another direction, he bowed and thanked her.

Having finished her coffee, Janina went into the hall. She passed by
the director and took a cursory look at him. All that she saw was a
large, pale, anaemic face, covered with grayish splotches.

A few actors standing near him impressed her as handsome people. She
noticed in their gestures, their smooth shaven faces, their easy,
smiling airs something so superior to the men whom she had hitherto
known, that she listened to their conversation with rapt attention.

The uncurtained stage, wrapt in darkness, drew her with its hidden
mystery.

For the first time Janina saw the theater at close range and the
actors off stage. The theater seemed to her like a Grecian temple
and those people, whose profiles she had before her, and whose
eloquent voices sounded in her ears, seemed like true priests of
art.

She was regarding everything about her with interest, when she
suddenly noticed that the waiter who had served her was whispering
something to the director and pointing to her with a slight gesture.

There ran through Janina a tremor of fear, strange and depressing.
She did not look up again, but felt that someone was approaching,
that someone's glances were resting on her head and encircling her
figure.

She was still at a loss how to begin and what to say, but felt that
she must speak.

She arose when she noticed Cabinski standing before her.

"I am Mr. Cabinski, the director."

She stood there unable to utter a word.

"You deigned to ask for me, madame?" he queried with a courteous
bow, signifying that he was ready to listen to her.

"Yes . . . if you please . . . Mr. Director. I wished to ask
you . . . perhaps you could," she stuttered, unable for the moment
to find the right words to express what she wished to say.

"Pray rest a little, madame, and calm yourself. Is it something very
important?" he whispered, bending toward her and at the same time
winking significantly to the actors who were looking on.

"Oh, it is very important!" she answered, meeting his gaze. "I wish
to ask you, Mr. Director, if you would accept me as a member of your
company."

This last sentence she uttered quickly as though fearing that her
courage and voice might fail her ere it was spoken.

"Ah! . . . is that all? . . . You wish to be engaged, miss?" He
stiffened suddenly, studying her with a critical gaze.

"I journeyed here especially for that purpose. You will not refuse