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"Oh, I don’t bla had a mistress," Pandora whispered "I don’t like it, of course, but I can hardly complain about anyone else’s faults when I have so many of my own Gabriel told me about Mrs Black before we married, and promised to end the relationship, and obviously he has She doesn’t seem to have taken it well, however" She paused "I don’t think he broke the news to her the right way"

Helen’s lips quirked "I don’t think there’s any way to end an affair happily, no matter hoell-chosen the words are"

"The question is, ould her husband tolerate her behavior? She was trying toabout it"

Helen glanced at their surroundings to ra about the next act "Rhys told me just before intermission," she said in an undertone, "that Ambassador Black was a Lieutenant General in the Union Ar the American Civil War It’s rumored that he sustained injuries in battle that ave a little shrug

"To do what?"

"Perfor even redder "Mrs Black is his second wife--he was a hen theywoman That’s why he chooses to look the other hen she strays"

Pandora sighed shortly "Now I alrin, she added, "But she still can’t have my husband"

At the conclusion of the performance, Pandora and Gabrielhallways, foyers, and box-lobbies to the colonnaded entrance hall Helen and Winterborne were a few yards ahead of them, but they were difficult to see amid the close-packed crowd The play had been heavily attended, and the press of bodies was so close that Pandora began to feel anxious

"We’re al a protective ar was even worse People jostled andthe six Corinthian colu row of private carriages and hanso so of theatergoers had attracted pickpockets, confidence tricksters, ars from nearby alleys and streets A lone unifor order to the scene, with little apparent success

"Both your driver andpushed his way through the gathering He gestured toward the southern end of Haymarket "They’ve stopped over there They’ll have to wait for some of the street traffic to depart before there’s rooes," Gabriel said

Winterborne gave hilance of wry amusement "I wouldn’t advise it A flock of cyprians has just crossed over froh the lot of them"

"Do youto modulate her voice

A few people in the crowd turned to look at her with raised brows