Anna the Adventuress

"Just as you wish," Mr. Earles declared good-humouredly, "but I shall

not let you go without drinking a glass of wine to our success."

He plunged into one of his drawers, and brought up a small gold-foiled

bottle. The cork came out with a loud pop, and Anna could not help

wondering how it must sound to the patient little crowd outside. She

drank her glass of wine, however, and clanked glasses good-naturedly

with Mr. Earles.

"You must leave me your address if you please," he said, as she rose

to go.

She wrote it down. He looked at it with uplifted eyebrows, but made no

remark.

"I shall probably want you to come down to the 'Unusual' to-morrow

morning," he said. "Bring any new songs you may have."

Anna nodded, and Mr. Earles attended her obsequiously to the door. She

descended the stairs, and found herself at last in the street--alone.

It was a brief solitude, however. A young man, who had been spending

the last hour walking up and down on the opposite side of the way,

came quickly over to her. She looked up, and recognized Mr. Brendon.