Part 45 (1/2)
”Sennier's success at the Metropolitan has nearly killed the New Era,”
said Elliot. ”But Crayford has any amount of pluck, and a purse that seems inexhaustible. I suppose you know he's to be here to-night.”
”Mr. Jacob Crayford, the Impresario!” exclaimed Charmian. ”He's in England?”
”Arrived to-day by the _Lusitania_ in search of talent, of someone who can 'produce the goods' as he calls it. Adelaide sent a note to meet him at the Savoy, and he's coming. Shows his pluck, doesn't it? This is the enemy's camp.”
Max Elliot laughed gaily. He loved the strong battles of art, backed by ”commercial enterprise,” and was friends with everyone though he could be such a keen and concentrated partisan.
”Crayford would give a hundred thousand dollars without a murmur to get Jacques away from the Metropolitan,” he continued.
”Won't he go for that?” asked Lady Mildred, in her hollow voice. ”Is Madame Sennier holding out for two hundred thousand?”
Again Max Elliot looked happily evasive.
”Henriette! Has she anything to do with it?”
”Mr. Elliot! You know she arranges everything for her husband.”
”Do I? Do I really? Ah, there is Crayford!”
”Where?” said Charmian, turning round rather sharply.
”He's going up to Adelaide now. He's taking her hand, just over there.
Margot Drake is speaking to him.”
”Margot--of course! But I can't see them.”
Max Elliot moved.
”If you stand here. Are you so very anxious to see him?”
Charmian saw that he was slightly surprised.
”Because I've heard so much about the New York battle from Margot.”
”To be sure!”
”What--that little man!”
”Why not?”
”With the tiny beard! It's the tiniest beard I ever saw.”
”More brain than beard,” said Max Elliot. ”I can a.s.sure you Mr. Crayford is one of the most energetic, determined, enterprising, and courageous men on either side of the Atlantic. Diabolically clever, too, in his way, but an idealist at heart. Some people in America think that last fact puts him at a disadvantage as a manager. It certainly gives him point and even charm as a man.”
”I should like very much to know him,” said Charmian. ”Of course you know him?”
”Yes.”