nearly a quarter to eight
Among those which might be said to be within a certain literary and artistic circumference , people were able to give definite grounds for the public interest . The play , it was said , was an unusually good one , and the progress of the rehearsals had let loose a flood of rumours to the effect that Miss Bretherton 's acting in it would be a great surprise to the public . Further , from the intellectual centre of things , it was only known that the famous beauty had returned to the scene of her triumphs ; and that now , as in the season , one of the first articles of the social decalogue laid it down as necessary that you should , first of all , see her in the theatre , and , secondly , know her -- by fair means if possible , if not , by crooked ones -- in society . It was nearly a quarter to eight . The orchestra had taken their places , and almost every seat was full . In one of the dress-circle boxes sat three people who had arrived early , and had for some time employed themselves in making a study of the incoming stream through their opera-glasses . They were Eustace Kendal , his sister , Madame de Châteauvieux , and her husband .