Marrier, firmly.
"And what if I am? I'm not giving gallery seats away to-morrow night.
It's true I'm giving half the stalls away, but the gallery will be
paid for."
Another silence.
Said Rose Euclid, sharply, and Edward Henry caught every word with the
most perfect distinctness:
"I'm sick and tired of people saying they can't make out what I say!
They actually write me letters about it! Why _should_ people make out
what I say?"
She quitted the stage.
Another silence....
"Ring down the curtain," said Mr. Marrier in a thrilled voice.
III
Shortly afterwards Mr. Marrier came into the managerial office, lit
up now, where Edward Henry was dictating to his typewriter and
hospital-nurse, who, having been caught in hat and jacket on the
threshold, had been brought back and was tapping his words direct on
to the machine.
It was a remarkable fact that the sole proprietor of the Regent
Theatre was now in high spirits and good humour.
"Well, Marrier, my boy," he saluted the acting-manager, "how are you
getting on with that rehearsal?"
"Well, sir," said Mr. Marrier, "I'm not getting on with it. Miss
Euclid refuses absolutely to proceed. She's in her dressing-room."
"But why?" inquired Edward Henry with bland surprise. "Doesn't she
_want_ to be heard--by her gallery-boys?"
Mr. Marrier showed an enfeebled smile.
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