Billing laughed.
"Shall I tell him?" he asked, turning to the lady.
"Bags I!" said Beatrice, laughing: "that must be my royalty, or commission, if you prefer it. First of all, let me explain his presence. He called on me this afternoon and found that I was out——"
"As usual," interrupted Billing.
"And learned where I had gone from my servant. Then, being in a hurry——"
"Wanted to try to persuade her to sign a new contract," said the irrepressible Billing, "but she won't. Perhaps you can make her realize, Mr. Mortimer, that if she retires the stage will lose one of its brightest jewels."
"Oh, keep that for the publicity agent!" she begged. "I've told you I mean to retire, and that's final. I want to tell the news. Well, Mr. Mortimer, the impetuous man couldn't wait, so he went down to Brooklands and flew here——"
"Quicker than the train," smiled Billing. "American hustle and all that——"
"And now he tells me—as a casual item of information—that he's going to produce your play."
"What!" said Lionel.