"No! What about it?" Audrey demanded. Various apprehensions were competing for attention in her brain. The episode of Mr. Cowl had agitated her considerably. And now she was standing right against the column bearing Musa's name in those large letters, and other columns up and down the gay, busy street echoed clear the name. And how unreal it was!... Tickets being given away in half-dozens!... She ought to have been profoundly disturbed by such a revelation, and she was. But here was the drive with Mr. Gilman insisting on a monopoly of all her faculties. And on the top of everything--Tommy with her strange gaze and tone! Tommy carefully hesitated before replying. "He lost his temper and left it in the middle--orchestra and conductor and Xavier and all! And he swore he wouldn't play to-night." "Nonsense!" "Yes, he did." "Who told you?" Already the two women were addressing each other as foes. "A man I know in the orchestra." "Why didn't you tell us at once--when you came?" "Well, I didn't want to spoil the luncheon. But of course I ought to have done. You, at any rate, seeing your interest in the concert! I'm sorry." "My interest in the concert?" Audrey objected. "Well, my girl," said Tommy, half cajolingly and half threateningly, "you aren't going to stand there and tell me to my face that you haven't put up that concert for him?" "Put up the concert! Put up the----" Audrey knew she was blushing. "Paid for it! Paid for it!" said Tommy, with impatience. CHAPTER XL GENIUS AT BAY