One night she and General Talbott were at the theatre, and when the first act of the play was half over Sir Percy and Lady Carlyon appeared in an upper box alone. Sir Percy, after seating his wife comfortably, said a few words and went out, carrying his hat and great-coat. Lady Carlyon, sitting far back in the box, watched the play and was quite unobserved by any one in the audience except Alicia March. When General Talbott went out of the theatre after the curtain came down on the first act, Alicia, seeing the way clear before her, climbed the narrow stairs to the box and walked in on Lady Carlyon. Never did Lady Carlyon have a more unwelcome guest, or one with whom she less desired a private conversation. She greeted Alicia politely, however, and said: "Sir Percy will return in a little while. He had an appointment for half-an-hour this evening, and brought me to the play to await him." "I am very glad," replied Alicia in her sweetest voice, "that he is absent, because I wish to ask you a question of the most private nature." Then she took a chair, and the two women, each perfect mistress of herself, began the duello. "It is," continued Alicia softly, "whether you have any real objection to entering my house?" Lady Carlyon remained silent, and after a minute Alicia March spoke again: "I see you have; I may as well speak frankly. As an Englishwoman, and strangely situated as I am, I can’t expect any recognition if the British Ambassador, who is supposed to be one of my oldest acquaintances, and certainly my father’s greatest friend, refuses to allow his wife, or his wife refuses, to come to my house. It is not much to ask." "Sir Percy feels that it is a great deal to ask," replied Lady Carlyon, a faint colour appearing in her usually pale cheeks. Their voices were so low that not a person, even those in the next box, could make out what they were saying. All over the theatre was the buzz of conversation, and the brilliant lights penetrated even the dim interior of the upper box. "Sir Percy, then," said Alicia after a pause, "has told you all?" Lady Carlyon inclined her head silently, her eyes lighting up with anger as she looked resolutely in Alicia March’s calm face.