THE MISSION OF A LETTER All through the remainder of the play he sat as one stunned, scarcely removing his eyes from the glittering stage, yet seeing nothing there excepting her.

He could not later have recalled a single scene.
Between the acts he conversed rationally enough with those about him, congratulating her people upon the brilliant success of the evening, and warmly commending the work of the Star.

Yet this was all mechanical, automatic, his mind scarcely realizing its own action.
She never glanced in that direction again; during all the four acts not once did she permit her eyes to rest upon their box.

The others may not have noticed the omission, but he did, his interpretation of the action becoming a pain.

It served to strengthen the resolve which was taking possession of him.