It came upon me quite by surprise.

The hour fixed was the same as the churches, and it had been predicted that we should not get an audience.

It was right away outside the city, in a park in the swellest part of the suburbs.

Consequently, it was not at all attractive to the native, who doesn't like to get outside his own quarter.
"The Emerald Theatre had been a great success because it was in the midst of his quarter; the Europeans would not come there, and now it was fair to assume that the native would not come to the European centre.
"As to any attendance of English people, that was hardly to be expected.

They had cold-shouldered me at the Town Hall, the Lieutenant-Governor had even refused to see one of our Officers when she called, although he had the reputation of being a Christian man.