keeping her there: an agent, the day after her
interview with Jimmy, had advised her to stay a few days longer; there
might be something important for her. Lily could not understand in what
way; however, she had stayed, though she was almost without means of
support. She began by trying to sell her jewels, the fifty-pound diamond,
among others, which that lord had given her in England: the jeweler handed
it back to her, saying that it might be worth eight francs! That meant
destitution. And yet hope always returned to her in one way or another.
She had even received three blue banknotes, three hundred francs, in an
envelope! Her fortnight at the Bijou! No doubt about it, they were paying
the artistes' salaries; perhaps the Federation had taken the matter up?
Three hundred francs; not enough to pay Glass-Eye or to give to Jimmy, but
just sufficient to settle her small debts, buy some new dresses and go to
London to play the darky at Earl's Court. Oh, what a ridiculous come-down!
And so, when she learned that Harrasford was at the Astrarium, she took
her courage in both hands: she would see Harrasford. She would try the
fascination of her smile upon him. She would be settled at once and for
ever.... When she thought of the New Trickers, her blood seemed to stand
still in her veins: the New Trickers at the Astrarium! And Jimmy, the mean
cur, not to have got her that shop, when she had such a splendid idea:
Lady Godiva on a bike! And a scene of her own: the front of Peeping Tom's
club, with all the boys at the windows!

Just then, Harrasford came out of the bar. She hurried up to him and
introduced herself:

"Miss Lily."

"Which one?" said Harrasford. "Excuse me; no time now. See Jimmy, will
you?"

And he plunged into a cab and shouted an address to his driver.

Lily stood stupefied, as she watched the cab disappear. This time it was
finished, quite finished.... She gave a last glance at the Astrarium and
sighed....

"Lily!" It was Jimmy coming out and crossing the street. "Hullo, Lily!"

She did not reply.

"Listen, Lily," said Jimmy, gently and gravely. "You wanted to get there
the other day, didn't you? You told me you would do anything for that."

"To take the place of the New Trickers, yes!" exclaimed Lily. "I'd have
risked my life!"

"The New Trickers are there," said Jimmy, "and are going to remain. Listen
to me, what I have to propose to you is very serious: it's something
else."

"What else? You know