Leon followed the play in a sort of daze, resulting from the close atmosphere, the wine he had drunk, and the very novelty of watching actors, one of whom he knew, upon a stage. When it was over, he went out with the rest of the audience, but enquired of one of the attendants the way to the door backstage. When he found it and knocked and got no answer, he turned the knob and stepped inside. He found himself face to face, much to their mutual surprise and to Leon’s amusement, with the cadaverous old man who had so recently performed the role of Casca. He still wore his toga. Spit curls were sculptured about his forehead and cheeks. Covering his laughter with a cough, Leon asked if he might be directed to Mrs. Savage.

The old man looked him over suspiciously and instructed him to wait where he was. As he scuttled away, Leon looked about. He had never before been in the working part of a theatre. He stared up into the dark flies above the stage. He touched a rope. Its tautness warned him to let it alone. He peered at a desk with slanted top, finding manuscript pages upon it with large markings, which he correctly took to be the cue script.

He took a step toward the stage when he was stopped by a severe-looking matron’s appearing at his side. She too wore toga and sandals, although she had contented herself with a simpler hair arrangement than had the old man. Leon remembered her as Calphurnia and bowed. “I am Mrs. Roderick Conyngham,” she informed him. “How may I help you, sir?”

“I have come to see Mrs. Savage,” Leon answered.

“We do not encourage strangers to call upon female persons of the company, sir. We are a respectable assemblage of artists. My husband, Mr. Conyngham, has indeed performed before crowned heads of Europe. You have, no doubt, heard something of his renown?”

Leon bowed again. “I am, madam, a provincial planter, and therefore ignorant of his fame. However, I am not a stranger to Mrs. Savage. I have the honor of being, indeed, her brother-in-law, having married her sister.”

“Indeed, sir!”

“Indeed, ma’am.”

“Please wait.”

Leon was enjoying himself. The whole incident was like a play, he thought, feeling himself clever and important, and anticipating Lauretta’s surprise when she discovered him. He was not disappointed. Mrs. Conyngham returned presently, followed by Lauretta, already in happy flutter before she saw him.

“It isn’t! It is! Leon, my lamb, my brother, my old friend!” Her sudden tears providing authenticity for her greeting, their chaperon, the company’s manageress, nodded to both and left them. Leon had taken her hands, and she kissed him heartily on the mouth, leaving a taste of lip rouge. “Is Sarah with you? How have you discovered me!”