CHAPTER I

THE “HILARITY” STAR A tall, broad-shouldered man, with a loose overcoat barely concealing his evening clothes, stood on the pavement opposite the “Hilarity” Theatre, reading the play-bill. It was eight o’clock, and the exterior of the place was a perfect blaze of light. A long stream of carriages and hansoms were setting down people, and there being some rumour of a visit from Royalty, a strip of red drugget had been laid across the pavement from the stalls entrance. Several policemen and commissionaires were very …