“At night?”
“There is need for haste. We will go in Robinson’s big car. Jaeger will go, and Rosemary. Perhaps Jeanne, too. You will be ready? That is all for now.
“Only this: I think Jeanne is to have the stellar role to-night.”
“Jeanne! The stellar role? How could that be?”
“I think it has been arranged.”
“Arranged?”
There came no answer. The lady in black was gone.
CHAPTER XXXII
SPARKLING TREASURE
The strangest moment in the little French girl’s career was that in which, as the juggler, she tripped out upon the Opera House stage. More than three thousand people had assembled in this great auditorium to see and hear their favorite, the city’s darling, Marjory Dean, perform in her most famous role. She was not here. They would know this at once. What would the answer be?
The answer, after perfunctory applause, was a deep hush of silence. It was as if the audience had said: “Marjory Dean is not here. Ah, well, let us see what this child can do.”