"Ah," said a sad voice, as the person in question appeared; "it is necessity that brings me. I fain would have remained away, but I need the money, and I must do that which my heart revolts against."
"I believed you would come," said Frank, greeting the old tragedian. "You will get used to the part after a while. It is better to make people laugh than to make them weep."
"But it is too late for me to turn myself into a clown."
"Where did you stay last night?" asked Merry.
"A man by your name registered at the hotel where I stop, and had the room next to mine. Is it possible there are two William Shakespeare Burns in the city of Denver?"
The old man drew himself up, thrusting his hand into the bosom of his coat, with his familiar movement of dignity.
"There is but one," he said--"but one real William Shakespeare Burns in the whole world! I am he!"
"But you were not at the hotel last night?"
"Of a certainty I was not. To that I will pledge mine honor. If another was there under my name, he is an impostor."
Frank was satisfied, but Bart was not; or, if Hodge was satisfied, he would not confess it.
The rehearsal began. Frank had engaged some people to work the mechanical arrangement used in the third act, and they had been drilled and instructed by Havener.
The first act went off well, the storm at the conclusion being worked up in first-class style. Scarcely a word of that act had Frank altered, so there was very little trouble over it.
The second act was likewise a success, Havener finding it necessary to interrupt and give instructions but twice.
Then came the third act, which Merry had almost entirely rewritten. In that act the burlesque tragedian was given an opportunity, and Burns showed that he had his lines very well, although he ran over them after the style of the old-time professional who disdains to do much more than repeat the words till the dress rehearsal comes.
The third act was divided into three scenes, the second scene being an exterior, showing the river in the distance, lined by a moving, swaying mass of people. Along the river raced the three boats representing Yale, Harvard and Cornell. Keeping pace with them on the shore was the observation train, black with a mass of spectators. As the boats first came on, Harvard had a slight lead, but Yale spurted on appearing, and when they passed from view Yale was leading slightly.