Fact is, I had all I could do
to keep him from going around to ask her, and I was pretty near
afraid he'd speak to her from the audience. Well, to satisfy
him, I did go around after the show, and gave her my card, and
told her if I could do anything for her in New York to let me
know. Of course, naturally, when I got back to town I forgot all
about it, but I got a note from her that she was here, looking
for an engagement, the very day you told me to scare up an
understudy. So I thought she might do as well as anybody I'd get
at the agent's, and I let her have it." He drew a breath of
relief, like that of a witness leaving the stand, and with
another placative laugh, letting his eyes fall humbly under the
steady scrutiny of his master, he concluded: "Of course I
remember all about it, only at first I wasn't sure which one you
meant; it's such a large company."
"I see," said Potter grimly. "You engaged her to please your
father."
"Oh, Mr. Potter!" the stage-manager protested. "If you don't
like her--"
"That will do!" Potter cut him off, and paced the floor,
virulently brooding.
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