While these things had been going on in the quarter allotted to the commonalty, Somerset in front had waited the fall of the curtain with those sick and sorry feelings which should be combated by the aid of philosophy and a good conscience, but which really are only subdued by time and the abrading rush of affairs. He was, however, stoical enough, when it was all over, to accept Mrs. Goodman's invitation to accompany her to the drawing-room, fully expecting to find there a large company, including Captain De Stancy.
But none of the acting ladies and gentlemen had emerged from their dressing-rooms as yet. Feeling that he did not care to meet any of them that night, he bade farewell to Mrs. Goodman after a few minutes of conversation, and left her. While he was passing along the corridor, at the side of the gallery which had been used as the theatre, Paula crossed it from the latter apartment towards an opposite door. She was still in the dress of the Princess, and the diamond and pearl necklace still hung over her bosom as placed there by Captain De Stancy.
Her eye caught Somerset's, and she stopped. Probably there was something in his face which told his mind, for she invited him by a smile into the room she was entering.
'I congratulate you on your performance,' he said mechanically, when she pushed to the door.
'Do you really think it was well done?' She drew near him with a sociable air.
'It was startlingly done--the part from "Romeo and Juliet" pre-eminently so.'
'Do you think I knew he was going to introduce it, or do you think I didn't know?' she said, with that gentle sauciness which shows itself in the loved one's manner when she has had a triumphant evening without the lover's assistance.
'I think you may have known.'
'No,' she averred, decisively shaking her head. 'It took me as much by surprise as it probably did you. But why should I have told!'
Without answering that question Somerset went on. 'Then what he did at the end of his gag was of course a surprise also.'
'He didn't really do what he seemed to do,' she serenely answered.
'Well, I have no right to make observations--your actions are not subject to my surveillance; you float above my plane,' said the young man with some bitterness. 'But to speak plainly, surely he--kissed you?'
'No,' she said. 'He only kissed the air in front of me--ever so far off.'
'Was it six inches off?'