He had been thick with Nana, and he was anxious to start her on the stage.

Well, just about that time he was in search of a Venus.

He--he never let a woman encumber him for any length of time; he preferred to let the public enjoy the benefit of her forthwith.

But there was a deuce of a row going on in his shop, which had been turned topsy-turvy by that big damsel's advent.

Rose Mignon, his star, a comic actress of much subtlety and an adorable singer, was daily threatening to leave him in the lurch, for she was furious and guessed the presence of a rival.