'Oh, you're not going yet,' said Mr Wopples, upon which all the
family echoed, 'Surely, not yet,' in a most hospitable manner.
'I must,' said Vandeloup, with a smile. 'I know Madame will excuse
me,' with a bow to Mrs Wopples, who thereupon fluttered nervously;
'but I have to be up very early in the morning.'
'In that case,' said Mr Wopples, rising, 'I will not detain you;
early to bed and early to rise, you know; not that I believe in it
much myself, but I understand it is practised with good results by
some people.'
Vandeloup shook hands with Mr and Mrs Wopples, but feeling unequal
to taking leave of the ten star artistes in the same way, he bowed
in a comprehensive manner, whereupon the whole ten arose from their
chairs and bowed unanimously in return.
'Good night, Messrs Villiers and Jarper,' said Vandeloup, going out
of the door, 'I will see you to-morrow.'
'And we also, I hope,' said Mr Wopples, ungrammatically. 'Come and
see "The Cruet Stand" again. I'll put your name on the free list.'
M. Vandeloup thanked the actor warmly for this kind offer, and took
himself off; as he passed along the street he heard a burst of
laughter from the Wopples family, no doubt caused by some witticism
of the head of the clan.
He walked slowly home to the hotel, smoking a cigarette, and
thinking deeply. When he arrived at the 'Wattle Tree' he saw a light
still burning in the bar, and, on knocking at the door, was admitted
by Miss Twexby, who had been making up accounts, and whose virgin
head was adorned with curl-papers.
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