"'Trusting that it will cause us no inconvenience,'" groaned Mr. Perley. "Isn't that like a woman? Well, Wattles, we are in a nice little fix now. Of course, we shall have to give three-fourths of the audience their money back."
"Yes; but that isn't the worst of it. Think of the roasting the papers will give us!"
"Don't speak of it. And it's all your fault; you would be fool enough to listen to that kid."
"Don't say any more, Perley. I must have been out of my head."
"It isn't worth while to get excited, gentlemen," said a calm voice.
And looking in the direction from which it proceeded, the two men saw Al Allston standing in the doorway.
"You young rascal——" began Mr. Wattles, but Al silenced him by a gesture:
"There is no time to waste, gentlemen," he said. "I told you that Mrs. Anderson would appear to-night, and she will."
"Do you mean to say," cried Mr. Wattles, "that you can make her do this in defiance of her husband's will?"
"Her husband will agree after he has had a short talk with me," was the boy's reply. "Go right ahead with your preparations for the performance, gentlemen; Mrs. Anderson will be here as per agreement."