Page 421 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

Chapter 28

On the morrow, in the evening, Lord Warburton went
again to see his friends at their hotel, and at this establish-
ment he learned that they had gone to the opera. He drove
to the opera with the idea of paying them a visit in their box
after the easy Italian fashion; and when he had obtained his
admittance—it was one of the secondary theatres—looked
about the large, bare, ill-lighted house. An act had just ter-
minated and he was at liberty to pursue his quest. After
scanning two or three tiers of boxes he perceived in one of
the largest of these receptacles a lady whom he easily recog-
nized. Miss Archer was seated facing the stage and partly
screened by the curtain of the box; and beside her, leaning
back in his chair, was Mr. Gilbert Osmond. They appeared
to have the place to themselves, and Warburton supposed
their companions had taken advantage of the recess to
enjoy the relative coolness of the lobby. He stood a while
with his eyes on the interesting pair; he asked himself if he
should go up and interrupt the harmony. At last he judged
that Isabel had seen him, and this accident determined him.
There should be no marked holding off. He took his way to
the upper regions and on the staircase met Ralph Touchett
slowly descending, his hat at the inclination of ennui and
his hands where they usually were.
‘I saw you below a moment since and was going down to

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