Chapter Four
Theo did not surface from his repose until late in the afternoon, and only then with some reluctance. So thick-headed and sluggish did he feel, he almost felt that his mother might have been right to suggest a day or two away from the theatre, and the club. And he had been neglecting his books…
But a note arrived within half an hour, from Hargreve.
Do not fail tonight! (it said). They say Mrs. Everleigh is returned, and will perform at Strangewayes. I depend upon you, Bedge.
Which put paid to any thoughts of spending the night in the book-room. He hadn’t a notion who Mrs. Everleigh might be, but perceived readily enough that she was quite the attraction.
When he ventured downstairs, he found Mr. Ballantine still present, and some manner of disturbance going on in the par
