Lessee of the Opera, lessee of the Diana, lessee of the Folly, lessee of the Ottoman. If any one knows the color of his cheques I reckon it’s me. He made me — that I will say; but I made him, too. Queer fellow! Awfully cute of him to get elected to the County Council. It was through him I met my wife. Did you ever see Emmeline when she was Sissie Vox?”

“I’m afraid I didn’t.”

“You missed a treat, old man. There was no one to touch her in boys’ parts in burlesque. A dashed fine woman she is — though I say it, dashed fine!” He seemed to reflect a moment. “She’s a spiritualist. I wish she wasn’t. Spiritualism gets on her nerves. I’ve no use for it myself, but it’s her life. It gives her fancies. She got some sort of a silly notion —