I suppose you ride?"
"I love it."
"Wednesday, at five, then." She turned to another guest, and Kirk
leaned back to take in the scene about him.
Like most Latin-American cities, Panama prides herself upon her
government theatre, which is in truth very beautiful. Although it
remains dark most of the year, its brief period of opera is
celebrated by a notable outpouring. To-night the magnificent
white-and-gold auditorium was filled to the topmost gallery, and
the two circles of boxes were crowded with the flower of
Panamanian society, tourists from the North, and Americans from
the whole length of the Canal Zone. Kirk himself had seen to
running a theatre special from Colon, and recognized all six of
the Commissioners, with their families. It was an exceedingly
well-dressed audience, and although the pit was plentifully
sprinkled with men in white, the two lower galleries were in solid
full-dress. Bejewelled women in elaborate gowns lent the affair
almost the elegance of a night at the Metropolitan, while the
flash of many uniforms made the scene colorful.
Suddenly the orchestra broke into the national air, and with a
great rustling and turning of heads the audience rose to its feet.
In the centre box of the first tier, ornately hung with flags and
a coat of arms, Anthony beheld a giant black man of majestic
appearance, drawn to his full height and flanked by a half-dozen
aides in uniform, all at a stiff military salute.
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