After years of Zen training, few circumstances can provoke surprise. But Hakuin discovers that having the door answered by a man wielding a glowing sword and chasing after a wolf is at least one exception to the rule.

The man, obviously in a hurry with his own urgent business, indicates that Hakuin can find answers in the dining room, then runs down a set of stairs.

Entering the dining room, Hakuin sees a crowd of semi-transparent people in costumes, a crowd of opaque people watching them with emotions ranging from terror to delight, a wolf wearing a mask, a raven on the drapery rod, and a butler on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

"Can anyone direct me...?" begins Hakuin when a ghostly apparition streaks down from the ceiling and rushes past him saying, "Tooo laaate! Tooo laaate!"

Hakuin pulls out his pocket watch and decides the ghost is unquestionably right: the play must have started at least half an hour ago, and getting a Hansom from here is likely going to be difficult.