It would be nearly four years after "Thespis" was produced before the two men worked together again. In 1868, Gilbert had published a short comic sketch in "Fun" magazine titled "Trial by Jury: An Operetta". In 1873, Gilbert was asked by the theatrical manager, Carl Rosa, to write a work for his planned 1874 season. Gilbert expanded "Trial" into a one-act libretto. However, Rosa's wife Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa, a childhood friend of Gilbert's, died after an illness in 1874 and Rosa dropped the project. Later in 1874 Gilbert offered the libretto to Richard D'Oyly Carte, but Carte could not use the piece at that time. By early 1875, Carte was managing the Royalty Theatre, and he needed a short opera to play as an afterpiece to Offenbach's "La Périchole". He contacted Gilbert, asked about the piece, and suggested Sullivan to set the work. Sullivan was enthusiastic, and "Trial by Jury" was composed in a matter of weeks. The little piece was a runaway hit, outlasting the run of "La Périchole" and being revived at another theatre.