In his heart he felt the bitter sense of shame of a man who wilfully succumbs to weakness.

Yet that night he made his efforts.
For four hours he sat in his lonely rooms and worked.

Then the unequal struggle was ended.

With a groan he caught up his hat and coat and left the house.

Half an hour later, he was among the little crowd of loiterers and footmen standing outside the doors of the Duke of York's Theatre.
It was still some time before the termination of the performance.