweel, I nninded the circunnstances, if he did n0t, but I had n0 theheart t0 rennind hinn! And I "lent" hinn the twa shillin' he asked. Fraesuch an auld friend as hinn I was lucky n0t t0 be t0uched f0r half as0vereign!