“At the Grand Hotel. I will invite you to come and see me if you will be careful to call me by my new name. And, by the way, I believe the Earl has considerable influence among theater managers. I will give you a letter to him when you go back to England.”
“I should like nothing better. But I can’t get over my wonder, Ben—I beg pardon—at the idea of your hobnobbing with an English earl.”
“I know other noblemen also,” said Ben with a smile. “They are very kind and agreeable, but I like an American gentleman just as well.”
The next day Mr. Wilkins called upon Ben at the hotel and was introduced to Mrs. Harcourt. As he was circumspect and made no embarrassing allusions to Ben’s New York experiences, he was courteously received and made a favorable impression.
A French gentleman also called, and Wilkins was considerably impressed by hearing Ben converse with him in his own language with easy fluency.
“I hope you had a pleasant voyage, Mr. Wilkins,” said Mrs. Harcourt.
“Very much so, thank you,” replied the dramatist.
“Was the weather good?”
“Not all the time, but I was not seasick. Besides, we had quite an agreeable passenger list.”
“Of course that would make a great difference.”