CHAPTER XXIV.
PALMER CALLS UPON ROBERT'S MOTHER.
Among the first to leave the opera house were Mrs. Talbot and her husband.
"I have had quite enough of this," said the lady to James Talbot. "The company and the play are both very poor."
"Perhaps you are right," he admitted. "I must say I looked for something much better myself. That poor butler couldn't act at all."
"He was dumstruck," said Mrs. Talbot, and felt compelled to laugh. "Poor fellow, he ought to go at some other line of work."
They were soon on the way home. Mr. Talbot had ordered a carriage to come for them when the performance was over, but this was not at hand, so they were forced to walk.
"I didn't make much by taking her out to-night," said the schemer to himself. "Next time I'll have to make sure that I am taking her to something that is really first-class."
When the pair reached home James Talbot wished his wife to come into the sitting-room, to talk over their business affairs. The fact of the matter was, he was running short of money, and he desired his wife to make him an advance.