At half-past nine in the evening, amidst enthusiastic applause, the audience applauded the actors lined up in three rows on the stage, dressed in costumes for their curtain call. Luviya Annette's face was flushed with excitement, while Shard awoke from a brief nap, realizing the opera had already ended.
He tried to suppress the rude act of yawning as the curtain slowly closed, and, amidst the audience's animated discussions as they left their seats, he said to Luviya:
"It's over? That was quite fast."
"You slept through almost a third of it, so of course, it seemed fast."
The two left through the door on the right, following the crowd. At the corridor entrance of the grand foyer of the Opera House, Miss Benanis's maid, who had been waiting, was ready to lead them backstage. But just then, Shard heard the commotion outside the Opera House.
"What's happening?"
"Someone is protesting."
The young maid whispered, leading the two away from the crowd towards a side corridor:
