“Does it shock you to know you were not Leon’s first—diversion?” Sarah said.

“But with a Negress! I call that disgusting! I declare, Sarah, you have put up with the most—”

“Oh, shut up, and tell me about my dear Roman! The mails have stopped coming, and I have had no news of him for three months now!”

“He was a perfect gentleman, if a darky can be called that, and my very savior in that hard hour. When I let him in, he explained who he was. He was very well dressed, very well mannered; yes, quite the gentleman. Handsome even, if a darky may— He had been in the audience and knew all. He had recognized me, although he had not seen my name on the posters. We talked for an hour, until they locked the theatre for the night. He offered to help me. I wanted nothing, I told him, but to leave the North and return to my own people. He told me briefly about the school he was about to leave—”

“Leave the school!” Sarah exclaimed.

“Yes, he had decided he wanted to be part of the war, but not the fighting part, so he was leaving the school to his friends and going to Washington to work in the army hospital, however they needed him. He offered me shelter at the school—I dared not stay in my old lodgings with the other actors—until he was ready to leave, a couple of days later. On his way to Washington he escorted me to Baltimore and arranged passage for me on a sloop that was running blockade into Norfolk, Virginia. And from there I made my way to Charleston. From there to Savannah. Savannah, here. I have a letter for you from Roman Kendrick if I can remember where I put it.”

“A letter from Roman!”

“He gave it to me only minutes before we sailed from Baltimore.” Shaking her head, she said to herself, “Now where did I put it?”

“Please do look for it!” Sarah urged.

“Yes, well, I don’t like leaving this blessed resting place. However—” Lauretta pulled herself to a sitting position and bent to rub a knotted muscle in her right calf. “Since you set such store by it, I’ll look.” In the middle of the room she paused to consider. “I certainly didn’t put it into my trunk.” She went to Sarah’s dressing table, found her handbag and opened it. “Abracadabra, and here it is!” she said triumphantly.

Sarah all but snatched it from her, and then stood hesitating, not wanting to read it in the company of her sister. “Perhaps you would like to sleep a little.”

“No, I’m quite awake now, thank you.”

“I really ought to go down to the kitchen. Is there anything you want before I go?”