'Ill-mannered brute!' exclaimed Logotheti in such a tone that Schreiermeyer must certainly have heard the words, though he did not even turn his head.
'I must speak to you at once,' he was saying to Margaret, very hurriedly, as he led her away. 'It is all bosh, nonsense, stupid stuff, I tell you! Rubbish!'
'What is rubbish?' asked Margaret in surprise, just as they reached the other side of the stage. 'My singing?'
'Stuff! You sing well enough. You know it too, you know it quite well! Good. Are you satisfied with the contract we signed?'
'Perfectly,' answered Margaret, more and more surprised at his manner.
'Ah, very good. Because, I tell you, if you are not pleased, it is just the same. I will make you stick to it, whether you like it or not. Understand?'
Margaret drew herself up, and looked at him coldly.
'If I carry out my contract,' she said, 'it will be because I signed my name to it, not because you can force me to do anything against my will.'
Schreiermeyer turned a little pale and glared through his glasses.
'Ah, you are proud, eh? You say to yourself, "First I am a lady, and then I am a singer that is going to be a prima donna." But the law is on my side. The law will give me heavy damages, enormous damages, if you fail to appear according to contract. You think because you have money in your throat somebody will pay me my damages if you go to somebody else. You don't know the law, my lady! I can get an injunction to prevent you from singing anywhere in Europe, pending suit. The other man will have to pay me before you can open your beautiful mouth to let the money out! Just remember that! You take my advice. You be an artist first and a lady afterwards when you have plenty of time, and you stick to old Schreiermeyer, and he'll stick to you. No nonsense, now, no stupid stuff! Eh?'