Actors were superstitious, he knew.

Perhaps it boded bad luck to talk of a forthcoming production.

Baird and the girl not only ignored his reference to Hearts on Fire, but they left Baird looking curiously secretive and the Montague girl looking curiously frightened.

It perplexed him.

Once he was smitten with a quick fear that his own work in this serious drama had not met the expectations of the manager.
However, in this he must be wrong, for Baird not only continued cordial but, as the girl had prophesied, he urged upon his new actor the signing of a long-time contract.