"
"And what did she say her mother's name was?"
"Madame Blondinet, sir!"
The Frenchman rapped smartly on a little pocketbook which he had
produced and now held open in his hand.
"There, is a Madame Blondinet who has a large farm near
Sermoise-aux-Roses," he said, "and she has a daughter called
Marcelle, who went to America."
"Why then...?" began the First Sea Lord.
"Attendez un instant!"
The Colonel held up a plump hand.
"Unfortunately for Madame Nur-el-Din, this Marcelle Blondinet
spent the whole of her childhood, in fact, the whole of her life
until she was nineteen years of age, on her mother's farm at a
time when this Marcelle Blondinet was touring Europe with The
Seven Duponts. The evidence is absolute. Mademoiselle here heard
the dancer herself confirm it last night!"
"Thank you, Mr. Samuel," said the Chief, "we shan't require you
any more. But I'm afraid your Nur-el-Din will have to break her
contract with you."
"She's done that already, sir!" said Samuel ruefully.
The Chief sprang to his feet excitedly.
"Broken it already?" he cried. "What do you mean? Explain
yourself! Don't stand there staring at me!"
Mr. Samuel looked startled out of his life.
"There was a bit of a row between her and the stage manager last
night about her keeping the stage waiting again," he said; "and
after lunch today she rang up to say she would not appear at the
Palaceum to-night or any more at all! It's very upsetting for us;
and I don't mind telling you, gentlemen, that I've been to my
solicitors about it.
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