Again they found a custodian for their bicycle and followed Appleton into a theatre.
The young man stopped at the box-office in the long vestibule, bought a ticket, and had a call made for a coupé. Then he passed through the luxurious little foyer, beautiful with flowers and soft colours, and stood behind the parquet circle railing.
Adelaide Randall's embodiment of “The Grand Duchess” held his attention for a time. Haslam and Miss Winnett, to avoid the risk of being discovered by him, sought the seclusion of the balcony stairs.
“We had a few bars of Offenbach at the Park, and here we have Offenbach again,” commented the doctor.
“And again, only a few bars, for there goes our man.”
Appleton, having given as much attention to the few spectators as to the players, left the theatre and got into the cab that had been ordered for him.
Haslam, behind the pillar at the entrance to the theatre, overheard Appleton's direction to the driver. It was:
“To the Grand Opera House. Hurry! The opera will soon be over.”
The cab rumbled away.
“It's well we heard his order,” observed Haslam to Amy. “We couldn't have hoped to keep up with a cab. He'll probably wait at the Grand Opera House till we get there.”