"Surely——"
"Yes, I have forgotten. It is good to forget. This is the last act, is it not?"
"No, it is the prologue."
The speech was as significant as her own. For a second he was silent, and bit his under lip. Then, as Jones had done before, he stood up.
"I will come," he muttered in her ear, "but not on Saturday."
"Good-night, Mr. Maule."
"Good-night, Mrs. Usselex."
With a circular salute to the other occupants, Maule left the box. Presently it was invaded by other visitors of whom no particular mention is necessary. At last there was a wail and final crash in the orchestra. The opera was done.
On the way home Usselex questioned his wife. "Who is that man Maule?" he asked.
"Miss Bolten is interested in him, I believe."