Chapter 25 Chapter Twenty-Four (not from Captain Hastings' autobiography)

Mr. Leadbetter let out an impatient grunt from his throat.Now his neighbor was getting up, lumbering awkwardly past him, leaning over to retrieve his hat which he had dropped on the seat in front of him. Then came the climactic moment of "Unknown Sparrow," the tragically beautiful film with such a star-studded and thrilling scene that Mr. Leadbetter had been looking forward to seeing all week. The fair-haired heroine, played by Catherine Royal (the best actress in the world, in Mr. Leadbetter's opinion), was just now pouring out a cry of rage: "Never. I'm going to starve, but I can't. Remember this: A chick doesn't fall—"

Mr. Leadbetter looked left and right and shook his head in great annoyance.These guys!Why don't people wait until the end of the film...and leave at this gripping moment. Oh, it's better now.The troublesome man had passed, and Mr. Leadbetter could see the panorama of the picture, Catherine Royal standing at the window of the Van Siena Building in New York. And at this very moment, she was about to board the train - with the baby in her arms... They have strange trains in America - nothing like the trains in England. Ah, it's Steve again in the little shack in the mountains...

The movie is approaching that emotional and semi-religious ending. The lights came on, and Mr. Leadbetter breathed a sigh of satisfaction. He stood up slowly, blinking his eyes slightly. He never leaves the theater immediately, and it always takes some time before he can return to the dull real life. He looks around.Naturally, there are few people this afternoon, and everyone is at the racetrack.Mr. Leadbetter was not an admirer of horse-racing, nor card games, nor alcohol or tobacco.This makes him have more experience to enjoy the movie. Everyone was rushing towards the exit, and Mr Leadbetter was preparing to follow the flow.The man in the seat in front of him was asleep - sunk in the seat.Mr Leadbetter was indignant that people would still fall asleep when a film like "Finchless" was on.

An enraged man addresses the sleeping man, his outstretched legs blocking the way: "Please step aside, sir." Mr. Leadbetter had come to the exit, and he looked back. There seems to be a little commotion in there.A theater security guard...a small group...probably the guy in front of him was dead drunk, not asleep... He hesitated to go out, and that was how he missed the excitement of the day--even more thrilling than the Knott Huff colt winning out of eighty-five horses. The security guard was saying: "Are you all right, sir...he's sick...what, what's the matter, sir?"

Another exclaimed and lifted the man's hand to examine some red, viscous dirt. "is blood……" The security guard let out a muffled exclamation. He saw the corner of the yellow object under the seat. "Oops!" he said. "That's the ABC."