They told me the manager was out, but after a little waiting I began to suspect that this was a dingy white lie, and so it proved; for when I lifted my veil and blushing like a school-girl, told the people in the office who I was, at once some one scurried into a little den and presently came out to say that Mr. Blumenthal had "returned." Oh, the manager's an important person in his way; he has theatres in every part of the country and is a busy man. But he was willing enough to see me when his stupid people had let him know that I was the Miss Winship! Sorry as was my heart, I felt a thrill of triumph at this new proof of my fame and the power beauty gives. When I entered his office, a bald little man turned from a litter of papers and looked at me with frank, business-like curiosity, as if he had a perfect right to do so-and indeed he had. I was not there to barter talent, but to rent my face. I understood that; but perhaps for this very reason my tongue tripped as it has seldom done of late when I blunderingly explained my errand. "Guess we can do something for you," he said promptly. "Of course there's a horde of applicants, but you're exceptional; you know that." He smiled good-naturedly, and I felt at once relieved and indignant that he should treat as an everyday affair the step I had pondered during so many sleepless nights. "Must remember though," he added, "on the stage a passably pretty woman with a good nose, who has command of her features and can summon expression to them, often appears more beautiful than a goddess-faced stick. However, it's worth trying. I don't believe you're a stick. Ah,--would you walk on?" "I don't understand." "Stage slang; would you be willing to go on as a minor character--wear fine clothes and be looked at without saying much--at first, you know? Or--of course your idea's to star-you got a backer?" "I don't understand that, either." "Some one to pay the bills while you're being taught. To hire a company and a theatre as a gamble." "Impossible! I want money at once. I supposed that my--my beauty would command a position on the stage; it's certainly a bar to employment off it." "Of course it would; yes, yes, but not immediately. Why, even Mrs. Farquhar had to have long and expensive training before she made her debut. And you know what a scandal there had been about her! "Not that there's been any about you," he added hastily, to my look of amazement. "But you know--ah--public mention of any sort piques curiosity. Er--what's your act?" "My act?" "Yes; what can you do?" "Sing a little; nothing else. I thought of opera." This proposition didn't seem to strike him favourably. "I don't know--" he hesitated. "You have a wonderful speaking voice, and you've been advertised to beat the band. Who's your press agent?" "I don't quite know what a press agent is; but I'm sure I never had any."