half past eight
But the girl herself , full of venom , burning with the sense of her wrongs , was a new factor in the perils of his position . Stronger now than ever was this conviction that he must hurry his schemes to their climax . That same evening the audience at the Albion had a disappointment . At half past eight the manager appeared before the curtain and said that Miss Lopez was ill and could not appear . As they all knew , she had been an unremitting worker , had given them of her best , and in her love of her art and her public had worn herself out and suffered a nervous breakdown . A week or two of rest would restore her , and meantime her place would be taken by Miss Lottie Vere . The audience , not knowing what was expected of them , applauded and then looked at one another in aggrieved surprise .