They exchanged glances, and laughed together.

‘No fear of that,’ said Alma ’And he’s just the kind of man to be very useful.  His music —­ ah well!  But he has popularity, and a great many people take him at his own estimate.  Impudence does go a long way.’

Sibyl nodded, and smiled vaguely.

Dymes had suggested a meeting at three o’clock, and to this Alma had already given her assent by telegraph.  She lunched with Mrs. Carnaby, —­ who talked a great deal about the Renaissance, —­ left immediately after, to visit a few shops, and drove up to the Apollo Theatre at the appointed time.  Her name sufficed; at once she was respectfully conducted to a small electric-lighted room, furnished only with a table and chairs, and hung about with portraits of theatrical people, where Dymes sat by the fire smoking a cigarette.  The illustrious man apologised for receiving her here, instead of in the manager’s room, which he had hoped to make use of.

’Littlestone is in there, wrangling about something with Sophy Challis, and they’re likely to slang each other for an hour or two.  Make yourself comfortable.  It’s rather hot; take off those furry things.’

‘Thank you,’ replied Alma, concealing her nervousness with malapert vivacity, ’I shall be quite comfortable in my own way.  It is rather hot, and your smoke is rather thick, so I shall leave the door a little open.’

Dymes showed his annoyance, but could offer no objection.

’We’re getting into shape for this day week.  Littlestone calls the opera “Blue Noses” —­ it has been so confoundedly cold at rehearsals.’

Alma was seized by the ludicrous suggestion, and laughed without restraint; her companion joined in, his loud neigh drowning her more melodious merriment.  This put them on natural terms of comradeship, and then followed a long, animated talk.  Dymes was of opinion that the hiring of a hall and the fees of supplementary musicians might be defrayed out of the sale of tickets; but there remained the item of advertisement, and on this subject he had large ideas.  He wanted ’to do the thing properly’; otherwise he wouldn’t do it at all.  But Alma was to take no thought for the cost; let it all be left to him.

’You want to succeed?  All right; let your fiddling be up to the mark, and I answer for the public.  It’s all between you and me; you needn’t say who is doing the job for you.  Ada Wellington comes off on May the 10th; I shall put you down for a fortnight later.  That gives you nearly four months to prepare.  Don’t overdo it; keep right in health; take plenty of exercise.  You look very well now; keep it up, and you’ll knock ’em.  I only wish it was the stage instead of the platform —­ but no use talking about that, I suppose?’

‘No use whatever,’ Alma replied, flushing with various emotions.

In the course of his free talk, it happened that he addressed her as ‘Alma’.  She did not check him; but when the name again fell from his lips, she said quietly, with a straight look ——­