human
but had declined to commit himself to any direct statement of fact. The impression left on the pressmen by him, however, had been that a fight had raged for the possession of his libretto, which must have been won by the Heaths since Claude Heath had set it to music. Or had the fight really been between Joseph Crayford and the management of the Metropolitan Opera House? Gillier had finally remarked,
gpt
I must leave it to you, messieurs. All that matters to me is that my poor work should be helped to success by music and scenery, acting and singing. I am not responsible for what Madame Sennier, or anyone else, says to you.
human
Then what do they really believe?
gpt
The worst, no doubt!
human
What does it matter?
gpt
What does anything matter so long as we have a success, a big, resounding success?
human
I never realized till I came here, Claude continued,
gpt
What did he say?
human
See here, boys, mother's gone to glory, and father's in the poorhouse, but it isn't up to me to say why. That's my affair. I know I can rely on you all to--keep my name before the public.
gpt
The fact of the matter is that the work has got to come before the man, he said.
human
And now we've all got so far in this affair nothing must be allowed to keep us back from success. Let the papers say whatever they like so long as they talk about us. Let Madame Sennier rail and sneer as much as she chooses. It will be all to the good. Crayford told me so to-night. He said, 'My boy, it shows they're funky. They think our combination may be stronger than theirs.' It seems Sennier's new libretto has come out quite dreadfully at rehearsal, and they've been trying to re-write a lot of it and change situations. Now, we got nearly everything cut and dried at Djenan-el-Maqui. By Jove, how I did work there! D'you remember old Jernington's visit, Charmian? He believed in the opera, didn't he?
gpt
I should think so! she cried.
human
Why, he positively raved about it. And he's not an amateur. He only cares for the music--and he's a man who knows.
gpt
Yes, he does know. What a change in our lives, eh, Charmian, if we bring off a big success! And you'll be in it Alston.
human
Rather! The coming baritone!
gpt
What a change!
human
I used to be almost afraid of celebrity, I think. But now I want it, I need it. America has made me need it.
gpt
This is the country that wakes people up,
human
It drives me almost mad!
gpt
Claudie!
human
It does! There's something here that pumps nervous energy into one until one's body and mind seem to be swirling in a mill race. When I think of my life in Mullion House and my life here!
gpt
Then you do realize--
human
What is it?
gpt
You do realize that I did see something for you that you hadn't seen for yourself, when you shut yourself and your talent in, when you wouldn't look at, wouldn't touch the world?
human
Of course. I hadn't courage then. I dreaded contact with life. Now I defy life to get the better of me. I know it, and I'm beginning to know how to deal with it. I say, let us plan out our campaign if Madame Sennier persists in her accusations.
gpt
But first tell us exactly what you gave out to the pressmen to-night,
human
If three strong wills are worth anything we must succeed.
gpt
And we've got Crayford's back of ours, said Alston, putting his arms behind him into the sleeves of his coat.
human
Good-morning! I'm really going.