She remembered the first night of Le Paradis Terrestre. Suddenly a chill ran all through her, as if a stream of ice-cold water had trickled upon her.
"Really!" said Hostatter. "And yet we Americans are said to have a bad reputation for noise."
He had been smiling, but looked suddenly doubtful.
"But as you say," he added, rather hastily, "in a theater we concentrate, especially when we are presented with something definitely artistic, as we are to-night."
He shook hands.
"Definitely artistic. My most sincere congratulations."
He went out, and another man called Stephen Clinch, an ally of Crayford's immediately came in. After a few minutes of conversation he said:
"Everybody is admiring the libretto. First-rate stuff, isn't it? I expected to find the author with you. Isn't he in the house?"
"Yes, but he told us he would sit in the stalls," said Charmian.
"Haven't you seen him?"