"Yes," she answered.
"I am a stranger to you, madam, but I come from Chicago, and I am well acquainted with your son Robert."
"Indeed!" cried Mrs. Talbot, and her whole manner changed. "Is Robert in Chicago?"
"He is—or at least he was when I left there, two days ago."
"Can you tell me what he is doing?"
"He and I were clerks in a cut-rate ticket office. But a fire threw us both out of employment."
"And you joined a theatrical company," added Mrs. Talbot.
"How do you know that?"
"I was at the opera house last night and saw you on the stage."