"Well, well, we can't go into a big production like that, this
late in the year. We'll have to see what can be done with
'Roderick Hanscom.'" He looked at the door, where the Japanese
was performing a shrinking curtsey. "What is it, Sato?"

"Miss Pata."

"Who?"

"Miss Pata."

A voice called from the hallway: "It's me, Mr. Potter. Packer."

"Oh, come in! Come in!"

The stage-manager made a deferential entrance. "It's about Miss--"

"Sit down, Packer."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter." Evidently considering the command a
favour, Packer sat. "I saw Miss Lyston, sir--"


"I won't turn her adrift," said his employer peevishly. "You
see, Mr. Canby, here's another of the difficulties of my
position. Miss Lyston has been with me for several years, and
for this piece we've got somebody I think will play her part
better, but I haven't any other part for Miss Lyston. And we
start so late in the season, this year, she'll probably not be
able to get anything else to do; so she's on my hands. I can't