Page:Firecrackers a realistic novel.pdf/108



Two days later, a little after five o'clock in the afternoon, Campaspe again drove up to the stage-door of the Riverside. Theatre. This time she made no futile attempt to besiege the gate, waiting, rather, inher car. The neighbourhood was entirely deserted at first, but presently, performers and stage-hands began to make their way out of the playhouse. It was not long, indeed, before the person whom she attended appeared, in the company of the Brothers Steel. She drew his attention with her eyes and he approached, indubitably with reluctance and even with suspicion. There was, however, Campaspe recognized, something inevitable about his appropinquation. However distasteful to him was this re-encounter, he could not, it was clear, help himself to escape it. Some power quite apart from her own desire had created this condition: of that fact, too, she was instinctively aware.

I felt an inclination for conversation, she explained lightly. Will you drive with me?

Stammering an obviously unwilling assent, he made his excuses to Robin and Hugo and entered the car.