For a stream of
light expanded wedge-wise from the door, which was flung open as a
carriage drew up to the kerbstone. Everett calculated he should arrive
precisely as the occupants were getting out. Better wait a couple of
minutes.
Blessed respite! He crossed the road and loitered along in the shadow of
the opposite side. He examined the house from this point of vantage. It
was a blaze of light from top to bottom. The balcony on the drawing-room
floor had been roofed in with striped canvas. One of the red curtains
hanging from it was drawn aside; he caught glimpses of moving forms and
bright colours within.
He heard the long-drawn notes of a violin. The ever-opening hall-door
exhibited a brilliant interior, with numberless men-servants conspicuous
upon a scarlet background. Ladies in light wraps had entered the house
from the carriage, and other carriages arriving in quick succession had
disgorged other lovely beings. If the door closed for one instant it
sprang open the next at the sound of wheels.
"I'll walk to the top of the street," Everett determined, "cross over,
and then present myself." But as he again approached with courage
screwed to the sticking-place, a spruce hansom dashed up before him. Two
very "masher" young men sprang out.
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