Adele was a child of romance. Even in the sordid tenement she felt a desire to go on the stage. Accidentally Adele and her mother met Blanche, who had been on the stage with Adele's mother, and it was through her that Adele received her first chance. Then she met Vincent Harvey, an embryonic opera composer who found inspiration in her and she in turn found romance. Adele was practicing kicking one morning very energetically. So much so that she kicked her slipper out of the window and it hit John W. Horton, a broker. Looking around, he became horrified. Adele had climbed out on to the fire escape, became dizzy and fell. An awning broke her fall. Blanche was the first one to her side. Learning that she was not hurt, Blanche made her lie still, while she turned to the crowd and told them that Adele was a poor chorus girl who tried to commit suicide.