At last, the curtains parted again, and into the box came the girl for whom Collis had been waiting with such nervous anticipation — Sarah Melford. He knew it was she. She was taller than her mother, and just as straight-backed, but while her mother’s hair was combed away from her forehead, Sarah’s was curled in long glossy ringlets all around, and parted in the centre, shiny and brown as chestnuts. Her face was exquisite, with startlingly large brown eyes, and clearly defined cheekbones, and a nose that was thin but quite straight. Her lips may have been a little too full, but that could have been the effect of cosmetics. Her neck was long and white, and in her low-bodiced evening gown, as dark yellow as a Canada lily, her white breasts rose full and deeply cleft and decorated with diamonds and gold. She paused as she entered the family box. She was used to being stared at by all of San Francisco. In fact, she plainly expected it. Then, tall as she was, she took her place with unfaltering grace, and opened her yellow silk fan, as if to say, ‘That’s enough, you’ve seen all I feel like allowing you to see.’

Collis had been expecting a noticeable girl, even a beautiful girl. But Sarah Melford, from what he could see through his badly focused opera glasses, was a creature out on her own. She had inherited the classic, cold features of her mother; but they were softened somehow by whatever genes her father’s family had passed on to her, and so she was fashionably pretty as well as perfect in bone structure and bearing. This had the effect of making her erotic, as well as aloof; of making it seem possible that she had earthy desires, as well as elegance. Collis could imagine sitting opposite such a girl at a society dinner, all solid-silver cutlery and sparkling candelabra, and taking off his shoe so that he could inveigle a bare foot up inside her petticoats, and have it gripped in between her hot bare thighs; while above the damascene cloth, feigning unawareness, they spoke of badminton, and riding, and the latest scandal from Washington. Sarah Melford was a rare and wondrous animal, and Collis found himself staring at her as if someone had stunned him with a club. She sat in her chair with utter composure, utter self-assurance, and the stainless confidence that comes from knowing that one is very rich, and very influential, and very beautiful.