‘Ah yes, capital actor he was; we don’t see that sort of thing now. He knew his business thoroughly, and did it. No high-falutin about intellect, imagination, and rubbish of that sort. He had the instinct here’--and Mr. Clausen thumped his chest,--‘and let the new school say what they like, that’s the place to find the link between an actor and his audience.’ ‘That girl has it _there_ too, if ever woman had,’ murmured Kirkdale dreamily. ‘You should hear her read Shelley.’ ‘Shelley, nonsense! she’s a comedy actress. No doubt she has the touch of pathos necessary for that line; but no power, no passion.’ ‘She may have altered since you saw her, she’s very young.’ ‘Yes, that’s possible. It happened in the case of Décles. You sometimes do get a surprise from a woman in that way.’ ‘Now, Clausen, like a good fellow, think over what’s to be done. I am determined to get her back on the stage. Shall I take a theatre for her?’ ‘What nonsense! As things are at present, you might just as well chuck your capital into the gutter. She won’t draw until she’s done a good deal more hard work, and if you gave him such an opportunity, Travers would spend your money for you and she’d get none of the benefit.’ ‘No, the first step is evidently to get rid of Travers.’ ‘That is very easily done. I have only to say what I know.’ ‘I wonder if he has anything up his sleeve: he’s always vaguely hinting that certain personages are at his mercy,’ said Kirkdale. ‘Very likely he has a whole bundle of scurrilous gossip at his finger-ends; but after all it doesn’t very much matter, people say all they can now, and no respectable paper gives currency to these things. Such stories serve two purposes: they give the radicals something to talk about, and add considerably to the popular interest. “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,” and the poor sinner in the street feels his heart go out to the weaknesses of the great, in a way never to be invoked by the mere pompous exterior of public ceremonial.’ ‘But think of the effect on public opinion.’ ‘My dear boy, when Burke said a country was ruled by its public opinion, he was right. The only difficulty about it is that the real public opinion is never expressed; what is expressed is what each man or woman thinks his or her neighbours consider ought to be his or her opinion. But to return to Grace Lovell; what do you suppose she would do if her husband was sent back into limbo?’ ‘I’m terribly afraid she’d go with him.’ ‘Have you ever discussed the position with her?’ ‘She does not even know I am aware of the marriage, she has kept her own counsel; all she has said to me was, that she was anxious to go on the stage.’ ‘Let’s go down and find out about her. I want a little country air, and have nothing on earth to do on Monday.’ ‘I was going down to Cowes, but I’m sick of the function there; if I go down on Tuesday or Wednesday I shall see all I want,’ said Kirkdale.