The transfer of the borrowed diamonds to Alexandra was a troublesome
job. For once Maggy was reticent. In effect she said, "Ask no
questions and you will be told no lies." Hers was the stronger will and
in the end it prevailed. Alexandra wore them and De Freyne saw them.
His shrewd eyes did not mistake them for stage jewelry. He saw they
were real and was rather flabbergasted by their value. Maggy hoped and
prayed he would not interrogate her again and that he would refrain from
putting awkward questions to Alexandra. He did neither. He was much
too satisfied with Alexandra's opulent appearance to ask questions.
Moreover, he thought he could have provided answers to them himself.
Alexandra had had her baptism of stage-fright on tour. Curiously
enough, when it came to walking into the limelight of the stage of the
Pall Mall she was hardly nervous at all. She did not know it, but the
loss of her old enthusiasm for the stage made her indifferent. Her
sensations were deadened. De Freyne noticed her calmness and put it
down to self-confidence, the same confidence that had procured her the
attentions of her august "friend."
She did not leap into fame that night. She attracted notice. The
audience thought her pretty and dainty. They found her refinement
rather in the nature of a _sorbet_ between coarser fare. They were not
quite sure that they appreciated her air of unconcern but it impressed
them. So did her diamonds.
De Freyne was very pleased with her and himself as well. A good many of
his friends, several newspaper critics, and others who had a financial
interest in the Pall Mall, felicitated him in the foyer on his
discernment in recognizing talent among the members of his chorus and
incidentally from among the choruses of lesser managers upon whose folds
he and his emissaries were always watching and making raids. He went
round to the wings to congratulate Alexandra.
"I've only one fault to find," he said. "You coughed twice."
"I've had a cold for some time," was her excuse.
"You ought to take something. See a doctor."
"I will, if it doesn't get better."
"That's right."
Alexandra had on the white wrap which all ladies of the company were
expected to wear over their costumes when not on the stage. He drew it
slightly aside, exposing her neck.
"Damn fine diamonds, those, my dear. They ought to keep colds away."
He nodded amiably and moved off. Maggy, minus her wrap, rushing toward
Alexandra, collided with him.
"Where's your dust-cloak?" he demanded.
"Oh, who can think of dust-cloaks when they're excited!" she exclaimed,
and flung her arms round Alexandra. "You _were_ a go, Lexie!"
"That's the third time this week I've seen you without it," said De
Freyne testily.
"One and six more for the share-holders. Oh, don't grumble, Mr. De
Freyne, or else I shall kiss you, too. I don't know what I'm doing!"
She put her arm in Alexandra's and dragged her off to her dressing-room.
De Freyne's eyes followed the former.
"Deep little devil, that," he observed to his stage-manager, who had
been looking on. "Clever too."
"They're all devils," rejoined that experienced person, wearily. "But
it's a change when they're clever. Talking of cleverness, her friend's
worth watching. She's very raw material, but--"
"You mean young Delamere? Clever?"
"Clever as paint!"