Part 17 (1/2)
The youth produced a cru disaster was upon hier
”You blithering idiot!” he exclai-rooed hand was cordially outstretched
”My dear Miss Pellissier,” he said impressively, ”this is an unexpected pleasure Co puppy of a clerk If I had known that you were here you should not have been kept waiting for a second”
It took a good deal to surprise Anna, but it was all she could do to follow Mr Earles with composure into the inner roo crowd, and the florid young wons of temper, to which Mr Earles was absolutely indifferent He installed Anna in a comfortable easy chair, and placed his own between her and the door
”Come,” he said, ”this is capital, capital It was only a few o that I told you you hed at ht moment, too
By-the-bye,” he added, in a suddenly altered tone, ”I hope, I trust--that you have not entered into any arrangements with any one here?”
”I--oh no!” Anna said, a little faintly ”I have ements as yet--none at all”
Mr Earles recovered his spirits
”Excellent!” he exclaimed ”Your arrival is reallynew By-the-bye, do you recognize that?”
Anna looked and gasped An enormous poster alure of the girl upon it in plain black dress, standing with her hands behind her, was an undeniable and astonishi+ng likeness of herself It was her figure, her style of dress, her ly
”A wonderful piece of work,” he declared ”A most wonderful likeness, too I hope in a few days, Miss Pellissier, that these posters will be livening up our London hoardings”
Anna leaned back in the chair and laughed softly Even this man had accepted her for ”Alcide” without a moment's question Then all the embarrassrave
”I suppose, Mr Earles,” she said, ”that if I were to tell you that although that poster was designed froh my name is Pellissier, that nevertheless, I am not 'Alcide'
would you believe me?”
”You can try it on, if you like,” Mr Earles reenially ”My only ansould be to ask you to look at that mirror and then at the poster The poster is of 'Alcide' It's a duplicate of the French one”
Anna got up and looked at the mirror and then at the poster The likeness was ridiculous
”Well?” she said, sitting down again ”I want an engagement”
”Capital!” Mr Earles declared ”Any choice as to which of the Halls?
You can pick and choose, you know I recommend the 'Unusual'”
”I have no choice,” Anna declared
”I can get you,” Mr Earles said, slowly, keeping his eyes fixed upon her, ”forty at the 'Unusual,' two turns, encores voluntary, six for eement must be exclusive”
”Forty what?” Anna asked bewildered
”Guineas, of course,” Mr Earles answered, glibly ”Forty guineas a week I mentioned sixty, I believe, when I was in Paris, but there are expenses, and just now business is bad”
Anna was speechless, but she had presence of h to sit still until she had recovered herself Mr Earles watched her anxiously She appeared to be considering