"Oh," she rejoined, "it really is not a question of money, Mr. Izard----" "No," he said savagely, "it's that--Belinger. Been seeing you, hasn't he--talking of what he could do? Well, you know your own business best. That man will be waiting on my doorstep by and by, and he'll have to wait patiently. Think it over when you're tossing us both in the blanket. He's a back number; I'm a dozen editions." Etta was seriously tempted to smile at this frightened earnestness and at the great man's idea of her shrewdness. She could not forget, however, that he had given her the opportunity she had so greatly longed for to put the dreams of her girlhood to the proof. And for that she would remain lastingly grateful. "My dear Mr. Izard," she said, "I fear you don't understand me at all. Who Mr. Belinger may be I don't know; but he certainly has not made me any offers. And just as certainly should I refuse them if he did so. You have been generous enough to give me my chance. If I remain on the stage, it will be with you." Izard opened his dull eyes very wide. "If you remain upon the stage! Good God, you don't mean to say that you have any doubt of it?" "I have every doubt." "Have you read the papers?" "Oh, but you told me not to pay any attention to them----" "That's from the front of the house point of view. Don't you know that they say you are as great as Réjane?" "I cannot possibly believe that." "It won't be so difficult when you try. Go home and read them again and come to me to-morrow morning to sign agreements." He was pleased at her promise to continue at his theatre and clever enough to understand her reticence. "She's a genius," he said to himself, "and she's more than that, she's a woman of business. Well, I like her sort. When Belinger goes round, he'll get some dry bread. As for her leaving the stage--pooh! she couldn't do it." Had he known what Etta was saying at that very moment, his self-satisfaction assuredly had been less. For when she returned to her rooms in Bedford Square she found the expected letter from her father awaiting her there and in it she read these words: "I shall be returning to England on the 29th of June." She had a short month, then, to live this Bohemian life which so fascinated her! And when that month was over Etta Romney would cease to be, and the stately Lady Evelyn must return. CHAPTER VI STRANGERS IN THE HOUSE The news in the letter alarmed Etta not a little; but when she reflected upon it, she remembered that it was just such news as she had been expecting all along. Her adventure had been for a day. She had never hoped that it would be more. The desire to appear upon the stage of a theatre had haunted her since her childhood. Now she had gratified it. Why, then, should she complain?