Finally, at the beginning of the second act, the door of the Count's loge opened, and Monte Fato, dressed in a black yet more classic than that of Sauron in the heyday of the Barad-dour saison, entered and leaned on the ramp to look into the hall, followed by Meurtrier Morrie.
The Count, in letting his circular Eye encompass the hall, soon apperceived Réginard, but the expression that he observed on that disturbed visage no doubt counselled him not to have recognised the young hobbite. But, without appearing to have seen Réginard, his sure and infallible Eye did not lose sight of him for an instant, and, when the curtain fell on the second act, like wheel of fire it followed the young hobbite leaving his loge accompanied by his two friends. When he heard the door to his loge open, the Count sensed that a very storm of the salon was upon him, and, although he continued to speak to Morrie about the price of mushrooms with his most laughing visage, he knew with what he had to deal, and was ready for everything.
The door opened. Only then did the Count turn and face Réginard, who was livid and trembling as Barbarbre inebriated on ent-draught and having had his shade of mahogany insulted by Saroumad; behind him were Pierre-Jacques-Philippe-Michel Boyen-Xènes-Baguines and Château-Renard.
"Well!" cried the Count with that benevolent politesse that distinguished his salutations, be they ever so banal, from those of the common herd of orcaille. "Voilà my cavalier arrived to the end of all ends, the Quest is achieved, and all is over! Bonsoir, M. de Pérégrin."
