This odd condition which was perhaps the result of some kind of physical compensation for the extreme assault on her nerves and emotion, persisted until she made her final exit in the last act. It happened some time before the curtain. The character she played was the first to relinquish its hold and to fade out of the picture. She came off and returned to her corner near the entry into the passage. The others were all on, the dressers and stage-staff, drawn by the hazards of a first night watched from the side and Jacko was near the prompt corner. The passage and dressing-rooms seemed deserted and Martyn was quite alone. She began to emerge from her trancelike suspension. Parry Percival and J.G. Darcey came off and, in turn, spoke to her.

Parry said incoherently: ‘Darling, you were perfectly splendid. I’m just so angry at the moment I can’t speak but I do congratulate you.’

Martyn saw that he actually trembled with an emotion that was, she must suppose, fury. Out of the dream from which she was not yet fully awakened there came a memory of gargantuan laughter and she thought she associated it with Bennington and with Percival. He said: ‘This settles it. I’m taking action. God, this settles it!’ and darted down the passage.

Martyn thought, still confusedly, that she should go to the dressing-room and tidy her make-up for the curtain call. But it was not her dressing-room, it was Gay’s and she felt uneasy about it. While she hesitated J. G. Darcey came off.

He put his hand on Martyn’s shoulder. ‘Well done, child,’ he said. ‘A very creditable performance.’

Martyn thanked him and, on an impulse, added: ‘Mr Darcey, is Gay still here? Should I say something to her? I’d like to but I know how she must feel and I don’t want to be clumsy.’

He waited for a moment, looking at her. ‘She’s in the greenroom,’ he said. ‘Perhaps later. Not now, I think. Nice of you.’

‘I won’t unless you say so, then.’

He made her a little bow. ‘I am at your service,’ he said and followed Percival down the passage.

Jacko came round the set with the stage-hand who was to fire the effects gun. When he saw Martyn his whole face split in a grin. He took her hands in his and kissed them and she was overwhelmed with shyness.

‘But your face,’ he said, wrinkling his own into a monkey’s grimace. ‘It shines like a good deed in a naughty world. Do not touch it yourself. To your dressing-room. I come in two minutes. Away, before your ears are blasted.’