Page 76 (1/1)

We had arrived in London at what is called "the height of the season" A of the days when the ballet was still a popular forrace and beauty were the objects of universal admiration I was asked if I had seen her, wherever I went, until my social position, as the one e, became quite unendurable On the next occasion when I was invited to take a seat in a friend's box, I accepted the proposal; and (far froly) I went the way of the world--in other words, I went to the opera

The first part of the perforot to the theater, and the ballet had not yet begun My friends a for familiar faces in the boxes and stalls I took a chair in a corner and waited, withthat was to coeneral) disliked the neighborhood of a silent man She determined to make me talk to her

"Do tell me, Mr Germaine," she said "Did you ever see a theater anywhere so full as this theater is to-night?"

She handed lass as she spoke I moved to the front of the box to look at the audience

It was certainty a wonderful sight Every available atolass fro) appeared to be occupied Looking upward and upward, allery Even at that distance, the excellent glass which had been put into ht the faces of the audience close to me I looked first at the pe rsons who occupied the front row of seats in the gallery stalls

Moving the opera-glass slowly along the semicircle formed by the seats, I suddenly stopped when I reached the reat leap as if it would bound out ofthe commonplace faces near it I had discovered Mrs Van Brandt!

She sat in front--but not alone There was a man in the stall immediately behind her, who bent over her and spoke to her from time to ti of a sad and weary look Who was the ht not, find that out Under any circumstances, I determined to speak to Mrs Van Brandt