He gave me a bit of a push. 'Twas just a love-pat. I stumbled out
on to the stage.



VII.


And that's why, Marguerite de Monahan, I want you to buy in with
the madam here. Let 'em keep on calling it Troyon's as much as
they want, but you're to be a partner on the money I'll give you.
If this fairy story lasts, it'll be your own, Mag--a sort of
commission you get on my take-off of you. But if anything happens
to the world--if it should go crazy, or get sane, and not love
Nancy Olden any more, why, here'll be a place for me, too.

Does it look that way? Divil a bit, you croaker! It looks--it
looks--listen and I'll tell you how it looks.

It looks as though Gray and the great Gray rose diamond and the
three Charities had all become a bit of background for Nance
Olden to play upon.

It looks as though the audience likes the sound of my voice as
much almost as I do myself; anyway, as much as it does the sight
of me.

It looks as though the press, if you please, had discovered a new
stage star, for down comes a little reporter to interview me--me,