Part 3 (2/2)
”I did the best I could, Miss Moreland,” Walter Sedger said, after the applause of two recalls had died away. ”But do you really enjoy this music so much? For my part I prefer opera-bouffe.”
”I admire your frankness, Mr. Sedger,” she replied. ”There are so many people who adore Wagner because he is the fas.h.i.+on, and sneer at Verdi and the Italian school, when, if the truth were known, they have not the slightest conception of the good qualities of either. For my part I like any music from a hurdy-gurdy up, though an extended term of suffering under a German professor has finally produced a taste for such music as Verdi has given us in 'Otello', which seems to me quite as remarkable as some of Wagner's masterpieces.”
”Well, I am glad you enjoy it, Miss Moreland, but I fear my education did not extend beyond the 'Mikado' and 'Ermine'; so when it comes to grand opera I must confess my pleasure is confined to the _entre acte_.
I love to see the people, and if it were not for being rude I think I should be tempted to run down to the club while the curtain is up.”
”You have my permission, Mr. Sedger, but tell me who is that good-looking man with Mr. Wainwright, coming down this way?”
”He is a New Yorker; Duncan Grahame is his name. I met him at the club this afternoon.”
”What is he doing here? One always seems to ask what a stranger is doing in Chicago: I don't know why, I am sure.”
”He is out here on business in connection with an elevator trust. He seems to be a capital fellow, and, as he is a member of the Staten Club, I suppose he needs no further patent of respectability. But here he comes, so you can judge of him for yourself.”
The two men of whom they were speaking entered the box. Harold Wainwright spoke to the ladies and introduced his friend. Mrs. Sanderson offered Duncan a seat beside her and said: ”I have heard of you quite frequently, Mr. Grahame, from a friend in New York, Miss Sibyl Wright, and I think you should be grateful for having such an enthusiastic admirer.”
”Doubly so considering that she is a woman and it was to you she spoke.
I also have heard of you from scores of people in the East, and I made Wainwright introduce me at the first opportunity. I arrived only this morning, and I a.s.sure you I am quite without a guiding hand.”
”You make me smile and frown by turns,” she replied. ”I was tempted to feel flattered at the first part of your speech, but if it is a question of any shade in the desert, I shall not feel strongly inclined to offer you my protection in the Chicago wilderness.”
”I think it would be advisable to interpret my speech as a compliment, as I seldom make them.”
”Really, Mr. Grahame, I am tempted to call you rude.”
”It is not rudeness but frankness, I a.s.sure you, and I spoke the truth.
I have really been most anxious to meet you, and now that my desire has been gratified I trust you will not be so cruel as to let the frown remain. There goes the curtain. I am going to beg permission to return after the next act.”
”You deserve punishment for your rudeness, so I refuse to grant it. As a penance for your offense I shall expect you to remain where you are during this entire act and devote your energies to amusing me.”
”I suppose I must submit, but please talk to me, as I am not bold and feel sure that your friend is a musical fiend who is quite prepared to cast furious glances at me should I be audacious enough to speak above a whisper.”
”I see you are an a.n.a.lyst of character.”
”Rather more of a synthesist, I imagine. I collect what both enemies and friends say of an individual and then build his character from those materials.”
”How horrible! I trust you will never try your method on me.”
”I have done so already.”
”You wretch! What do you mean?”
”I mean that I have heard considerable about you in New York, and that I dined with six men at the City Club this evening. You were the one person in Chicago I was most desirous of meeting, so I managed to collect some most useful materials from which I have built my estimate of your character.”
”I must call that the boldest piece of a.s.surance I ever heard of.”
<script>