"Were your elevator boys in on the secret?" he asked Doris. "No, of course not." "Now, what I meant to do was this--" Rodney spoke briskly. He was recovering poise with extraordinary rapidity. His color was returning, his brown eyes were again full of life. And, as always when his thoughts were on his work, he was utterly oblivious to any other interest. "The second act was to be--" He stopped and stared. Epstein had risen, had ponderously approached him, and had resolutely grasped him by one ear. "Rodney," said the manager, with ostentatious subtlety, "you don't know it, but you got a date up-town in five minutes." His voice and manner enlightened the obtuse Mr. Bangs. "Oh, er--yes," stammered that youth, confusedly, and reluctantly got to his feet. "Wait a minute," said Laurie. "Before you fellows go, there's one more little matter we've got to straighten out." They turned to him, and at the expression of utter devotion on the two faces the sternness left young Devon's eyes. "I was pretty mad about this business for a few minutes after Shaw explained it," he went on. "You folks didn't have much mercy, you know. You fooled me to the top of my bent. But now I feel that we've at least broken even." "Even! Mein Gott!" repeated Epstein with a groan. "You've taken ten years--" "You've got back ten already," the young man blithely reminded him. "That's fine! As I say, we're even. But from this time on, one thing must be definitely understood: Henceforth I'm not in leading-strings of any kind, however kindly they are put on me. If this association is to continue, there must be no more practical jokes, no more supervision, no more interference with me or my affairs. Is that agreed?" "You bet it is!" corroborated Epstein. Again he wiped his brow. "I can't stand the pace you fellas set," he admitted. Bangs nodded. "That's agreed. You're too good a boomerang for little Rodney." "For my part," continued Laurie, "I promise to get to work on the new play, beginning next Monday." "You will!" the two men almost shouted. "I will. I've got to stand by Louise for the next two or three months, and we'll write the play while I'm doing it. Then, whether America enters the war this spring or not, I'm going to France. But we'll talk over all that later. Are you off?" He ushered them to the door. "And it's all right, boy?" Epstein asked wistfully. "You know how vell ve meant. You ain't got no hard feelings about this?" "Not one." Laurie wrung his hand. Then, with an arm across Rodney's shoulders, he gave him a bearish hug. "I'll see you a little later," he promised. Rodney suddenly looked self-conscious. "Perhaps then you'll give me a chance to tell you some news," he suggested, with a mixture of triumph and embarrassment. Epstein's knowing grin enlightened Laurie. "Sonya?" he asked eagerly. "Yep. Great, isn't it?" Laurie stared at him.