It was with a sense of satisfaction, then, that he saw announced one morning the return of the Casino Company, "with Miss Carrie Madenda." He had thought of her often enough in days past.How successful she was--how much money she must have! Even now, however, it took a severe run of ill luck to decide him to appeal to her.He was truly hungry before he said:
"I'll ask her.She won't refuse me a few dollars."
Accordingly, he headed for the Casino one afternoon, passing it several times in an effort to locate the stage entrance.Then he sat in Bryant Park, a block away, waiting."She can't refuse to help me a little," he kept saying to himself.
Beginning with half-past six, he hovered like a shadow about the Thirty-ninth Street entrance, pretending always to be a hurrying pedestrian and yet fearful lest he should miss his object.He was slightly nervous, too, now that the eventful hour had arrived; but being weak and hungry, his ability to suffer was modified.At last he saw that the actors were beginning to arrive, and his nervous tension increased, until it seemed as if he could not stand much more.
Once he thought he saw Carrie coming and moved forward, only to see that he was mistaken.
"She can't be long, now," he said to himself, half fearing to encounter her and equally depressed at the thought that she might have gone in by another way.His stomach was so empty that it ached.
Individual after individual passed him, nearly all well dressed, almost all indifferent.He saw coaches rolling by, gentlemen passing with ladies--the evening's merriment was beginning in this region of theatres and hotels.
Suddenly a coach rolled up and the driver jumped down to open the door.Before Hurstwood could act, two ladies flounced across the broad walk and disappeared in the stage door.He thought he saw Carrie, but it was so unexpected, so elegant and far away, he could hardly tell.He waited a while longer, growing feverish with want, and then seeing that the stage door no longer opened, and that a merry audience was arriving, he concluded it must have been Carrie and turned away.