. "Whenever
she was on tour, if she knew any of us were resting in the town where
she was she'd send us seats. And many's the time I've cried and cried
at her acting. And then she's the life and soul of the Theatrical
Ladies' Guild."

"And isn't that your husband's signature?" he demanded, showing the
precious option.

"Of course it is."

He did not show her the covering letter.

"And I've no doubt my husband _wanted_ a theatre built there, and he
wanted to do Rose Euclid a good turn. And I'm quite positive certain
sure that he didn't want any of Mr. Wrissell's rigmaroles on his land.
He wasn't that sort, my husband wasn't.... You must go to law about
it," she finished.

"Yes," said Edward Henry, protestingly. "And a pretty penny it would
cost me! And supposing I lost, after all?... You never know. There's a
much easier way than going to law,"

"What is it?"

"As I say--you exert your influence, Lady Woldo. Write and tell them
I've seen you and you insist--"

"Eh! Bless you! They'd twist me round their little finger. I'm not a
fool, but I'm not very clever--I know that. I shouldn't know whether
I was standing on my head or my heels by the time they'd done with me.
I've tried to face them out before--about things."

"Who--Mr. Wrissell, or Slossons?"

"Both? Eh, but I should like to put a spoke in Mr. Wrissell's
wheel--gentleman as he is. You see he's just one of those men you
can't help wanting to tease. When you're on the road you meet lots of
'em."

"I tell you what you can do!"

"What?"

"Write and tell Slossons that you don't wish them to act for you any
more, and you'll go to another firm of solicitors. That would bring
'em to their senses."

"Can't! They're in the will. _He_ settled that. That's why they're so
cocky."

Edward Henry persisted--and this time with an exceedingly impressive
and conspiratorial air:

"I tell you another thing you could do--you really _could_ do--and it
depends on nobody but yourself."

"Well," she said with decision. "I'll do it."

"Whatever it is?"

"If it's straight."

"Of course it's straight. And it would be a grand way of teasing
Mr. Wrissell and all of 'em! A simply grand way! I should die of
laughing."

"Well--"

At this critical point the historic conversation was interrupted
by phenomena in the hall which Lady Woldo recognized with feverish
excitement. Lord Woldo had safely returned from Hyde Park. Starting
up, she invited Edward Henry to wait