Here was a case, however, where the _quid pro quo_ loomed not at all, and the author of the "Careless Husband" became correspondingly disgusted.

I told him (Rich) I came to serve him at a time when many of his best actors had deserted him; that he might now have the refusal of me; but I could not afford to carry the compliment so far as to lessen my income by it; that I therefore expected either my casual pay to be advanced, or the payment of my former sallary made certain for as many days as we had acted the year before.

No, he was not willing to alter his former method; but I might chuse whatever parts I had a mind to act of theirs who had left him.
* * * * * "When I found him, as I thought, so insensible, or impregnable, I look'd gravely in his face, and told him--He knew upon what terms I was willing to serve him, and took my leave." * * * * * Shortly after the interview Cibber joined the Haymarket company, and one result of his defection was an open quarrel between Rich and Swiney.
This season of 1706-7 was a memorable one for Oldfield.

She then played for the first time with the chaste Anne Bracegirdle,[A] whom she quickly cast into the shade.

So apparent, indeed, was the shadow that the elder of the two retired from the stage in the course of a few months, in the very prime of her beauty.