the box sheet, but was, on the contrary, just as undisturbed
on a rainy night as on those when the "standing room only"
sign blocked the front entrance, this supposition was
discarded as untenable. Nor did he show the least interest in
the prima donna, or in any of the other pretty women of the
company; he did not know them, nor did he make any effort to
know them, and it was not until they inquired concerning him
outside of the theatre that they learned what a figure in the
social life of the city he really was. He spent most of his
time in Lester's dressing-room smoking, listening to the
reminiscences of Lester's dresser when Lester was on the
stage; and this seclusion and his clerical attire of evening
dress led the second comedian to call him Lester's father
confessor, and to suggest that he came to the theatre only to
take the star to task for his sins. And in this the second
comedian was unknowingly not so very far wrong. Lester, the
comedian, and young Van Bibber had known each other at the
university, when Lester's voice and gift of mimicry had made
him the leader in the college theatricals; and later, when he
had gone upon the stage, and had been cut off by his family
even after he had become famous, or on account of it, Van
Bibber had gone to visit him, and had found him as simple and
sincere and boyish as he had been in the days of his Hasty-
Pudding successes. And Lester, for his part, had found Van
Bibber as likable as did every one else, and welcomed his
quiet voice and youthful knowledge of the world as a grateful
relief to the boisterous camaraderie of his professional
acquaintances. And he allowed Van Bibber to scold him, and to
remind him of what he owed to himself, and to touch, even
whether it hurt or not, upon his better side. And in time he