Mr. Dyke's dress showed that he was enjoying prosperity. His coat and hat had hardly lost their appearance of newness, while the rest of his costume, though evidently not of recent purchase, was of good quality, greatly exceeding in costliness the apparel in which he was wont to garb himself in Ireland.
"I have nothing to complain of so far as health is concerned, Mr. Dyke. Buster, a chair for the gentleman."
"I have come to read you a poem, Thomas."
"Indeed?" said Moore. "Buster, two chairs for the gentleman."
"You will have your joke, Thomas," observed Mr. Dyke, with an indulgent smile, as he seated himself.
"I have n't much else, sir," said Moore, "that's why I value it so highly. How is Bessie, sir?"
"She is well and working hard on her new part. The new piece is produced at Drury Lane in a week."
"I know," said Moore. "Bessie is getting on, is n't she?"
"Indeed she is, Thomas," replied Mr. Dyke, proudly. "The manager says if she does as well as he expects in the next piece, he will allow her to play Lydia in a revival of Mr. Sheridan's great comedy, 'The Rivals.'"
"So they revive Dicky's play? They do well, for they have had nothing since to equal it except 'The School for Scandal.'"
The old gentleman cleared his throat modestly.
"Quite true, Thomas, and for that very reason I am preparing to write a comedy myself."
"Bravo, sir. Surely it is a shame only one Irishman should wear laurels for play-writing."
"Not I, sir, though both of us received our education at the same school some thirty years apart. Dr. Whyte taught us both, and admits even now that he considered Sheridan but little better than a dunce."
"So I have heard Mr. Sheridan himself declare," observed Mr. Dyke. "A great man, Thomas, a great man."
"You know him, sir?" asked Moore, a shade of envy for a moment perceptible in his voice.
"I met him a fortnight ago at Sir Percival's house. Needless to say I was honored, Thomas."
"Part of the time," answered Mr. Dyke, reluctantly.
"Ah," said Moore, "that must have been early in the evening. Does Bessie know him?"
"Yes, Thomas. He was so kind as to give her his personal opinion of the airs and graces suitable as business for the character of Lydia, for he will have no one even mention the possibility of her not obtaining the part."