“Personal coaching, I mean,” elucidated Fleming. “An hour or so daily. It will be fairly expensive, because Mr. Soedlich is much in demand, but it will be worthwhile. He is a master of interpretation.”
“Well, we can see about that,” said Mrs. Loamford. “What I really wanted to find out was what you thought about a manager.”
Fleming sat awhile in thought.
“Probably you could do no better,” he said finally “than to see Mr. Maxwell—Saul Maxwell—of the Underwood Concert Corporation. The Underwood bureau isn’t the largest in the city, but it stands very high and as far as I know, does everything to help young artists. You will find Mr. Maxwell most charming and I know that his organization will do everything in its power to make your daughter’s début a success.”
“And will they give her a contract?”
“That is a matter for you to discuss with Mr. Maxwell.”
Mrs. Loamford wrote the name and address on the back of a card.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Fleming.”
Fleming led them to an elevator.
“I’m always glad to be of service, Miss Loamford, I wish you the greatest possible success in your career. Call on me if I can help you. I am always here.”
He paused, although it was clear that he had something more to say.
“By the way,” he added, “if you ever need a piano, I shall be glad to take you through the warerooms. We have some remarkably fine instruments here. Let me present you with one of our booklets. It is interesting reading.”
The elevator arrived.
[90]
