Thus a half-hour went by.
Meanwhile, Meyerbeer had asked the manager to take him to Mademoiselle; but was told that Victorine never gave information to journalists, and would not be interviewed.

Besides, she had a visitor.

Yes, Meyerbeer knew it--Mr.Gaston Belward; but that did not matter.

The manager thought it did matter.

Then, with an idea of the future, Meyerbeer asked to be shown the menagerie thoroughly--he would write it up for England and America.
And so it happened that there were two sets of people inspecting the menagerie after the performance.