Page:The Tattooed Countess (1924).pdf/97

 Who?

Why Lou Poore's sister, of course. He spoke a trifle impatiently.

O, you'll meet her. She's going to be here indefinitely. You know, she added, inconsequentially, they're giving a gala entertainment for her at the opera house.

I know. I want to go to that. The Countess aside, I'd go to anything to get into that opera house, and during the summer we don't have anything but ten-twenty-thirty shows and mighty few of those.

There were good things here last winter.

He was scornful: Della Fox and Emily Bancker and Roland Reed. Not much like what they have in Chicago. I want to see Richard Mansfield and Ada Rehan, and Mrs. Fiske in Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

You'll see everything there!

You bet I will, Miss Colman. That's one of the reasons I want to go.

Do you think it will be Chicago?

I don't know, he replied vaguely. Then looking directly at her, he persisted, I wish I could meet the Countess.

Perhaps. . . Lennie Colman was—hesitant, apologetic. Her face was pale and her fingers twitched nervously. . . at the entertainment at the opera house. . . I might possibly. . . She gained control of herself and pressed forward: As