ccustomed to hear the usual contempt of the
English-speaking races for anyone possessing a strain of Jewish blood.
So it was the Jewess in her that accounted for her haunting voice.

The Manager was a hatchet-faced and haggard man who looked as if he
went to bed about once a week, on an average, and existed principally
on cigarettes and _absinthe_. The simultaneous arrival of Emile and
Arithelli roused him from his normal condition of bored cynicism to
comparative animation.

Like the landlady he naturally made his own conclusions.

"When did you arrive?" he demanded of Arithelli. Emile, not being
afflicted with a sense of the necessity for elaborate explanation,
removed himself a few paces and began to roll a cigarette.

Arithelli stood her ground, listened to the comments on her appearance
which the Manager felt himself entitled to use, returned his cynical
survey with a level glance, and answered his questions with an
unruffled composure.

It was arranged that she should rehearse every day for two hours in the
morning, and another two hours between the afternoon and evening
performances. For the first act she could wear a habit of any colour
she cared to choose, and a smart hat; for the second act, which
included jumping over gates, and the presence of the inevitable clown,
she would have to wear short skirts.

"_They_ won't suit me," she said. "You see how long and thin I am, and
look at my long feet. I shall look a burlesque."

The Manager glared at her.

"I quite believe you will," he snapped. "I suppose you think you're
going to do the leaping act in a court train and feathers! Is there
anything more you would like to suggest?"

The intended sarcasm was not a success. Arithelli considered gravely.

"I don't think so, thank you," she said at last. "But if I _do_ think
of anything else I'll tell you. And I _should_ like to see the horses."

She was filled with a genuine delight by the four cream-coloured
pure-bred Andalusians, El Rey, Don Quixote, Cavaliero and Don Juan.
They turned intelligent eyes upon her as she entered their stalls,
neighing gently as if they recognised a friend. Both the men
experienced the same feeling of surprise at her evident knowledge and
understanding of animals. In five minutes she had shown that she knew
as much about their harness and food as a competent groom.

The astute Manager, upon whom no sign of intelligence was wasted, saw a
good opportunity for getti