under the cue-rack. "Talking politics?"

"Not we," said Bacon. "It's the old question about the authorship of
_Hamlet_. Will, as usual, claims it for himself. He'll be saying he
wrote Genesis next."

"Well, what if he does?" laughed Raleigh. "We all know Will and his
droll ways."

"No doubt," put in Nero. "But the question of _Hamlet_ always excites
him so that we'd like to have it settled once and for all as to who wrote
it. Bacon says you know."

"I do," said Raleigh.

"Then settle it once and for all," said Bacon. "I'm rather tired of the
discussion myself."

"Shall I tell 'em, Shakespeare?" asked Raleigh.

"It's immaterial to me," said Shakespeare, airily. "If you wish--only
tell the truth."

"Very well," said Raleigh, lighting a cigar. "I'm not ashamed of it. I
wrote the thing myself."

There was a roar of laughter which, when it subsided, found Shakespeare
rapidly disappearing through the door, while all the others in the room
ordered various beverages at the expense of Lord Bacon.