16 Gerard, or.
CHAPTER III.
" thkough a gl\ss darkly."
The opera house was not brilliantly filled. There were a great
many important functions going on that evening, events thickening
as the season sloped towards its close, and it may be that the new
Zerlina had not been sufficiently puffed, or that those enthusiasts
who can never have too much Mozart are only the minority among
opera-goers. There were a good many blank spaces in the stalls,
and a good many untenanted boxes, nor was the display of diamonds
and beauty as dazzhng as it might have been.
In an audience at half power Mrs. Champion's commanding
loveliness and !Mrs. Champion's tiara of diamond stars shone con¬
spicuous. She was dressed with that careless air which was her
speciality, in some filmy fabric of daffodil colour, which was
arranged in loose folds across her bust and shoulders, caught here
and there, as if at random, with a diamond star. A great cluster
of yellow orchids was fastened on one shoulder, and there were
yellow orchids pinned on her black lace fan, while long black
gloves gave a touch of eccentricity to her toilette. Her one object
in dressing herself was to be different from other women. She
never wore the fashionable colour or the fashionable fabric, but
gloried in opposition, and took infinite pains to find something in
Paris or Vienna which nobody was wearing in London,
The awe-inspiring music wdiich closes the second act, and seems
to presage the horror of the scenes that are coming, was hurrying
to its brilliant finish, when Gerard, looking idly down upon the
stalls, started at sight of the man who had mystified him more than
any other human being had ever done. There, lounging in his
place between two unoccupied seats, he saw Justin JermjTi,
apparently enjoying the music with that keen delight which only
tlie real music-lover can feel. His head was thrown back, his thin
pale lips were slightly parted, and his large blue eyes beamed with
rapture. Yes, a man who passionately loved music, or else a
consummate actor.
The very presence of the man recalled Gerard Hillersdon to the
business which was to be done after the green curtain had fallen,
and his fair companions had been handed into their carriage. Ten
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