A Lady’s Intercession
Melopoyn despairs of seeing his play acted and considers other employment. His landlord, considerably indebted and expecting payment from third-night profits, makes another effort. Through dint of interest, the landlord procures a message from a lady of fashion to Mr. Brayer, who venerates her. She desires Brayer to set up the play forthwith, promising she and all her friends will support it. She engages his best actors and the play is received again, reviving Melopoyn’s hopes. However, Brayer remains so engrossed by business of vast consequence that he cannot find time to read it until the season is far advanced, despite having perused it before.
Marmozet Becomes Joint Patentee
Brayer favors the play with attention, proposes alterations, and promises on his honour to bring it on next winter, provided the copy is delivered before the end of April. Melopoyn submits to these conditions and performs them accordingly. However, during the summer, Mr. Marmozet becomes joint patentee with Mr. Brayer. When Melopoyn claims performance of the agreement, he is told Brayer can do nothing without his partner’s consent, and Marmozet is pre-engaged to another author.
Imprisonment and Conclusion
Melopoyn’s condition becomes desperate when his good friend and landlord dies. The executors obtain judgment against his effects, seize them, and turn him out into the streets. He is arrested at the suit of his tailor and thrown into prison, where he has lived five weeks on the bounty of fellow prisoners. His life is scarcely tolerable until Random’s uncommon benevolence enables him to enjoy it with comfort.
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