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CHAPTER I

MR. SQUIBS CLEAES THE WAY

I HAD just finished dressing for the second act and was applying to my lips those touches of rouge which give them their demure expression, when there came a tap on my dressing-room door.

"If it is Lord Dangerford, Prue," said I, " thank him for the tiger's skin and say that I'll be at home to-morrow at three."

"Lord D... More

CHAPTER I

MR. SQUIBS CLEAES THE WAY

I HAD just finished dressing for the second act and was applying to my lips those touches of rouge which give them their demure expression, when there came a tap on my dressing-room door.

"If it is Lord Dangerford, Prue," said I, " thank him for the tiger's skin and say that I'll be at home to-morrow at three."

"Lord Dangerford be blowed," said a familiar voice the moment Prue had opened the door. And then the voice continued : " Are you presentable ? May we come in ? "

The voice belonged to the American Friend -a most accommodating and useful person. So I replied in accents as amiable as I could command under the circumstances-a foggy first act blighted by a dull tea at the Honorable Mrs. Pebblestone's:

" Gome in ; I'll give you just two minutes- and the tip is tuppence."



lo The Casino Girl in London

" I say, really, talking of tips, you'll be surprised, you know."

This remark proceeded from Squibs, of the Gazette, a nice sort of chap, one of the first, in fact, to predict for me the flattering social success in London which was so soon to be realized. I shook hands with Squibs.

" Mr. Squibs is right," said the American Friend. " You will be surprised. We are here to tip you, but not with tuppence, my dear."

" 'Arf a crown goes 'ere, sir," chimed in Little Bobby, appearing from behind the broad shoulders of the American Friend. "I say, Miss Casino, lend me a needle and a bit of thread. My-ahem-arum-a-tum-tums caught on a nail, and the Censor's in front. Evening, Squibsey. You're looking out of sight. When do I get that notice?"

Little Bobby is not responsible. But she is pretty and clever, and so we bear with her. At a sign from me Prue took her behind a screen, from whence occasional shrieks announced plainly enough that the needle was doing its work.

" What is this extraordinary tip you're so excited about? " I asked, as I made a last dab into the rouge pot. " Not the races. I warn you,



Mr. Squibs Clears the Way 11

never again the races. Not to be flippant, there are two things I shall always remember: first, the Maine ; second, the Ascot Cup. With respect to the latter, my dressmaker and a certain worthy greengrocer with a growing family are my comrades in adversity. If it is the races, good evening."

" On the contrary, it's a sure thing," said the American Friend.

" Exactly what the welcher said about his tip on the Cup," said I.

"Squibs, you tell her," said the American Friend; "my clothes still seem to smell of that beastly race."

The journalist beamed upon me again.

"It's something awfully jolly, you know, Miss Casino. You are to write a book."

" I beg your pardon, Mr. Squibs ? "

" I say, old chap, you tell her," said Squibs, who seemed disconcerted by my evident incredulity.

" That's perfectly straight," said the American Friend; " you are to write a book about your London experiences."

"Who is foolish enough to want to read about my London experiences ? " I demanded.



12 The Casino Girl in London

" The American public, my dear; the great American public."

" And the London public. 'Pon honor, the London public would be charmed, you know," said Squibs.

" But what experiences have I had that people would care to read about ? " I asked, still more than half believing that the American Friend was chaffing me.

" Rubbish!" piped Little Bobby over the screen. " Did you meet the Prince, or didn't you?"

Whereat Mr. Squibs nodded his head, still smiling reassuringly.

" Do you mean that I could do that without exhibiting vulgar disrespect ? How could I go about boasting of such things-least of all put them into a book ? "

" Oh, really, now, you know," said Mr. Squibs, "that's all your American idea. It depends on how it's done."

" Exactly," said the American Friend. " Why half the country inns in England are patronized by the royal family, if you may believe their advertisements."

" And I wash with the same soap the Queen

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