hey're all up on the stage trying to get the locust effect."

"The locusts! Wait a minute, Alston! I'll change my gown."

She hurried out of the room.

"Well, old chap, what's up? You don't look too pleased," said Alston to
Claude as the door shut. "Don't you want to come out? But we must put
our backs into this, you know. The fight's on, and a bully big fight it
is. Seen the papers to-day?"

"No. I haven't had a minute. I've been going through the orchestration
with Meroni."

"What does he say?"

"He was very nice," answered Claude evasively. "But what's in the
papers?"

"A bit of news that's made Crayford bristle like a scrubbing brush. The
Metropolitan's changed the date for the production of Sennier's new
opera, put it forward by nearly a fortnight, pledged themselves to be
ready by the first of March."

"What does it matter?"

"Well, I like that! It takes all the wind out of our sails. In a big
race the getting off is half the battle. We were coming first. But if I
know anything of Crayford we shall come first even now. It's all Madame
Sennier. She's mad against Crayford and the opera and you, and she's
specially mad against Mrs. Charmian. The papers to-night are full of a
lot of nonsense about the libretto."

"Which libretto?"

"Yours. Apparently Madame Sennier's been saying it was really written
for Sennier and had been promised to him."

"That's a lie."

"Of course it is. But she's spread herself on it finely, I can tell you.
Crayford's simply delighted."

"Delighted, when I'm accused of mean conduct, of stealing another man's
property."

"It's no use getting furious over our papers! Doesn't pay! Besides, it
makes a story, works up public interest. Still, I think she might have
kept out Mrs. Charmian's name."

"Charmian is in it?"

"Yes, a lot of rubbish about her hearing what a stunner the libretto
was, and rushing over to Paris to bribe it away before Sennier had
considered it in its finished state."

"How abominable! I shall--"

"I know, but I wouldn't. Crayford says it will give value to the
libretto, prepare the public mind for a masterpiece, and help to carry
your music to success."

"I see! With this and the locusts!"

He turned away toward the open window, through which came the incessant
roar of traffic, the sound of motor horns, and now, for a moment, a
chiming of bells from St. Patrick's Cathedral.

"Well, we must do all we know. We mustn't give away a single chance. The