"The fact of the matter is that the work has got to come before the man," he said. "And now we've all got so far in this affair nothing must be allowed to keep us back from success. Let the papers say whatever they like so long as they talk about us. Let Madame Sennier rail and sneer as much as she chooses. It will be all to the good. Crayford told me so to-night. He said, 'My boy, it shows they're funky. They think our combination may be stronger than theirs.' It seems Sennier's new libretto has come out quite dreadfully at rehearsal, and they've been trying to re-write a lot of it and change situations. Now, we got nearly everything cut and dried at Djenan-el-Maqui. By Jove, how I did work there! D'you remember old Jernington's visit, Charmian? He believed in the opera, didn't he?" "I should think so!" she cried. "Why, he positively raved about it. And he's not an amateur. He only cares for the music--and he's a man who knows." "Yes, he does know. What a change in our lives, eh, Charmian, if we bring off a big success! And you'll be in it Alston." "Rather! The coming baritone!" "What a change!" His eyes shone with excitement. "I used to be almost afraid of celebrity, I think. But now I want it, I need it. America has made me need it." "This is the country that wakes people up," said Alston. "It drives me almost mad!" cried Claude, with sudden violence. "Claudie!" exclaimed Charmian. "It does! There's something here that pumps nervous energy into one until one's body and mind seem to be swirling in a mill race. When I think of my life in Mullion House and my life here!" Charmian, with a quick movement, sat upright on the sofa. "Then you do realize--" she began, almost excitedly. She paused, gazing at Claude. The two men looked at her. "What is it?" Claude said at length, as she remained silent. "You do realize that I did see something for you that you hadn't seen for yourself, when you shut yourself and your talent in, when you wouldn't look at, wouldn't touch the world?" "Of course. I hadn't courage then. I dreaded contact with life. Now I defy life to get the better of me. I know it, and I'm beginning to know how to deal with it. I say, let us plan out our campaign if Madame Sennier persists in her accusations." He sat down between them. "But first tell us exactly what you gave out to the pressmen to-night," said Alston. They talked till the dawn crept along the sky. When at last Alston got up to go, Claude said: "If three strong wills are worth anything we must succeed." "And we've got Crayford's back of ours," said Alston, putting his arms behind him into the sleeves of his coat. "Good-morning! I'm really going." And he went.