They gazed at each other, Cake and this man, with sudden, intense concentration. He was a genius in his line, she as surely one in hers. And, instinctively, to that strange, bright flame each rendered instant homage. What he saw he described long afterward when a million voices were vociferously raised in a million different descriptions. What she saw she likened in her mind to a dark sheath from which a sword flashed gloriously. That sword was his soul.
"He says your name is Plain Cake--is that true?" He referred to the lodger's letter held open in his hand, and by that she knew he was Arthur Noyes. And great. That last she had not needed any telling.
"He says you are the right Shakespearian actress for me," Noyes referred to the letter again. "Do you know Shakespeare?"
"All the way," said Cake. It was not quite the answer _Queen Katherine_ might have made, perhaps, but her manner was perfect.
"Come here"--he pointed to the centre of the rapturous rug--"and do the potion scene for me." Cake stepped forward.
Perhaps you have been so fortunate as to see her. If so you know that to step forward is her only preparation. She was poised, she was gone. Then suddenly she heard the lodger's voice crying:
"Stop--my God, stop! How do you get that way? Don't you know there's a limit to human endurance, alley-cat?"
She broke off, staring confusedly into space just the height of his debauched old figure crouching on the dry-goods box. Then with swift realization of her surroundings, her vision cleared. It was the fat man in the checked suit she saw leaning helplessly against the closed door. His jaw sagged, his eyes were frightfully popped, his face wore the same strained, queer look she had come to see so often on the lodger's, and he made weak little flapping gestures with his hands.
Cake looked then at Arthur Noyes. His face was white as the letter in his hand, his dark eyes were dilated with a look of dreadful suffering, the numb, unconscious reaction of one who has received a mortal blow.
"Come here, Crum," he cried as if there was no one else in the room. And Crum fairly tottered forward.
"What do you make of this?" asked Noyes, while Cake stood and listened.
"I--I--" stammered Crum exhaustedly. "My God," he groaned, "it's too much for me. And training!"