Somerset was in the studio the next morning about ten o’clock
superintending the labours of Knowles, Bowles, and Cockton, whom he
had again engaged to assist him with the drawings on his appointment
to carry out the works. When he had set them going he ascended the
staircase of the great tower for some purpose that bore upon the
forthcoming repairs of this part. Passing the door of the telegraph-room
he heard little sounds from the instrument, which somebody was working.
Only two people in the castle, to the best of his knowledge, knew the
trick of this; Miss Power, and a page in her service called John. Miss
De Stancy could also despatch messages, but she was at Myrtle Villa.
The door was closed, and much as he would have liked to enter, the
possibility that Paula was not the performer led him to withhold his
steps. He went on to where the uppermost masonry had resisted the mighty
hostility of the elements for five hundred years without receiving worse
dilapidation than half-a-century produces upon the face of man. But he
still wondered who was telegraphing, and whether the message bore on
housekeeping, architecture, theatricals, or love.
Could Somerset have seen through the panels of the door in passing, he
would have beheld the room occupied by Paula alone.
It was she who sat at the instrument, and the message she was
despatching ran as under:--
‘Can you send down a competent actress, who will undertake the part of
Princess of France in “Love’s Labour’s Lost” this evening in a temporary
theatre here? Dresses already provided suitable to a lady about the
middle height. State price.’
The telegram was addressed to a well-known theatrical agent in London.
Off went the message, and Paula retired into the next room, leaving the
door open between that and the one she had just quitted. Here she
busied herself with writing some letters, till in less than an hour the
telegraph instrument showed signs of life, and she hastened back to its
side. The reply received from the agent was as follows:--
‘Miss Barbara Bell of the Regent’s Theatre could come. Quite competent.
Her terms would be about twenty-five guineas.’