ABSTRACT
The Carpet Quarrel was one of many events symptomatic of the distrust felt by Gilbert towards Carte. In a letter to Sullivan of 22 April 1890, Gilbert listed expenses involved in the production of The Gondoliers which, however costly, were legitimate for the most part – but what worked him into a fury was the discovery that £500 had been included for new carpets in the theatre lobbies and stairways at the front of house. Gilbert argued that by their tripartite agreement only “repairs incidental to the performances” could be charged to their joint expense account.
