“Good-night.”
When she returned to her dressing-room later on, she found Fairfax there, sitting on a trunk, a satisfied smile on his lips. She left the door open.
Mr. Ripton conducted the two men across to the stage door, leading them through the narrow space back of the big drop. Chorus girls threw kisses at Harvey; they all knew him. He winked blandly at Butler, who was staring straight before him.
“A great life, eh?” said Harvey, meaning that which surrounded them. They were in the alley outside the stage door. 69
“I’m going to catch the ten-twenty,” said Butler, jamming his hat down firmly.
“Ain’t you going to see the last act?” demanded the other, dismayed.
Butler lifted his right hand to heaven, and, shaking it the better to express the intensity of his declaration, remarked:—
“I hope somebody will kick me all over town if I’m ever caught being such a damned fool as this again. I honestly hope it! I’ve been made ridiculous—a blithering fool! Why, you—you––” He paused in his rage, a sudden wave of pity assailing him. “By George, I can’t help feeling sorry for you! Good-night.”
Harvey hurried after him.
“I guess I’ll take it, too. That gets us out at eleven-thirty. We can get a bite to eat in the station, I guess.”