"But, Torchy!" says she. "Do you think he would--really?"

Before I can answer there's a ring at the door, and here is M. Leon
Battou.

"The agent once more!" says he, producin' a paper. "In three days, it
says. But you have found me the wall-painting, yes?"

"Professor," says I, "I hate to say it, but there's nothin' doing in the
free-hand fresco line--absolutely."

He slumps into a chair, and that pitiful, hunted look settles in his
eyes.

"Then--then we must go," says he.

"Listen, Professor," says I, pattin' him soothin' on the shoulder. "Why
not can this art stuff, that nobody wants, and switch to somethin'
you're a wizard at?"

"You--you mean," says he, "that I should--should turn chef? I--Leon
Battou--in a big noisy hotel kitchen? Oh, but I could not. No, I could
not!"

"Professor," says I, "the only person in this town that I know of who's
nutty enough to want to hire a wall decorator reg'lar is me!"

"You!" gasps Battou, starin' around at our twelve by eighteen
livin'-room.

I nods.

"What would you take it on for as a steady job?"

"Oh, anything that would provide for us," says he, eager. "But how----"

"That's just the point," says I. "When you wasn't paintin' could you
cook a little on the side? Officially you'd be a decorator, but between
times---- Eh?"

He's a keen one, Mr. Battou.

"For so charming young people," says he, bowin' low, "it would be a
great pleasure. And the little mother--ah, you should see what a manager
she is! She can make a franc go farther. Could she assist also?"

"Could she!" exclaims Vee. "If she only would!"

Well, say, inside of half an hour we'd fixed up the whole deal, I'd
armed Battou with a check to shove under the nose of that agent, and Vee
had given Bertha her permanent release. And believe me, compared to what
was put before Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ellins that evenin', the dress
rehearsal dinner looked like Monday night at an actors' boardin'-house.

"I say," whispers Mr. Robert, "your cook must be a real artist."

"That's how he's carried on the family payroll," says I.

"Of course," says Vee afterwards, "while we can afford it, I suppose, it
does seem scandalously extravagant for us to have cooking like that
every day."

"Rather than have you worried with any more Bunglin' Berthas," says I,
"I'd subsidize the whole of Peronne to come over. And just think of all
I'll save by not havin' to buy my hat back from the coat-room boys every
night."