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'I understand you auditioned a young tenor yesterday evening?— No, I don't know him, having met him only briefly.' He grinned across at CaroHne, who flushed as she recalled the scene by the lift. *Do you mind telling me what you thought of him?'
    There was a pause while presumably Warrender gave his opinion. Then Kennedy Marshall said,
    *Just so—just so. What did you say?—Oh, the girl who was with him? Yes, I know her better.' Then there was quite a long pause and he began to scribble something on the pad in front of him. *Are you sure?—Well, no, of course, I know one never can be quite sure. It's just that you surprise me. Yes, I know her very well. As a matter of fact she's my secretary, and is sitting in front of me at the moment.'
    Caroline stirred uneasily and her employer went on, 'What's that you say?—^No, of course I won't. May I tell her the gist of what you've said? With the usual warnings about high hopes, of course. Yes, naturally I'll keep an eye on her. Have you any idea who her teacher is?—Good God, you don't say!' Then he laughed and, after a few more remarks, he replaced the receiver and looked across at Caroline.
    'You never told me you sang,' he said after a slight pause.
    'I didn't think it was important—or would interest you.'
    'Didn't you really?' He looked down at what he had written and after a moment Caroline asked diffidently,
    'What did Sir Oscar say about Jeremy?—if it's not confidential.'

    'No, it's not confidential. Warrender said he's a good promising lad, with an excellent voice, and that with hard work and a bit of luck he should make a satisfactory career, provided his hopes
    aren't too high. But then he went on '
    Kennedy Marshall consulted the notes he had made '—he went on to say, "But it's the girl who interests me."'
    'Me?' gasped Caroline.
    'You. He said, "I may be mistaken, though I
    seldom am " a typical bit of Warrender
    arrogance, of course—"but I think that girl is something quite out of the ordinary. I haven't heard such potential for a long time." '
    There was quite a silence, then Caroline said, 'I don't think I can believe that.'
    'True, all the same. I mean—it's true that Warrender said it. Did it never occur to you that you had a voice of some quality?'
    'Occasionally—yes. I mean, I sometimes wondered. But it was Jeremy's voice that mattered.'
    ^Are you in love with Jeremy?'
    'No,' said Caroline quickly, then blushed. 'What did Sir Oscar mean by "potential", do you think?'
    'Primarily the voice, of course, and then the way you use it, your attitude to what you're singing, and possibly your projection of whatever character you're depicting. Have you had any stage training, Caroline?'
    'No.' She shook her head. 'Not even amateur experience. I suppose I do identify with the character. Last night it was Marguerite in "Faust". But I hadn't thought about any

    dramatic powers. Had you?—In connection with me, I mean.'
    *Not until half an hour ago. But when you began to berate me and call me names it did rather suggest Lady Macbeth on the warpath.'
    She gave a vexed little laugh and said, 'Now you're just teasing me, aren't you?'
    *Not entirely. Your voice deepened and darkened as I'd never heard it do before. And when you said that nasty bit about stealing the petty cash I wouldn't have been surprised to see you produce a dagger.'
    'I'm sorry. I've said I'm sorry.'
    *A11 right, don't apologise again. The whole incident was most revealing and rather refreshing,' he assured her. *You're usually so quiet and self-contained. I don't think I've ever come across anyone before who can bank down the inner fires so effectively. It's possible Warrender really did release some hidden acting talent yesterday evening. But weren't you afraid of him? Most people are.'
    *Of Sir Oscar?—oh, no.'
    'Only of me?'
    'Well, yes. Sometimes—^when you lose your temper.'
    'I must tell Warrender that,' declared her employer with some satisfaction. 'To be more intimidating than