"Of course she is. Let's go right over to the Spender." Biff Bates did not seem overly pleased when his tete-a-tete luncheon was interrupted by Bobby and Mr. Spratt, but the Signorina Nora very quickly made it apparent that business was business. Arrangements were promptly made to attach the carload of effects for back salaries due the company, and to lease these to Bobby for the week for a nominal sum. Bobby was to pay the regular schedule of salaries for that week and make what profit he could. A rehearsal of _Carmen_ was to be called that afternoon at three, and a repertoire was arranged. Feeling very much exhilarated after all this, Bobby drove out in his automobile after lunch to see Agnes Elliston. He found that young lady and Aunt Constance about to start for a drive, their carriage being already at the door, but without any ceremony he bundled them into his machine instead. "Purely as my trustee," he explained, "Agnes must inspect my new business venture." Aunt Constance smiled. "The trusteeship of Agnes hasn't done you very much good so far," she observed. "As a matter of fact, if she wanted to build up a reputation as an expert trustee, I don't think she could accomplish much by printing in her circulars the details of her past stewardship." "I don't want her to work up a reputation as a trustee," retorted Bobby. "She suits me just as she is, and I'm inclined to thank the governor for having loaded her down with the job." "I'm becoming reconciled to it myself," admitted Agnes, smiling up at him. "Really, I have great faith that one day you will learn how to take care of money--if the money holds out that long. What is the new venture, Bobby?" He grinned quite cheerfully. "I am about to become an angel," he said quite solemnly. Aunt Constance shook her head. "No, Bobby," she said kindly; "there _are_ spots, you know, where angels fear to tread." But Agnes took the declaration with no levity whatever. "You don't mean in a theatrical sense?" she inquired. "_In_ a theatrical sense," he insisted. "I am about to back the Neapolitan Grand Opera Company." "Why, Bobby!" objected Agnes, aghast. "You surely don't mean it! I never thought you would contemplate anything so preposterous as that. I thought it was to be only a benefit!" "It's only a temporary arrangement," he reassured her, laughing that he had been taken so seriously. "I'm arranging so that they can earn their way out of town; that's all. I am taking you down now to see their first rehearsal." "I don't care to go," she declared, in a tone so piqued that Bobby turned to her in mute astonishment. Aunt Constance laughed at his look of utter perplexity. "How little you understand, Bobby," she said. "Don't you see that Agnes is merely jealous?"