Surely it was an evil omen, this man's coming; for it was Captain Francis who had taken the vacant seat and who was watching his astonishment with a somewhat saturnine smile.
"Rather a stupid play, isn't it?
By the by, Trent, I wish you would ask Miss Wendermott's permission to present me.

I met her young cousin out at Attra." Ernestine heard and leaned forward smiling.

Trent did as he was asked, with set teeth and an ill grace.

From then, until the curtain went up for the next act, he had only to sit still and listen.
Afterwards the play scarcely fulfilled the promise of its commencement.
At the third act Trent had lost all interest in it.

Suddenly an idea occurred to him.