'You have been waiting,' she said; 'I am sorry for keeping you. Oh, Harold, they love me over here; they just love me!' His part was at his finger-tips. 'That doesn't seem to me in the least remarkable,' he said. 'You are a success; no one can be more. I want to be allowed to commemorate it.' And he handed her the jewel-case. He was no niggard when business was involved; his business now was to keep her in a good temper, and the opal and diamond brooch he had chosen at Tiffany's was really admirable. Even Mrs. Palmer might have found it brought consolation to a wounded spirit. 'That is dear of you, Harold,' she said; 'I adore opals. Is it really for me? Thank you ever so much. It goes on now. Is it rather big for the morning? I think it is. A reason the more for wearing it.' She pinned it into her dress, and sat down. 'Well?' she said. 'I came really to congratulate you,' said he; 'but as I am here, I suppose we may as well talk over some business that must be talked over. About your tour: are you willing to stop over here till April at least?' 'Yes; I don't see why not. I want to appear in London early in May.' 'Very well. I will draft an agreement, and send it you. Now, you may consider that with your extraordinary success of last night the theatre will be full for some weeks ahead. I propose your giving an evening performance on Saturdays as well as the matinee.' 'Terms?' 'Royalty. Twenty per cent, on total takings. It is worth your while.' 'Is it not more worth my while to be seen from Saturday till Monday at Mrs. Palmer's?' 'It would be if the theatre was not full. But you could fill it--for the present, anyhow--if you had a matinee every day. Besides, you can get down to Long Island with the utmost ease on Sunday morning.' 'I go to Mass on Sunday morning; you forget that!' He smiled. 'I suggest, then, that you should omit that ceremony, if you want to go to Mrs. Palmer's. However, there is no hurry. Weigh the three things in your mind--eighty or ninety pounds by acting on Saturday evening, or Mass on Sunday morning, or Mrs. Palmer's on Sunday morning. There is another thing: I want to talk over the scenes in "Paris" with you. I am going to Mrs. Palmer's the Sunday after next. I will bring the models down with me, if you will promise to give me an hour. 'They will not be ready till then.' 'Yes. I am going there next Sunday and the Sunday after. They have a theatre there; she wants me to do something in the evening.' Bilton thought a moment. 'What do I get?' he asked. 'The pleasure of seeing me act, silly.' He shook his head. 'I'm afraid I must forget that pleasure,' he said. 'Your contract binds you to give no theatrical representations of any sort except under my direction.' The _gamin_ element rose to the surface in her. 'What a beast you are!' she said. 'It is for a charity!' 'And a cheque,' he observed. 'The cheque is purely informal. Besides, we shall be there together.'