He took a special course at Cambridge--just what it was he can't remember--but at the end of the year it was hinted to him that circus life was more suited to his talents, particularly one with three rings.
A friend, however, suggested the theatre, and gave him a card to Frederick Warde, the tragedian.

Mr.Warde fell for the Fairbanks grin, and as a first part assigned him the role of _Francois_, the lackey, in "Richelieu." What he lacked in experience he made up for in activity and unflagging merriment.

It got to be so that Warde was almost afraid to touch the bell, for he never knew whether the amazing _Francois_ would enter through the door or come down from the ceiling.
After the company had done its worst to "Richelieu," it changed to Shakespearean repertoire, and for one year young Fairbanks engaged in what Mr.Warde was pleased to term a "catch-as-catch-can bout with the immortal Bard." When friends of Shakespeare finally protested in the name of humanity, the strenuous Douglas accepted an engagement with Herbert Kelcey and Effie Shannon in "Her Lord and Master." Five months went by before the two stars broke under the strain, and by that time news had come to Mr.Fairbanks that Wall Street was Easy Money's other name.

Armed with his grin, he marched into the office of De Coppet & Doremus, and when the manager came out of his trance Shakespeare's worst enemy was holding down the job of order man.
"The name Coppet appealed to me," he explains.
He is still remembered in that office, fondly but fearfully.

He did his work well enough; in fact, there are those who insist that he invented scientific management.
"How about that ?" I asked him, for it puzzled me.
"Well, you see, it was this way: For five days in a week I would say, 'Quite so' to my assistant, no matter what he suggested.