"Ah!" The diver glanced sharply at Blanche, and then back at Jules, as
if making a rapid calculation of their ages. "Been married long?" she
asked.
"A little over a year," Blanche replied.
"Too bad your wife had to give her dive up, ain't it?" the girl said to
Jules. "I hear it was great. But I suppose you'll do it again, won't
you, when you're better?"
Blanche flushed. "I don't know," she said, with a half-frightened look
at Jules.
"Well, I would if I was you. It's sensational things like that that
ketches 'em. My act's kind of sensational, but it ain't in it with yours
for cold nerve an' grit. When you do it again you'd oughter go to
America. You can make a good deal more there than you do here. I came
over just for the reputation. It helps you a lot over there if you've
made a hit in Europe."
"But you are English, aren't you?" Jules asked.
"Oh, yes, I s'pose I am, in a sort of way. I was born over here, but my
father took me to America when I was about six, an' I'm American to the
backbone."
"Have you been in the ring long?" Blanche asked.
"No, I only took to giving performances about five years ago; but I've
been in the swimming business all my life. My Dad had a swimming school
out in 'Frisco; but there's more money in this business. But I guess I'm
keeping you folks. It must be most time for your act. Good-bye. P'raps
I'll see you later. I'm mighty glad you can speak English," she laughed,
with a glance at Jules. "I travelled with a troupe once with a lot of
Italians in it, and my, what a time I had tryin' to talk with 'em!"
She hurried out, leaving Jules with a vision of tousled yellow hair, a
roguish smile, and gleaming white teeth, and with the sound of a rich
contralto voice in his ears. As soon as the door closed, he turned to
Blanche.
"How did she happen to come in here?"
"She wanted me to help her with one of her slippers that was torn.
Madeleine sewed it up for her."
"Hasn't she got any maid?"
"She left her behind in Manchester. She was sick. She's coming on when
she gets better."
Jules merely grunted and walked out of the room. The sound of the
contralto voice was still in his ears. What a sweet voice it was! She
seemed to him just like an American in spite of her birth, and Jules
preferred the Americans to the English. He wondered what her performance
was like, and he waited impatiently for Blanche to finish her act on the
trapeze and the rope. As his eyes followed Blanche, he kept seeing the
tousled hair and the broad smile revealing the white teeth.
It took several moments for the tank to be arranged for the crowning
performance. The audience waited in good-natured patience, however, and
when finally the plump little figure in blue flannel ran out, there was
a round of applause. Lottie King had added a touch of rouge to either
cheek, and she looked very pretty as she ran up the flight of steps
leading to the edge of the tank, poised there for a moment with the
fingers of both hands touching high in the air, and then dived in a
graceful curve into the water. She speedily reappeared, shaking her head
and laughing, and struck out for the rope that hung from the platform.
This she climbed hand over hand, the water dripping from her figure, and
glistening on her face.
Jules, whose eyes had been eagerly following her, was surprised to see
that she was going to begin her act with the dive, instead of keeping it
for the climax. She seemed to take it very coolly, he thought, as she
stood on the swaying platform, rubbing her face with a handkerchief and
rearranging one of the sleeves of her costume. Then she steadied the
platform, and, an instant later, she was cutting, feet foremost, through
the air, her arms by her side and her body rigid. When she reached the
water, there was very little splashing, and she speedily reappeared,
shaking her head again and displaying her white teeth.
Jules had watched the dive breathlessly, Just as he had watched
Blanche's on the night when he first saw her in the _Cirque Parisien_,
and now he followed her feats of skill and strength with wonder and
fascination. When she remained beneath the surface for more than three
minutes he felt as if he himself were stifling, and when she reappeared,
calm and smiling, he took a long breath.
He supposed that the rescue of one of the circus hands who fell
opportunely into the tank would end the performance; but instead of
leaving the ring, Lottie King climbed again to the platform. Surely,
Jules thought, she would make a mistake if she repeated that plunge.
Instead, however, she swung on the edge, leaped backward into the air,
and after several swift turns, fell with a crash into the water. As she
swam to the ladder, the band burst into triumphant music, and the
audience cheered, and began to climb down from the circular seats and to
rush to the spot where she was to make her exit.
Then Jules roused himself. He felt as if he had been in a dream. He had
difficulty in reaching Blanche's dressing-room, for the crowd had
gathered at the entrance to the ring in order to catch another glimpse
of the dripping figure of the diver. When finally he succeeded in making
his way there, he found Blanche sitting motionless, her arms resting on
the table. He at once divined the cause of her dejection.
"You see what you've brought on yourself," he said. "A lot you'll amount
to now! You might as well give up the business."
Madeleine looked at him with mild reproach in her eyes. He paid no
attention to her, however. He walked back to the door, and turning, he
added: "But you can't stay here all night. I thought you'd be dressed by
this time. I'll wait out here for you."
Jules looked anxiously up and down the corridor, but he saw no one. He
could hear the noise of the crowd slowly wending out of the Hippodrome,
and from the dressing-rooms on either side the buzz of voices. Miss King
must have succeeded in making her escape to her room.