The Secret City by Hugh Walpole — Read

I was greatly surprised to receive, a few days later, an invitation from Baron Wilderling; he asked me to go with him on one of the first evenings in March to a performance of Lermontov's Masquerade at the Alexandra Theatre. I say Lermontov, but heaven knows that that great Russian poet was not supposed to be going to have much to say in the affair. This performance had been in preparation for at least ten years, and when such delights as Gordon Craig's setting of Hamlet, or Benois' dresses for La Locandiera were discussed, the Wise Ones said:

"Ah -- all very well -- just wait until you see Masquerade."