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It had been arranged that the fallen star was to come to the walk-up and accompany Cassy to the Splendor. Instead of which, at the last moment, the ex-diva had telephoned that she would join her at the hotel, and Cassy foresaw a tedious sitting about in the lobby, for Ma Tamby was always late. But when have misfortunes come singly?
He did not seem old; he seemed very impudent. Ma Tamby says he's rich as all outdoors." "That's the son then. Don't have anything to do with him. They're a bad lot." "As if I cared! Ma Tamby said he could get me an engagement." "Ha! In vaudeville with acrobats and funny men and little suppers to follow." "Why not big ones?" "Big what?"
His face was turned from Cassy and his eyes, which he had fastened on his hostess, held caveats, commands, rewards. Massively she flung herself on Cassy. "Dearie, I weep for joy!" Cassy shoved her away. "Not on me, Tamby." But the dear lady, in attacking her, shot a glance at Paliser. It was very voluble. Cassy, too, was looking at him. Her education had been thorough.
Ma Tamby grabbed it. "Go where, dearie?" "For the license?" Ma Tamby tittered. "Not unless you love the song of the subway. The license is a man's job." Twisting, she giggled at Paliser. "But not hard labour, he, he!" "A life-term, though," he answered and added: "I'll go at once." That settled it for Cassy. A chair stretched its arms to her. She sat down. Wildly the fat woman gesticulated.
Young, healthy and consequently carnal, though not otherwise carnal than hunger can make you, she liked food, on condition that she had not prepared it, and in particular, and why not? she liked the savorously truffled menus that walk-ups lack. She had another reason for being in the subway, one that Ma Tamby had lodged, like a flea, in her ear.
She was making for the door and the charm of the scented streets. Ma Tamby sighed, rose and followed. It was the devil's own job. Housebreaking must be easier! Cassy's department-store investments reached her the next day.
Thomas'? Invitations a fortnight in advance, aisles banked with flowers, filled with snobs and the garbage of the Wagner score that Ma Tamby had tossed after her? Not by a long shot! She turned. Paliser was entering. But the gnawing had nibbled away the enchantment and, as she turned, she looked rather cross.
"Don't be a fool," Cassy frigidly threw at her. "Will you take my arm?" Paliser asked. "Don't be a fool either," she threw at him and bravely, head up, went on to the events that waited. In the street below a strain overtook her. Ma Tamby was amusing herself with "Lohengrin." Paliser, alighting, turned to help Cassy. But Cassy could get out unassisted.
With the wave of a cheque, the complicity of the former first-lady had been assured, and assured moreover without a qualm on her part. Ma Tamby did not know what it is to have a qualm which she could not have spelled if she had known. She was differently and superiorly educated. In the university that life is, she had acquired encyclopedias of recondite learning.
It modified and mollified, admonishing her that this man was an inoffensive insect who, circumstances favouring, might, as Ma Tamby when inserting the flea had told her, put her father on his feet.
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