pple," said Stocmar. "You have tasted of the real 'tap.'"

"That have I," said he, with a sigh that told how intensely he felt the
words; and then, as if to overcome the sad impression, he asked, "And
the girl, is she to take to the stage?"

"I believe Stocmar will have to decide the point; at least, I told her
mother that he was on his way to Italy, and that his opinion on such a
matter might be deemed final. Our friend here," continued Trover, as he
pointed laughingly to Stocmar,--"our friend here buys up these budding
celebrities just as Anderson would a yearling colt, and, like him too,
would reckon himself well paid if one succeed in twenty."

"Ay, one in fifty, Trover," broke in Stocmar. "It is quite true. Many a
stone does not pay for the cutting; but as we always get the lot cheap,
we can afford to stand the risk."

"She's a strange sort of woman, this Mrs. Morris," said Trover, after
a pause, "for she seems hesitating between the Conservatoire and a
convent."

"Is the girl a Catholic?"

"No; but her mother appears to consider that as a minor circumstance;
in fact, she strikes me as one of those people who, when they determine
to go to a place, are certain to cut out a road for themselves."

"That she is!" exclaimed Paten.

"Oh, then, you are acquainted with her?" cried Trover.

"No, no," said he, hurriedly. "I was merely judging from your
description of her. Such a woman as you have pictured I can imagine,
just as if I had known her all my life."

"I should like to see both mother and daughter," broke in Stocmar.

"I fancy she will have no objection; at least, she said to me, 'You
will not fail to inform me of your friend Mr. Stocmar's arrival here;'
and I promised as much."

"Well, you must arrange our meeting speedily, Trover, for I mean to be
at Naples next week, at Barcelona and Madrid the week after. The worthy
Public, for whose pleasure I provide, will, above all things, have
novelty,--excellence, if you can, but novelty must be procured them."

"Leave it to me, and you shall have an interview tomorrow or the day
after."

A strange telegraphic intelligence seemed to pass from Paten to the
manager, for Stocmar quickly said, "By the way, don't drop any hint that
Paten is with me; he has n't got the best of reputations behind the
scenes, and it would, perhaps, mar all our arrangements to mention him."

Trover put a finger to his lips in sign of secrecy, and said, "You
are right there. She r