It took Mrs. Vane three-quarters of an hour to reach the Frivolity. It was half-past three when she got there. She asked at once if it was possible to see the manager, Mr. Ferguson. A gold coin probably expedited her messenger and rendered her entrance to the great man possible; for Mrs. Vane was a very handsome and well-dressed woman, and the "important business" on which she sent word that she had come had possibly less influence on the manager's mind than the glowing account given by the man despatched from the box-office on her errand. Flossy was lucky. Mr. Ferguson was in the building--a rather unusual fact; he was also willing to see her in his private room--another concession; and he received her with moderate civility--a variation from his usual manner, which Mrs. Vane must have owed to her own manner and appearance. "I shall not detain you for more than a very few minutes, Mr. Ferguson," said Flossy, with the air of a duchess, as she accepted the chair which the manager offered her; "but I have a good reason for coming to you. I think that a young lady called Cynthia West was once acting at this theatre? To put my question in plain words--Do you know anything about her?" The manager sneered a little. "A good deal," he said. "Oh, yes--she was here! I don't know that I have anything to tell, however. I should think that Mr. Hubert Lepel, if you know him, could tell you more about her than any one." "I happen to be Mr. Lepel's sister," said Flossy, with dignity. "The deuce you are!" remarked the manager to himself. "That explains----" Aloud--"Well, madam, how can I assist you? Do you want to know Miss West's character? Well, that was--if I may use the word--notorious." Flossy's eyes gleamed. "So I expected to hear," she murmured. "I am afraid that my poor brother has some thought of--of marrying her." "Oh, surely not!" said Mr. Ferguson. "Surely he wouldn't be such a fool!" "Can you tell me anything definite about her?" "Excuse me, madam, for asking; but you--naturally--wish to prevent the marriage, if possible?" "I certainly do not wish my brother to ruin himself for life, as he would do if she were such a--such a person as you imply." Mrs. Vane's lips were evidently much too delicate to say in plain terms what she meant. "If she were as respectable as she seems to be talented, of course objections about birth and station might be overlooked. But my brother has expectations from relatives who take the old-fashioned views about a woman's position; and the mere fact of her being a singer or an actress might be against her in their eyes. It would be much better for him if the whole thing were broken off." She was purposely vague and diplomatic.