“I am her brother,” he declared.
The man produced a card.
“Please introduce me to her,” he begged, laconically.
“Why should I?” Tavernake asked. “I have no reason to suppose that she desires to know you.”
The man stared at him for a moment, and then laughed.
“Well,” he said, “you had better show your sister my card. She is, I presume, a professional, as she is singing here. My desire to make her acquaintance is purely actuated by business motives.”
Tavernake moved away toward the waiting-room.
The man, who according to his card was Mr. Sidney Grier, would have followed him in, but Tavernake stopped him.
“If you will wait here,” he suggested, “I will see whether my sister desires to meet you.”
Once more Mr. Sidney Grier looked surprised, but after a second glance at Tavernake he accepted his suggestion and remained outside. Tavernake took the card to Beatrice.