"He told me to rush it. I think he means an immediate production."
"The end of our work together," mused Bambi.
He turned to her quickly.
"You care?"
"Don't you?"
"It has really been your work, Bambi."
It was her turn to be startled, but evidently he had no ulterior
meaning.
"Not at all. I think it is wonderful how well we work together,
considering----"
"Considering?" he insisted.
"Oh, our difference in point of view, and, oh, everything!" she added.
"It would disappoint you if it were our last work together?"
"What an idea, Jarvis! I look forward to years and years of annual
success by the Jocelyns."
He frowned uncomfortably, as if to speak, thought better of it, and kept
silence.
"I'll go send my wire," he said. She kissed her finger tips to his
receding back. Later, too, she went to the telegraph office and sent the
following wire.
"_Mr. Charles Frohman:_
"See Jarvis, if possible, to-morrow. Play finished. Sure success.
"FRANCESCA JOCELYN."
The secretary answered Jarvis's wire at once, making the appointment at
eleven o'clock on the morrow.
"It seems incredible that anything could run as smoothly as this for
me," said Jarvis, as he read the dispatch.
"That's because I'm in it," boasted Bambi, with a touch of her old
impudence. "I'm your mascot."
"That must be it."
"It means a midnight train for you, to make it comfortably. Do you
suppose you will stay more than a day?"
"I should think not. I don't know."
Ardelia came in with a yellow envelope.
"Sumpin' doin' roun' dis heah house. Telegram boy des' a-ringin' at de'
do' bell stiddy."
"For me?" said Bambi.
"_Mrs. Jarvis Jocelyn, Sunny side, New York._
"Mr. Frohman will see you at three o'clock to-morrow."
Bambi gazed at it a moment, a bit dazed, then she laughed.
"Anything the matter?" Jarvis inquired.
"No-o. Oh, no."
This was how it happened that Mr. Jarvis Jocelyn took the midnight train
to New York, while Mrs. Jarvis Jocelyn followed on an early morning one.
"But why, if you both have to go to that city of abominations, do you
not go together?" inquired the Professor.
"Part of the secret," she reminded him.
"Dear me, I had forgotten we were living in a plot. How is it coming
out?"
"I will know to-day, definitely, just how, when, and where it is coming
out."
Jarvis presented himself at the theatre at eleven sharp, and felt a
thrill of righteous pride when he was ushered into the private office
without delay. His vow that he would enter without so much as a
calling-card had come true sooner than he had hoped.
Mr. Frohman smiled in his friendly way, and shook hands.
"How's my friend, the ex-Jehu?" he laughed.
"Fine! I hope you are well."
"I'm all right. How's the play?"
"I have it here. It is good."
"Good, is it?" Mr. Frohman's eyes twinkled.
"Yes. My--Mrs. Jocelyn worked at it with me, and I have to admit that
the success, if it is one, is largely due to her."
"She is a writer, too?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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