"Ever played a part before?"
"Part? Oh, I see what you mean. Well, in amateur theatricals, you know, and all that sort of rot."
His words were music to Mr. Goble's ears. He felt that his Napoleonic action had justified itself by success. His fury left him. If he had been capable of beaming, one would have said that he beamed at Freddie.
"Well, you play the part of Lord Finchley from now on. Come to my office this afternoon for your contract. Clear the stage. We've wasted enough time."
Five minutes later, in the wings, Freddie, receiving congratulations from Nelly Bryant, asserted himself.
"Not the Automat to-day, I think, what? Now that I'm a jolly old star and all that sort of thing, it can't be done. Directly this is over we'll roll round to the Cosmopolis. A slight celebration is indicated, what? Right ho! Rally round, dear heart, rally round!"