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Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866-1946

"A Millionaire of Yesterday"


"There is a good deal left for you to tell me," she said. "Some
day I shall hope to know everything."
He met her gaze without flinching.
"Some day," he said, "I hope you will."

CHAPTER XXXVIII

The carriage drew up at the theatre and he handed her out - a little
awkwardly perhaps, but without absolute clumsiness. They found all
the rest of the party already in their seats and the curtain about
to go up. They took the two end stalls, Trent on the outside. One
chair only, next to him, remained unoccupied.
"You people haven't hurried," Lady Tresham remarked, leaning forward.
"We are in time at any rate," Ernestine answered, letting her cloak
fall upon the back of the stall.
The curtain was rung up and the play began. It was a modern society
drama, full of all the most up-to-date fashionable jargon and
topical illusions. Trent grew more and more bewildered at every
moment. Suddenly, towards the end of the first act, a fine dramatic
situation leaped out like a tongue of fire. The interest of the
whole audience, up to then only mildly amused, became suddenly
intense. Trent sat forward in his seat. Ernestine ceased to fan
herself. The man and the woman stood face to face - the light
badinage which had been passing between them suddenly ended - the
man, with his sin stripped bare, mercilessly exposed, the woman,
his accuser, passionately eloquent, pouring out her scorn upon a
mute victim.


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