"I doubt it very much. Now, tell me, why did you insist upon this sacrifice on my part? What is it to you whether my wife appears or not?"
"I haven't time to tell you now, sir," the boy replied. "I must return to the theater at once."
"Can you call at my office, at the City Hall, to-morrow?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do so, then, at, say, ten in the morning. I should like to have a talk with you; I want to know more of you."
"I will be there, Mr. Anderson. Good-evening, sir."
"Good-evening, my lad."
As Al hurried along to take the good news to Mr. Wattles, he muttered:
"Well, I didn't think I had so much cheek. I wouldn't have insisted upon Mrs. Anderson's appearing if there had really been any harm in it, but I'm sure it can't damage her or her husband much. Besides, she gave her promise, and she ought to keep it."
As the boy hurried through the long corridor leading to the manager's office, his attention was attracted by the sound of loud and excited voices, and, listening, he heard a portion of the conversation taking place between Mr. Wattles and his ex-advance agent. As we have seen, he reached the office just in time to see Farley standing over the manager with uplifted knife, and to interfere.