At the theatre he inquired for Miss Lester; and, it being matinee day,
he found that the popular actress had already arrived. It took time and
money to convince the military-looking door-keeper that it was
absolutely necessary to take an urgent message to Miss Lester, but
eventually this was done, and Mr. Harker, with Jessica---who was almost
dazed by the strangeness of her surroundings--found themselves in Miss
Lester's dressing-room, a few minutes before she was due on the stage as
Prince Bon-Bon.
Mr. Harker at once hastened to apologise for the intrusion; but, in the
midst of his words, he broke off short, for Jessica and the actress were
gazing at one another in a mutual recognition. Jessica remembered her at
once as the lady who had been with Adrien Leroy; then came the earlier
memory, which had so puzzled her on the night she had seen the actress
entering the theatre.
"Jessica!" exclaimed Miss Lester, blankly, and she turned on the
astounded Harker. "What's the meaning of this?"
The few minutes were nearly up, and the call-boy and the dresser had met
in several consultations with regard to the difficulty of getting Miss
Lester on to the stage in time, before Mr.
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