" He began frantically to
turn out the contents of his pockets. "It's in my memorandum
book, if I could only find--"
"The devil, the devil!" shouted Potter. "A fine understudy
you've got for us! She sees me standing here like--like a
statue--delaying the whole rehearsal, while we wait for you to
find her name, and she won't open her lips!" He swept the air
with a furious gesture, and a subtle faint relief became
manifest throughout the company at this token that the newcomer
was indeed to fill Miss Lyston's place for one rehearsal at
least. "Why don't you tell us your name?" he roared.
"I understood," said the zither-sweet voice, "that I was never
to speak to you unless you directly asked me a question. My--"
"My soul! Have you got a name?"
"Wanda Malone."
Potter had never heard it until that moment, but his expression
showed that he considered it another outrage.
IV
The rehearsal proceeded, and under that cover old Tinker came
noiselessly down the aisle and resumed his seat beside Canby,
who was uttering short, broken sighs, and appeared to have been
trying with fair success to give himself a shampoo.
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